Elena Quartoni. Chef and serial organizer of Kitchen Wishes.

Elena: When She Cooks, She Dances

When Elena cooks, she dances.
She might not even realize it — but her body sways, her hands trace gentle, sinuous lines, following the rhythm of something vaguely oriental that only she seems to hear.
Sometimes she even closes her eyes, as if carried by an inner wind.

She discovered her path during a Christmas holiday, when she escaped to a mountain house planning to stay just for the weekend.
She ended up remaining for more than twenty days — twenty days devoted entirely to doing what she truly wanted.
And during those twenty days, she cooked without stopping.

She had always loved it, ever since she was a child — playing with ingredients, touching, mixing, transforming them.
After all, cooking brings together everything she loves most: contact, craftsmanship, connection.

When she returned from that journey into herself, she came back with a clear idea.
She threw herself into her new passion completely — body and soul.
Soon she became a private chef, then went on to work in hotels, restaurants, local venues, and cooking schools.

At an event, she met Giulia — and they instantly clicked.
Their first chance to work together came when Elena had to organize a wedding.
It was time to see if their gears could fit.
They could — perfectly.

That’s how Kitchen Wishes was born.

The two chefs divided their roles naturally, following what each loved most — without competition.
Elena leans toward bold, spicy, savory flavors; Giulia prefers delicate notes.
They listen to each other, and when needed, they move as one.

Outside the kitchen, Elena continues her search for contact, connection, and community.
Her key word — the one she returns to constantly — is contact.
It’s the center of gravity of her entire vision of life.

She loves being surrounded by nature, cooking, playing, spending time with friends — her extended family.
She loves eating, drinking, hugging, giving, listening.

“My idea of play is very serious,” she says.
“It doesn’t involve winning — only freeing our creativity together, touching things, coloring, getting messy.
Imagination is part of the magic of cooking — and of my life.
Cooking is inner freedom, song, dance, and sharing.”