In true PVCL fashion, we play a monthly game of 21 Questions with esteemed Valley chefs. And since this month is all about celebrating powerhouse women, we're paying ode to our girl, Jennifer Russo—chef, caterer, and owner of The Market by Jennifer’s.
In 2013, Jennifer took her two-decade catering biz and gave it a permanent home at Gaslight Square, transforming a former wine storage room into one of the Valley’s most charming culinary gems. What she didn’t know then? She wasn’t just expanding her catering brand—she was becoming a full-on restaurateur.
From plating sushi on a naked model (yes, really) to dreaming of dinner with Julia Child and Dave Matthews, Jennifer brings equal parts grit and grace to everything she does. Now, she’s dishing on her favorite kitchen tools, guilty pleasures, and the ingredient she thinks is totally overhyped. Let’s go:
1. Go-to drink?
A nice glass of rosé.
2. One ingredient forever?
Flaky salt.
3. Most nostalgic dish?
My great-grandmother’s bolognese.
4. Alternate career?
Something in the cosmetology world.
5. Three words to describe you?
Driven, witty, compassionate.
6. Dream dinner guests?
Oprah, Julia Child, and Dave Matthews.
7. Kitchen theme song?
"Eye of the Tiger."
8. Guilty pleasure?
Cookies—can’t resist them.
9. Most underrated ingredient?
Squash.
10. Most overhyped?
Wagyu beef.
11. Wildest catering request?
A naked woman covered in sushi—and yes, we made it happen.
12. Secret menu item?
An all hors d’oeuvres menu.
13. Bucket list wish?
Travel the world teaching people how to entertain.
14. Biggest kitchen disaster?
There’s one every day—LOL.
15. Best client compliment?
When they trust us with every event—it’s all about the relationship.
16. Dream collab?
Wolfgang Puck, no question.
17. Dish you could eat forever?
Any kind of Asian food.
18. Favorite part of being a chef?
EVERYTHING. I just love food.
19. Kitchen gadgets you can’t live without?
A good chef’s knife and a zester.
20. 10-minute go-to meal?
Pounded chicken piccata with steamed broccoli.
21. What’s next for The Market by Jennifer’s & Jennifer’s Catering?
Growth—always building bigger, better, and more delicious.
Jennifer values curating unforgettable dining experiences. At The Market by Jennifer’s, she transforms meals into moments with monthly wine-paired dinners, coastal-style seafood broils, seasonal brunches, and chef-driven pop-ups that feel more like a dinner party than a restaurant.
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themarketbyjennifers.com