Jessica Yarr

The Grove Cafe and Bakery and Chicken Foot
Santa Cruz, California -

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.