Today we’d like to introduce you to Carole Yu
Hi Carole, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve had quite the journey—one that’s taken me around the world! Born in New Zealand and raised in the U.S., I’ve been lucky enough to live and work in places like Italy, Japan, China, Canada, and England, diving into new cultures and flavors along the way. Years ago, I opened the first U.S. retail spot for m0851, a luxury leather brand from Montreal, right on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. Today, I’m in a completely different arena—teaching online cooking classes that blend the Asian, Fusion, and Italian flavors I’ve picked up in my travels. You can check out my recipes and videos on YuCanCook.com and my YouTube channel. Cooking with others is a joy, and I love showing people of all ages how fun and doable it is to cook something new and delicious.
Family has been a huge part of my journey. My husband, Scott, is a talented comedian and also my behind-the-scenes partner in editing and production for my cooking classes. He brings humor and creativity into everything we do together, making the process smoother—and way more fun!
Our daughters are a big inspiration as well. Dara, the youngest winner of MasterChef “Back to Win,” has grown her culinary path from interning at restaurants and having a YouTube channel that I produced with Scott. Now, she’s showcasing her talent through pop-ups and guest chef events worldwide. Elena, my older daughter, is an accomplished artist who, after graduating from UCLA, spent years in the Joshua Tree art scene. Today, she coordinates gallery programs at the University of Virginia, while also creating her own art and textiles.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My path hasn’t always been smooth. After the closure of my m0851 store and later facing layoffs at Eataly, I had some hard calls to make.
But nothing shook me more than losing my first husband and father to my two daughters, George, in 2007. That was a real turning point for me. Somehow, through those times, I found a strength I didn’t know I had.
It taught me the value of picking myself up, and really focusing on my passion. Today, I bring that energy into everything I do, especially in my classes. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about teaching people something they never thought they’d try—just seeing them light up is the best.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m all about sharing my love of cooking with others. I teach online classes that are welcoming, high-energy, and always focused on making the process as fun as possible. My studio is really high tech, thanks to Scott, with ECamm live streaming, and lots of fun unexpected experiences. You’ll have to check it out to see what I’m talking about.
My classes center around Asian and Italian cuisines, bringing authentic flavors in a way that’s easy to follow and so satisfying. Outside of teaching, I work with brands on food styling, photography, and video projects. I even host team-building events for groups, which is just another way to bring people together through food.
Cooking isn’t just about what’s on the plate; it’s about the connections we make around the table.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
When it comes to inspiration, I love diving into anything food, Italy or planner-related!
For books, How to Make Your Food Famous is a gem for quick styling and photography tips that help me keep my content fresh. I also enjoy finding treasures at Now Serving, a fantastic cookbook store in downtown LA, which has a little of everything for food lovers.
My podcast lineup is full of food, Italian and planning favorites, too—Good Food with Evan Kleiman, Food Blogger Pro Podcast, The Splendid Table, Eat Blog Talk, Dinner SOS, The Bittersweet Life, and Best Laid Plans are regulars. They keep me inspired, organized, and always learning something new!
Pricing:
- Online Classes $45-60
- Private Classes $200/hour
- Team Building pricing upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.YuCanCook.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Yu.Can.Cook
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yu.Can.Cook
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@YuCanCookYT
- Podcast: https://thisisyu.com/podcast-this-is-yu/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/YuCanCookPin
Image Credits
Carole Yu
