Today we’d like to introduce you to Jess Toliver.
Hi Jess, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
One of the reasons I wanted to be a chef is for the tradition and community around it. Being a Korean adoptee, a part of me growing up always wanted to know about Korean culture and their food. How was it prepared, how did it taste? Would I like it? Growing up in Wisconsin, Korean food wasn’t accessible. There was no Omma (mother) showing me how to make Japchae and kimchi.
In American culture, unless you seek it out, cooking is not a skill that is often taught. I grew up eating hot dishes, processed boxed and fast foods. Anything quick and inexpensive. There was not a lot of thought put into my food growing up. Growing up in a low income household it was about quantity not quality. I yearned to learn the ways of my ancestors. Learn secret heirloom recipes that were passed down from generation to generation. I wanted to have a connection with my food and to share that food with a community of people.
The longing to connect with my food on a deeper level led me to go into culinary school. School taught me proper ways to cut vegetables, different ways to cook and prepare food, and how to properly handle meats and seafood. It taught me the general rules of a kitchen and it also opened my eyes to all the different cuisines of the world. This is also where I developed a love for travel and ethnic cuisine. During this time, I was working in kitchens and trying to find where I belonged in the restaurant industry. There seemed to be something missing for me. I was unhappy. I felt there was a disconnection. I wasn’t aligning with the food I was cooking and I was missing joy and lack of connection to the people I was cooking for.
At that time, I was also starting to deal with worsening health problems. Bloating, fatigue, skin rashes and stomach issues. Later I realized I had food sensitivities to many foods that I had been eating for years! I also think it was an accumulation of poor diet, lack of sleep and stress. I finally decided to take a break from the restaurant industry and went into the healthcare field.
I started educating myself more on health and wellness. I wanted to take a holistic approach to my health and learn different modalities in self care. Meditation, EFT Tapping, yoga, reiki. All of these practices led me to pay more attention to my body and observe how I was feeling. Noticing specific triggers such as stress and food. I was finally giving myself the time to slow down to observe my body and what it was trying to tell me. I eliminated gluten, dairy and meat from my diet, incorporated self care practice, and started taking supplements. These practices changed my life. The problem for so many of us is we stay in these uncomfortable feelings for so long that it becomes our normal.
I decided that I wanted to start a business where I could help people eat better and appreciate food. I wanted to show people that not only can food be delicious but it can be nourishing and medicinal. Creating Jess Delicious has been a bright light in my life. It is a way for me to hub all the things I love about food and the holistic approach to life into one business.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Owning your own business definitely has its ups and downs. What you put into it is what you get out of it. I think for me the hardest thing is advertising and finding clients. It is hard to put yourself out there. Having platforms like Voyage magazine has been a huge blessing in getting my name out into the community. Being open to doing a wide range of jobs has also helped broaden my opportunities.
During the pandemic, I lost 70% of my revenue with the inability to meet people in person. However, it led me to teaching online virtual cooking classes, which I love now. It is a great way to teach people on a larger scale. I also started a blog during the pandemic. This has been a great creative outlet for me and is a way that I can share my knowledge on cooking with food sensitivities.
We’ve been impressed with Jess Delicious, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
What sets me apart is my own journey with food. I think a lot of people experience disconnection with their food. I have firsthand experience with the lack of knowledge with food and cooking. I chose to change that and learn a different approach to how I eat. I aim to inspire and help others to find their own way with a holistic approach to food. As a personal chef, I teach cooking classes, cook for people on a weekly basis, and cater small parties. I am personal with my clients and treat each client organically. I specialize in cooking with dietary restrictions and cooking mostly plant based. I show people that food can be both nourishing and enjoyable. Jess Delicious takes the holistic approach to food, showcasing the food and respecting the process of how the food got to our plates. Teaching people about the energetic properties of food and what to eat if you are looking to balance and heal your body.
No matter what my clients are looking for, Jess Delicious can help in creating the best dietary experience.
How do you think about luck?
What is the difference between luck and fate? I guess I believe in alignment. Our life is made up of moments and events that create who we are. These events and moments persuade us in how we view the world and help us determine our life path. I believe that everything that has happened in my life has been for a reason. Especially hardships. It has given me the tools to navigate through life when it was the hardest. It taught me to be resilient and persistent. And to learn how to change my perspective to have gratitude in even the littlest things.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]/
- Website: https://www.jessdelicious.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessdeliciousliving/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessdeliciousliving/
- Other: https://jessdeliciousliving.com/
Image Credits
J. Mertz Photography
