About Lievito Fresco

Hi! I’m A, the creator behind Lievito Fresco.

Food has always been at the heart of my journey. To me, it’s never just about what’s on the plate. It’s about the stories, the places, and the people behind every dish. That’s why food takes center stage here. You won’t find me in front of the camera very often, but you’ll find pieces of me in every recipe through the flavours, memories, and little stories I share along the way.

Lievito Fresco was born from a love of recreating the dishes that left a lasting impression on me, whether discovered in a tucked-away café while travelling, shared around a family dinner table, or created during a spontaneous weeknight experiment at home. It’s a space where inspiration from around the world comes together in recipes designed for everyday cooks. My goal is to simplify techniques, encourage smart substitutions using ingredients you already have, and remove the pressure of perfection. Food should be comforting, therapeutic, and above all, a way to show love.

I've always seen myself as a writer and a passionate home cook. But something shifted when my husband lent me his beloved Nikon camera. What started as a simple way to document my cooking quickly grew into a love for food styling and photography. Capturing the final dish, the golden crust of freshly baked bread, the swirl of a sauce, or the scattering of herbs across a plate became just as rewarding as the cooking itself. Photography gave me a new way to tell stories, allowing me to share not only how food tastes, but also how it feels.

Today, Lievito Fresco brings together everything I love: cooking, writing, travel, and photography. It’s a place where recipes become stories and where food connects us to memories, cultures, and the people we care about.

Whether you’re here searching for your next weekend baking project, a comforting dish from afar, or a fresh way to enjoy something familiar, I’m so glad you’re here. I hope you find a little inspiration, a lot of flavour, and perhaps even a moment of calm in your kitchen through the recipes on Lievito Fresco.

What You’ll Find Here

This blog is a collection of recipes inspired by the flavours of my travels and the places that have left a mark on me. Over the past 18 years, I’ve been fortunate to spend time in a variety of places, from the bustling streets of London, Hong Kong, and Tokyo to the tranquil landscapes of Peru, the charming towns of Europe, and the vibrant cultures of Southeast Asia. These experiences continue to inspire the way I cook and the recipes I share.

More than that, this blog is about making those flavours approachable, simplifying techniques, and using ingredients that are easier to find wherever I live. I also encourage you to do the same—don’t be afraid to substitute and use ingredients that are locally available to you.

I believe that good food doesn’t have to be complicated, and my goal is to share recipes that anyone can recreate at home with confidence. Cooking isn’t about perfection; it’s about the experience, the memories made along the way, and the people you share it with.

The Meaning Behind Lievito Fresco

Lievito fresco means fresh yeast in Italian, and the name holds a special place in my heart. Where I live in Singapore, fresh yeast isn’t easy to find. It’s a rare, air flown specialty. In Italy, however, it’s a staple ingredient found in supermarkets and neighbourhood bakeries alike.

During my first Christmas in Italy, I was excited to bring some fresh yeast back home. But just days before our flight, we tested positive for COVID-19 and suddenly found ourselves spending the next two weeks in quarantine instead.

With a couple of blocks of lievito fresco sitting in the fridge, I decided to put them to good use and make pizza from scratch. It seemed like the perfect way to pass the time and share something with the family who had welcomed us into their home.

That simple afternoon has stayed with me ever since. I remember feeling a little nervous sharing homemade pizza with Italians, especially in a country where good pizza is part of everyday life. It wasn't anything elaborate, but my then boyfriend, now husband, assured me that everyone enjoyed it, and seeing the empty plates was all the confirmation I needed.

Looking back, it wasn't really about the pizza. It was about finding joy in an unexpected situation and sharing a meal with the people around me. The name Lievito Fresco reminds me of that experience and of something I continue to believe: food doesn't have to be complicated to bring people together.

My Photography Style

My food photography is rooted in what I call "Slow Kitchen Glow", a style that embraces warmth, minimalism, and the quiet beauty of home cooking. I shoot in natural light with honest colors, focusing on real textures and gentle shadows that make food feel alive and comforting. Every frame is guided by the story behind the dish, whether it’s a memory, a travel ritual, or a homemade meal for someone I love.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about feeling. My goal is to make each photo feel like an invitation to slow down, take a bite, and stay awhile.

Who is Carlo the bear?

The bear in our logo is our lovely mascot, Carlo!

He’s extra special to me because he was lovingly illustrated by my husband, who is also the technical genius behind the Lievito Fresco website. He built this space from scratch for me with so much care, making it possible to share my recipes and stories with all of you. Above all, he is my number one food critic, biggest supporter, and the person who inspires me most to create flavourful recipes. He is also my first photography mentor, the person who taught me how to see beauty in everyday moments and helped me develop the skills that bring each recipe to life through photographs.

You’ll notice Carlo is holding a loaf of bread, and that’s no coincidence. Bread was the very first thing I ever learned to make when I started cooking for myself. It began with simple loaves in a tiny kitchen in Singapore, just me, a bowl of dough, and a whole lot of curiosity. That humble start sparked a deep love for cooking, experimenting, and sharing food with people I care about. It’s what led to Lievito Fresco, and now, I’m so thrilled to be sharing this delicious journey with you. 🐻🍞❤️