Hey there!
We’re Jay and Elle John, creators and recipe developers of The Perfect Rice!
I’m Elena, though most people call me Elle—it's easier! I’m Italian-Canadian, born in Northeast Italy. My husband Jay is British-Indian, raised in Mumbai with roots in Kerala.
Together, we bring over 40 years of cooking experience, from Jay’s culinary school days at 17 to my start in a seaside restaurant at 16. Our shared love for rice, from Indian biryani to Italian risottos, sparked our curiosity about this versatile grain.
After traveling the world—from Mexico to Vietnam—and discovering countless rice dishes, we knew we had to start The Perfect Rice to share our passion!
Explore our detailed articles on different rice types—ever wondered about Bomba rice? I’ll guide you through step-by-step instructions to make perfectly fluffy rice, like in our how to cook basmati rice and how to cook jasmine rice. You’ll also find some of my favorite fried rice recipes and comforting risottos to try.
In every post, you will find tips and tricks from our own experience and research and many pictures taken in our little London kitchen or while enjoying a bowlful somewhere in the world!
You can be sure that here at The Perfect Rice, we will give you as much information, tips, and tricks as possible so that you can cook rice perfectly every single time.
🎯 What Are We Cooking Today?
From simple pulao to triple fried rice, we transform any type of rice into a feast! Discover flavors from Italian, Indian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, and African cuisines.
⏲️ Beyond The Perfect Rice
We’ve been together since 2009, after meeting in a London flatshare, and married on a beach in Northern Italy, where we enjoyed Indian jeera rice and Italian risotto allo scoglio at our wedding.
While I never leave home without my Kindle and a playlist of classic rock and country music, Jay is all about numbers, Excel, and research articles.
Our shared moments are filled with nature walks, cooking [and feeding anyone who will eat!], dreaming up vacations under the sun with as much history as possible, and choosing what to watch next on TV!
We’re also the creators of Spice and Life!
🔎 How To Get Around The Perfect Rice
👩🏻🍳 Recipes
These are easily divided by course, rice type, country of origin, and cooking method, so it is easy to find what you are looking for. Whether you'd like to enjoy a bowl of rice pudding, Mexican fried rice, or a delicious risotto alla Milanese, you will get there with as few clicks as possible.
📖 Rice 101
Sometimes, you just need to know your grain a little more before purchasing it or cooking it. We cover all the different types of rice you can find, as well as substitutes. Look no further, we got you!
🍚 How To
Here, we cover the basics of how to cook specific rice types by absorption or boiling.
These recipes are perfect if you are looking to create a side dish for your saucy main [boiled rice for your chili con carne] or need some rice for your layered biryani or egg fried rice.
Cooking Together, One Dish at a Time!
We are so happy you are here. If you have any questions or comments, get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!
Elle & Jay 💛