Jessica Yarr
the chef
Jessica Yarr is a chef, owner, and creative director whose work lives at the intersection of food, design, and experience.
Her approach is grounded in a deep respect for seasonality, place, and the people gathered around the table. With an intuitive sense of detail and atmosphere, she creates work that feels both refined and deeply personal.
Chef Jessica brings a well-balanced background in both pastry and savory, as well as a deeply rooted seasonal, farm-to-table point of view to her culinary style. She has made a name for herself at Santa Cruz hot spots such as Assembly, Penny Ice Creamery, and Gabriella Café. During her time there, she racked up honors such as Best Pastry Chef (Santa Cruz Weekly) and was labeled as one of six Santa Cruz Culinary Masterminds Under 36 (Good Times).
After a four year stint in the corporate dining world as an Executive Chef for Adobe headquarters, Chef Jessica formed her acclaimed pop-up restaurant “Chicken Foot,” showcasing Eastern European inspired food with a plant-forward, California cuisine twist. Gaining a cult following, she heeded the calls for a brick and mortar restaurant, opening the Grove café and Bakery in March 2023.
The Grove features new California cuisine, with a hyper seasonal, local, and plant forward focus. Baking pastries, and bread from scratch for breakfast and lunch sandwiches and a plentiful menu for elevated and healthy everyday foods. With a whimsical ambiance, and a creative and thoughtful menu The Grove provides a casual, yet elevated dining experience.
With a dynamic background and deep Santa Cruz community roots, Chef Jessica brings a balance of nostalgia with a unique culinary point of view to the Santa Cruz and Bay Area food scene. She has cultivated a local following and crafted a great team to serve Santa Cruz and Bay Area food connoisseurs’ desire for a unique and elevated dining experience.
at the grove
est. 2023
The Approach
Through her private dining offering, Lustré, Jessica creates bespoke culinary experiences that weave together food, atmosphere, and storytelling through cuisine. Inspired by global flavors and interpreted through a modern California lens, her menus are seasonal, expressive, and designed to create a strong sense of place.
Each event is approached holistically, with attention not only to the menu, but to the feeling of the gathering itself—the pacing, mood, table design, and sensory details that shape how guests connect and remember the experience.
Beyond private dining, Jessica collaborates on menu development, creative direction, and hospitality concepts, bringing a thoughtful and design-driven approach to every project.
Offerings
Lustré Private Dining
Lustré is Jessica’s private dining offering—an exploration of food as both craft and experience.
Designed for intimate gatherings, celebrations, and special occasions, each experience is fully customized. Menus are shaped by California’s seasons and tailored to the setting, the guests, and the moment.
From multi-course tasting menus to immersive, multi-day experiences, Lustré is a refined and collaborative approach to dining—where every detail is considered, from the plate to the atmosphere.
Offerings may include:
- Custom seasonal menus
- In-home or destination dining
- Multi-course and tasting formats
- Full-service culinary and hospitality team
- Retreats and multi-day engagements
Consulting & Restaurant Development
Jessica works with new and existing concepts to develop thoughtful, cohesive food programs and operational systems.
With experience as both a chef and café owner, she brings a practical and creative perspective—balancing vision with execution.
services include:
- Menu development and refinement
- Concept and identity development
- Kitchen workflow and systems
- Opening support and strategy
Creative Direction & Brand Work
Jessica collaborates with hospitality-driven brands and creative teams to shape the visual and experiential language of food.
Her work extends beyond the kitchen—bridging culinary perspective with design, storytelling, and atmosphere.
areas of focus:
- Menu storytelling and concept development
- Food styling and visual direction
- Brand and experience alignment
- Creative collaboration for events and campaigns
Book your experience
for private dining, consulting, or creative collaborations, please get in touch to begin the conversation.
Charity benefit and community events available