Food, Plants, and the Land
Hi, I’m Jess.
I’m a culinary creator, cookbook author, modern homesteader, and trained herbalist and this is my Culinary Farmstead.
My passion was born from a love of food, plants, and the land, and raised on a farm where it all began.
At Culinary Farmstead, you'll find a diverse range of cooking, preserving, and plant medicine classes, from basic skills and certificate programs to regional cuisine dinner parties and farm experiences. Whether you're a seasoned cook or homesteader or just starting out, I truly hope my obsession with cooking, plants, and living a life closer to the land will ignite your own.
I blend my passion for food with the cuisines of my ancestors, who span from Sicily, France, and the Middle East to Germany, Montreal, New England, and even right here in North Carolina where I now live. Getting to live so close to where some of my ancestors lived on this regenerative farmstead in Western North Carolina is where I get to add a unique southern flair.
My love of pasta making, in particular, started in Sicily where I lived with my mother, grandmother and great aunts — learning to make pasta from them was an experience I’ll never forget. I’ve taught pasta making internationally and now run the only stand-alone Pasta Chef certificate program for culinary professionals.
I’ve been an herbalist for over 20 years and I love to incorporate medicinal herbs into my dishes and home to bring an extra layer of health and wellness. My hope is that I will inspire you to explore all aspects of food, plants, flavors, and properties to deepen your connection with what you make.
Join me on this exciting journey, and discover how cooking, homesteading, and medicinal plants can come together to create truly unique and memorable culinary experiences.
All the best and more,
Jess
ABOUT THE FARM
Our regenerative farm is located in Western North Carolina and specializes in farmtisanal products produced locally, sustainably, ethically, and passionately as well as curated, hard-to-find or rare specialty items.
Classes and Culinary Experiences are held on location at our 33 acre farmstead and in various locations around the world. Dinner parties can be scheduled in a variety of locations from your vacation rental or home kitchen to a larger venue.