jafontenot

about me

My name is Jessica, I'm 22 years old and am from the small town of Ozark, Alabama.

I'm a recent graduate of Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, work here as a legal secretary and I LOVE to cook. It's a passion of mine, it makes me happy, relaxes me, and I love sharing my creations with others... people say I should open a restaurant, but I'm just glad God's blessed me with the skill and will cherish sharing the fruits of it with my future family!...

My parents are from rural Louisiana, so that definitely influences my taste. Most everything needs a little kick! I've worked for two premier fine dining restaurants here in Birmingham for Frank Stitt while in college, and so my appreciation for fine ingredients, cheeses, wines, techniques, freshness, et cetera has grown along with my palette and desire to take on new challenges in the kitchen.
If you're ever visiting Birmingham, PLEASE visit Frank Stitt's Highlands Bar & Grill, Bottega, or Chez Fon Fon.

If I had any culinary pet peeves, they would be arrogant, superiority complexed chefs/cooks (it's an epidemic!), people that know nothing about food yet pretend so, and when people don't consider all the needs of the tastebuds: acidity, sweetness, bitterness, SALT, pepper. Most of the time, a flat dish is simply missing salt and pepper and a touch of acidity. TASTE your food before you serve it!

Favorite Foods:

DARK DARK chocolate.

fine cheeses from all over.

French cuisine.

fine yet simple Italian. It's hard to mess up great cheese, tomato sauce, and carbs!

Mexican! Authentic as possible.

great hors d'oeuvres for guests.

RAW OYSTERS.

sauces for meats made with wine.

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