Renowned for her exceptional proficiency in both pastry and savory cuisine, Jessica Yarr stands as the Executive Chef/Owner of The Grove, an inventive plant-forward café and bakery nestled in Felton, California. Jessica operates the widely acclaimed pop-up dining experiences of Chicken Foot, dedicated to crafting plant-based Eastern European comfort fare, and Brunch Shift, a playful brunch destination. Complementing her culinary ventures is Forest Fare, which offers a unique and elevated catered experience.

Jessica competed on Beat Bobby Flay on The Food Network, has earned Santa Cruz Weekly’s “Best Pastry Chef of Santa Cruz”, was named one of the “Santa Cruz Culinary Masterminds Under 36” by the Good Times Santa Cruz, and is recognized as a Santa Cruz NEXTies 2023 Foodie of the Year. 

A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Portland, Oregon, Jessica's professional trajectory brought her back home to Santa Cruz County. She honed her skills as a pastry chef at Theo’s Restaurant before becoming Executive Chef at the age of 22. She continued to flourish at esteemed establishments throughout the region, including Gabriella Café, where she garnered recognition as "Santa Cruz's Best Pastry Chef" in 2011. In 2016, Jessica assumed the position of Executive Chef at Assembly in Santa Cruz, broadening her culinary horizons and leaving a mark on the Bay Area food scene. Subsequently, she served as Executive Chef at Adobe’s Headquarter Campus for the Bon Appétit Management Company, spearheading their farm-to-fork initiatives and culinary programs.

Continuing to share and promote the concept of farm-to-table, a cornerstone of her culinary philosophy, Jessica participates in many events and fundraisers. Her culinary creations have been showcased at the Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, Big Sur Food and Wine Festival, Jim Denevan’s Outstanding in the Field, the Meander benefit dinner, the Pollinate Fall Feast for Farm Discovery at Live Earth Farms, Homeless Garden Project’s annual benefit dinner, Food What Farm’s annual benefit dinner and many more. Additionally, she lends her expertise to strategic culinary initiatives, collaborating with chefs and restaurateurs nationwide to promote global sustainability and reimagine culinary business models. 

When she’s not cooking, fermenting, or learning a new technique, Jessica can be found spending time with her three children, walking her dog Derby, playing tennis, roller skating, and tending to her garden.