Fork and Spoon is a Filipino-American food blog website that was founded in 2020 by Noelle Noriesta and Elijah Ada.
Their mission is to share easy recipes that celebrate their Filipino heritage and uplift Asian American communities and cultures.
Starting as a personal food diary on Instagram, Fork and Spoon has grown into a professional resource providing user-friendly recipes for home cooks along with restaurant recommendations.
Noelle is the home cook, recipe developer, food photographer, and principal creator of Fork and Spoon.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, she grew up in a quiet suburban town and navigated the duality of being Filipino and American, never quite feeling like she fully embodied either identity.
But one thing was for certain – food was always a central part of her life. Whether helping her mom make dinner, watching cooking shows after school with her best friend, going out to boba and karaoke with friends, or learning about Filipino dishes at her Lola’s (Grandma’s) house, it was always a source of joy and connection.
While studying at UCLA for Physiological Science, she fell in love with cooking in her college flat and exploring LA’s vibrant and diverse food scene in between classes.
Around the time she began dating Elijah during college, she discovered that both her creative and culinary side were blossoming. With his encouragement and support over the years (including the COVID-era), she made a career shift from dentistry to pursue food blogging and freelancing.
Now, she’s reconnecting with her Filipino heritage and embracing her identity as a Filipino American. Guided by kapwa, or “shared humanity,” she finds joy and inspiration through supporting local Asian American communities. Food serves as a major pillar, bridging these aspects of her identity and fostering connection.
Noelle believes that food is a creative form of self-expression, an act of love and service, as well as a means to learn, connect, and evolve. Her greatest hope is that her readers find her content to have a positive impact on their lives.
Outside of food blogging, Noelle runs an Etsy Shop, collects rare houseplants, and loves to camp and travel.
Elijah plays a pivotal role at Fork & Spoon, contributing to both the operations and the executive branches.
He is also instrumental in content creation, from pre- to post-production. With his background in business operations and administration, he ensures the smooth organization and running of the business (and Noelle).
Elijah spent most of his life on the East Coast, but moved around frequently with his Filipino immigrant parents as they pursued work opportunities across America.
Following his graduation from UCLA for Biochemistry, he shifted his focus from medicine to embrace his natural talent for business and finance.
Elijah brings a fresh perspective to the table, ensuring that Fork and Spoon operates smoothly and efficiently. He is Noelle’s number one taste-tester, hype-man of the year, and the “fork” to her “spoon.”
He is passionate about supporting Asian American representation in the food industry and believes that food has the power to connect people and bridge cultures.
When he’s not working, you can find Elijah watching anime, reading books, and exploring national parks.
Pics from our first post as Fork & Spoon on Instagram – Chubby Noodle in SF, 2017. It was such a fun day eating our way through the city!