Ria Elciario-McKeown is a Filipino Canadian writer covering food and culture. At age twelve, Ria and her family emigrated from Manila to Toronto, where she was exposed to a world of new ingredients and flavors. She watched with fascination as her parents incorporated western ingredients into their traditional Filipino dishes, ultimately shaping her unique cooking style. Ria studied culinary arts at George Brown College, where she gained in-depth knowledge of cooking techniques. She has since worked in kitchens and written recipes for outlets such as Food52, Food Network Canada, and Chatelaine. When she's not working on food, Ria works as a creative producer and screenwriter.