Chef Jess
Chef Jess started working in
the food industry at the age of thirteen, doing odd jobs in the summer
carnivals. Trying her hand at the sweet and salty “delicacies” – the
lights and sounds helped spark her passion for exciting foods. Her love for
carnival-eats, as a kid in Toronto, turned into a love for culinary exploration.
With over 14 years of experience in the food and hospitality industry she has made
a name for herself as “a female powerhouse” in the kitchen.
Having started her career at
the Infamous Mr. Greenjean’s in the Eaton’s Centre, Jessica was able to
experiment with different recipes and cooking techniques/methods, which were a
bit more refined than the deep fryers and cotton candy machines she was used
to. This is where she learned the construct of a kitchen and began her journey
to “Chefdom”. After the restaurant’s permanent closure, Jessica moved
on to further refine her skills at seafood restaurant, Pier4, on Toronto’s
harbour-front. In 2011, Jessica moved on to Elephant & Castle on King St.,
where she worked for 6 years, right up until the birth of her first and then
second born child. She then took time off work to care of the kids and start
her own business. Jessica had over 8 years of catering experience, so she began
to build her business and clientele. In July of 2019 Jessica got back into the
work force, and started at Avling Kitchen & Brewery, where she worked
with and learned from the House-Butcher, Sam Campbell, and their Rooftop
City-Farmer, Dinette Steele.
Having better knowledge of the
products she works with on a regular-basis and preserving the dignity of the
food are both prominent aspects of Jessica’s food philosophy. Chef Jessica
Scholz is a self-taught, self-made Chef and caterer with a natural knack for homemaking
and making the home more manageable, balancing work, family, and self-care. A
highly active mother of two, Jessica is a Supermom in disguise. Her apron is
her cape and her skills in the kitchen are her secret weapon.
