Chef Elizabeth Fraser
Elizabeth Fraser was raised in NJ farm country before people used words like “forage” and “foodie.” The list is long, but some of her earliest food memories include making wild venison stew, foraging for raspberries and waking up to the garlicky scent of her grandma’s meatballs frying on Sunday morning. This was just the beginning of the path that would lead her to the restaurant world. Elly (as she is known amongst friends) has been officially “in the industry” since she was 14. After high school she spent two years in the highly-regarded kitchen of New Jersey’s only Relais & Chateaux restaurant, the best education she could have asked for. Upon leaving the kitchen at the esteemed Ryland Inn, it was off to New York City where Elizabeth held various managerial and service positions in the front of the house.
Elly found herself pulled back to the kitchen and into the world of private events, where she had the freedom to develop her unique style that can best be described as Mediterranean. Local farmer’s markets are her biggest inspiration, closely followed by her constant travels, her industry peers, and her childhood memories. Her personality captures the creativity of a chef, the polish of a service director, and the passion & bravado of an Italian grandma.
Last year Elizabeth took on a consulting position with a hotel in Tulum. One thing led to another and she soon found herself cooking alongside Mexico’s best chefs. It became clear that her next entrepreneurial adventure had to be in Mexico. Elly now resides in Mexico City, and is in the process of opening her first restaurant.