ABOUT
chef jessica yarr
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).
She later transitioned away from the restaurant industry to hold a high-level position at Adobe headquarters overseeing the food program. Since that transition, she has been a part of several culinary strategy teams, including Global Sustainability, and an advisory board for reimagining the food service model post-COVID. Chef Jessica has also participated in various food competitions, including a National Women’s Culinary Competition.
Chef Jessica’s Ukrainian roots inspired her to preserve her family's culture by fusing her experience with family recipes resulting in her passion project Chicken Foot. Chicken Foot is a pop-up restaurant that showcases Eastern European food with a plant-forward, California cuisine twist. 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 food scene. In short time after launching Chicken Foot, 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 culinary experience.