Gelée
Gelée is a vibrant blend of art, wellness, and playful creativity. Founded by chef and artist Zoe Messinger, it began as a personal journey of healing and self–expression, evolving into a canvas for connection and nourishment. Zoe’s path — from running food trucks in Europe and cooking in LA’s celebrated kitchens to crafting art and writing for literary journals — infuses Gelée with a unique perspective and boundless imagination.
Rooted in curiosity, ancient wisdom, and a touch of childlike wonder, Gelée seamlessly marries aesthetics with care. In our interview, Zoe shares how she transformed her vision into a business that inspires the mind, body, and soul.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
I’m a chef and artist currently based in New York City.
“I thrive off of a vast imagination, a grand joie de vivre, and restless creativity.”
I have always used art to express myself and bring people together, whether that’s the canvas or the plate. I began my career running a food truck in Milan and Amsterdam, cooking in restaurants in LA (like Kismet & Freedman's), and writing for a variety of literary journals, magazines, and publications.
I'm continually mesmerized and guided by food as medicine, ancient modalities as tools, and the earth as infinite wisdom. Recently, I found my childhood self portrait — I’m holding my heart in my hand, the other a flower, floating towards the clouds and the sun (the heavens). I had it all figured out then.
Can you tell us about the moment Gelée was born?
Gelée came to me in a time of personal recalibration and healing: a playful, nourishing canvas of self expression and light at a time when I needed it.
I used gelatin (in various forms - bone broth to jelly), natural probiotics, and whole foods to help heal and balance my entire system (body, mind, soul) - I transformed this into Gelée.
Discovering my childhood self portrait was such a good reminder going into this new year because
“childlike wonder and play is at the core of Gelée, and what helped bring me into balance.”
What was the biggest challenge in those early days of building Gelée?
I was overwhelmed with possibilities. I’ve always been pulled in many directions, having to grieve certain paths and desires in order to behold ‘the thing’. Decision fatigue is real, but ultimately making decisions was (and continues to be) extremely empowering. It helped me get crystal clear with my vision for Gelée.
Gelée’s aesthetic is unmistakably unique. What’s your creative process like, from ideation to final product?
I tap into my own intuition for guidance. My creative process always involves dreaming big (almost too big), then honing the largescale vision into something tangible. I’m a very visual person and draw a lot of inspiration from art (of various mediums), cookbooks, photography, films, and music — dating back from the 16th century until now. I let visual cues spark something, become enraptured with an idea and build it out until I’m ready to share. This usually involves sketching, meditating, and lots of culinary play. Ancient texts & scriptures, natural modalities of healing and energy, and molecular gastronomy / futurism are consistent blueprints for me.
“Gelée allows me to push boundaries.”
How do you balance Gelée’s artistic presentation with its health-focused purpose?
There’s no need to balance, they coexist.
Zoe Messinger captured by Kava Gorna
Where do you draw your inspiration from? Are there specific moments, environments, or people that fuel your creativity?
Soundscapes & scores, painters such as: Miro, Gustav Klimt, Dali, Hilma Af Klint, movement, Pina Bausch, the elements, sun & moon, flowers, nature, dreamscapes, the human body, energy, ecology, yin & yang/balance, light, color, prisms, chakras, seasons, earth, ancient wisdom, farmers markets, travel, culture, self expression.
“I find inspiration in everything, Even my new organic bamboo toilet paper.”
What is your process for experimenting with new flavors, ingredients, and formats to keep your offerings fresh and innovative?
I call it sexy science. My kitchen looks like a drug lab.
“My counter is covered in powders, tools, scales. My notebooks are filled with recipes, ideas, and doodles.”
I approach every day and creation (the successes and the failures) like a painter does the canvas. Blank and ready to fill.
My curiosity takes me on a journey. I’m sure these journeys don’t always fit into the American model of commerce and the go–go–go mentality, but they do allow for the unexpected.
Photos captured by Kava Gorna
How have collaborations shaped Gelée’s journey?
“Collaborations (be it the Biennale in Venice, Simon Miller at NYFW, Gelée Marché in Paris) nourish the play.”
Each presents another opportunity to build a playground to get lost in (or found), and create community and connection. I love making people feel things, engaging all the senses, with joy and presence at the heart.
What has been the most surprising lesson you’ve learned since founding Gelée?
I was afraid that sharing the true wisdom of gelatin (its healing nature) would create a barrier so I led with artistry and play, sharing the powerful nature of it to those I thought would care. However, I’ve learned as much as people want to have fun and play, they want to feel good and feed their bodies (and beyond) healthy things.
“Life is more joyful when you feel good and when you’re intentional about taking care of yourself.”
I feel inspired sitting with something simple yet powerful, that’s limitless. It reminds me of a favorite quote from Martha Stewart: Living is limitless.
Photo captured by Kava Gorna
If you could create a new Gelée flavor inspired by a particular place, memory, or moment in your life, what would it be and why?
“A love song to Los Angeles.”
I spent almost 8 years in LA and my heart is extremely tender right now with what has transpired.
Early Wednesday mornings, T and I would drive to the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. We’d arrive around 8:30am, the sun barely kissing the west side. We’d light up sharing our love for local California produce and agriculture. We’d touch things, smell things, end up with bags of beauty, and go to my house and make lunch together.
I cherished Wednesdays.
T was my first Gelée employee, who I wouldn’t be here without (she’s now working on a farm, and sure to do amazing things).
Gelée emphasizes both aesthetic and health benefits for skin and wellness. How do you see this intersection of art and wellness evolving?
I think of this as one symbiotic relationship. Sometimes Gelée veers towards art and the avant garde, sometimes the spotlight is on the fundamental nourishment. The two always come into harmony. I believe joy, creativity and play are amongst the most important tools in “wellness” and wellbeing.
“Feeding the soul feeds the rest.”
Captured by John von Pamer (left) & Haruko Hayakawa (right)
What does the future look like for Gelée? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or expansions that excite you?
The future feels expansive: there are some upcoming art–centric installations, retail store debuts & launches, collaborations and passion projects that dive deeper into ancient wisdom & healing modalities, and of course new flavors.
