Chef Jessica VanRoo, aka “Chef Jess,” transforms food into a healing art that tantalizes the taste buds. Chef Jess elevates food into a therapeutic masterpiece that captivates the palate. With nearly 20 years of culinary expertise and a culinary management degree from the Art Institute of Orange County, she is executive chef at UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute’s Mussallem Nutritional Education Center.
In this capacity, Chef Jess passionately designs programs that harmonize exquisite flavors with the principles of culinary medicine. Leading a team of leaders, including chefs, dietitians, and physicians, she seamlessly intertwines food and health in innovative initiatives. With a diverse culinary background and a flair for creativity, Chef Jess crafts unforgettable culinary experiences.
Her commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients shines through in every dish, creating a symphony of captivating taste. Guided by the wisdom of Hippocrates, she passionately advocates for the transformative influence of food, epitomizing the philosophy, “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.”
See more about Jessica’s career highlights here.
Classes
- Nutritional Education Classes at UCI Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute
- UCI Culinary Health Webinar Series
Recipe Development
Research
“What inspires my creativity is the universal need for humans to eat to survive.
The awareness that every person relies on nourishment for survival fuels my creativity to explore the world’s cultures and innovate approaches to provide people with the most nutritious and delightful journeys with food.”– Jessica VanRoo
Jessica VanRoo 