Hi, I’m Elisete, from Sintra, Portugal, and cooking has always been much more than a hobby for me.
I learned to cook out of necessity, at the age of 11, mostly on my own. My dad, who didn’t know much himself, gave me the best advice I ever received: “Just boil it, fry it, grill it or roast it.” And that’s how it all started.
By 15, I had the basics down. Then I discovered cooking shows and fell completely in love. I kept learning, making mistakes, trying again — and I’m still trying to recreate my mum’s rice pudding to this day.
That journey of teaching myself is exactly what inspired me to create I Have a Coconut. If I could do it, anyone can. No judgment, no impossible recipes — just simple, honest food full of flavour.
I have a little girl who is already my official sous-chef, and a German Shepherd who never misses a visit to the kitchen — we suspect it has something to do with the smells!
Welcome to my kitchen. 🥥