ABOUT ME
I’m Olivia; a 23 year old with a passion for food and creativity.
Food to me is a means of expression, and I get satisfaction from the spark of a new idea, to experimentation, to eventually a delicious dish.
This appreciation extends to dining; I love the experience of reading the menu, imagining plates in my head, soaking in the bustling or mysterious atmosphere, people-watching, and tasting the flavours and textures (normally preceded by beeps and clicks of a shutter).
Food is art; and just as food incites a feeling and expresses a story, so does visual media. I find it a privilege to work with both! Whether it’s a true story or a narrative I’ve dreamt, through composition, colours, textures and light this can be conveyed.
Burning porridge, curdling chocolate sauce, and fighting with my twin over who got to lick the bowl sums up my early years in the kitchen. I still remember sitting on my bedroom floor, recipe books spread out, determined to create mini orange, apple, and cinnamon puddings. That moment sparked my passion for food and sharing my creations.
At 15, I launched Top That! Meal Toppers, competing nationally in the Young Enterprise Scheme, which took me to Vietnam and Thailand. I placed 2nd in both 2018 and 2019 and have since sold my products across New Zealand.
That same year, That Green Olive was born—starting as an Instagram page and growing into my full-time career. I’ve worked with food brands, restaurants, and festivals on recipe development, photography, and videography, solidifying my love for food and creative storytelling.
In August 2024, my first cookbook, That Green Olive, was published by Penguin Random House - a dream come true. I created, tested, styled, and photographed every recipe, pouring my heart into every page. Seeing my work in homes and hearing how people use my recipes is the greatest reward.
Now, this reward extends to making connections with the people and brands that drive New Zealand’s hospitality, food & drink scene; and to see the positive effects my work brings them.
