Gigi the Salmon Queen, also known as Genevieve Ashworth, is a popular food personality and allergen-friendly chef originally from Boulder, Colorado. Though she now resides in Los Angeles, her Colorado upbringing laid the foundation for her salmon obsession and allergen-friendly cooking
Developing Food Restrictions in Colorado
Gigi grew up in the picturesque city of Boulder, nestled against the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. As a child, she loved exploring the outdoors and mountains around her hometown. However at a young age she started developing severe food allergies and intolerances.
By high school, Gigi couldn’t eat gluten, dairy, grains, sugar, nuts, eggs or fruit due to allergies and conditions like Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and IBS. Her health complications made eating a frustrating and scary experience throughout her youth. Though the gorgeous Colorado landscape beckoned her outside, the limited food options made eating away from home an impossible task.
Living with extreme dietary restrictions from a young age shaped Gigi’s relationship with food. She became an expert at finding allergen-friendly options years before awareness of Celiac disease and gluten-free diets entered mainstream culture. Out of necessity, Gigi learned to cook creatively within her limitations to find nourishment and joy in eating. Her journey to becoming the Salmon Queen began amongst the mountains and streams of Colorado.
Discovering Salmon in College
Gigi left Colorado to attend college at the University of Colorado Boulder. Majoring in broadcast journalism, she honed her on-camera skills and vibrant personality. However, managing her dietary restrictions remained an everyday battle. Severe stomach issues landed Gigi in the emergency room on more than one occasion.
During college, Gigi discovered that salmon was one protein she could eat safely, even in large quantities. While her peers snacked on pizza and late-night burgers, Gigi sought out salmon for its nutritional density and allergen-friendly properties. She quickly became hooked by salmon’s versatility, from smoked lox on lettuce wraps to seared salmon fillets with vegetables.
Gigi found salmon to be a satisfying and nourishing staple that made her feel good. She embraced salmon as a cornerstone of her diet, which led to transformative improvements in her chronic health issues. Gigi’s obsession with salmon grew from necessity to true passion.
Becoming the Salmon Queen of Los Angeles
After college, Gigi moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in media production and broadcasting. Her bubbly on-camera presence and passion for food led her to become a popular food influencer and blogger. She combined her love of cooking allergen-friendly cuisine with her performance skills to share recipes and kitchen tips online.
Dubbing herself “Gigi Eats Celebrities,” she attracted a large following with her funny, unfiltered videos. As Gigi’s audience grew, her salmon-centric recipes emerged as fan favorites. When she shared that she eats up to 10 pounds of salmon per week, her fans crowned her the “Salmon Queen” – and the name stuck.
Today, Gigi embraces her role as the Salmon Queen of LA. She has published best-selling cookbooks focused on allergen-friendly, keto, and salmon recipes. Her infectious personality continues delighting fans and spreading awareness of extreme food allergies. While her hometown and early years shaped her challenges, it was discovering salmon that transformed Gigi into the beloved Salmon Queen.
Still an Avid Outdoorswoman
Though Gigi now resides in urban Los Angeles, the Colorado outdoors still call her back regularly. She returns to Boulder to hike amongst the mountains and reconnect with her roots. Salmon also remains a constant in her life, from smoked salmon for breakfast to seared salmon steak for dinner.
Gigi has turned her food limitations into empowerment and used salmon as a vehicle to build her career. The Rocky Mountains and streams of Colorado represent her foundation, which the Salmon Queen carries with her in spirit as she continues inspiring others with her allergen-friendly recipes.
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