Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the experience of wearing an elegant dress, and can even appreciate fine silver, but you must know that I am drawn to simplicity. I like to be barefoot, and I feel completely comfortable eating with my hands. I like to first experience things in their raw state: to get up close, to feel, to connect. Under the guise of this guiding principle, I identify myself as a maker of things, a chef of nourishment, and lover of old school methods.

Who else am I? I am quite aquatic being that I grew up in Miami Beach and am the spawn of a badass fisher woman – my mother- God bless her! Originally from the east coast, I have moved west, and I have made Topanga Canyon California my home. Very much like Topanga, I am made up of a bit of grit, a bit of hippy, and a bit of tenacity. Yet, I am of Cuban blood and was probably Italian in a past life, so, to be honest, tenacity, hippy, and grit might be in my DNA! I carry a pocket knife everywhere I go, I have more house plants than you can imagine, and my spirit food is avocado.

I love to make people feel good. I love to feed people in soul and in belly. Ultimately, I am striving to contribute something positive to the world and to be truly great. Oh yeah, and I have earned my professional credentials, from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, over 500 hours of advanced yoga teacher training, and my chef training from the Natural Gourmet Institute.

You can find Executive Chef Jessica Monty at Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch.