Cooking Has Always Been How I Show Love.

Elise grew up in a household where the kitchen was the center of everything — where Liberian and Caribbean recipes were passed down without measurements, where feeding someone well was the highest form of care. That foundation never left her.

After more than 13 years working across private dining, catering, and culinary education, she built Culinary Collective to bring that same intentionality to every client she serves — whether that's a couple celebrating an anniversary, a family navigating complex health needs, or a corporate team looking for an experience that goes beyond the ordinary.

A defining part of her story is her late big brother, Jeremy S. Walker, who was a chef himself. His passion for food, his presence in the kitchen, and the way he moved through the culinary world left a lasting imprint on her. He is woven into everything she cooks.

Her food is rooted in the African diaspora — Liberian, Caribbean, West African, and Southern traditions — elevated with global technique and a deep respect for ingredients. Every dish she prepares carries a point of view.