Virginia Gero is the founder of the premier charcuterie and catering company Arrington Artisans. Curating stunning and nutritious charcuterie boards, grazing tables, and personalized meals, the devoted wife and mother of four is an expert in intertwining creativity and delicious foods. After earning her degree in Nutrition from The Institute for Integrated Nutrition in New York, Gero began her journey in holistic nutrition and helping clients achieve their wellness goals. Dealing with health issues herself, her view on nutrition expanded as she was diagnosed with Celiac disease, and made it her goal to make gluten-free eating normalized and exciting for her clients. In 2011, Gero made the move to Music City, where she continued growing her clientele by enhancing her clients’ diets and health habits, offering nutritional coaching and meal planning.
In 2018, Gero and her family were hit with the life-changing news that her youngest daughter - who was only two years old at the time - had been diagnosed with Leukemia. From that moment forward, everything was put on hold, and it was no question that her sole job would be to care for and support her daughter. Spending almost four years in and out of the hospital, it dawned on her the lack of nutritious options available - and it didn’t stop there - she found that she had to intentionally seek out healthy food options anywhere she went. Once her daughter was healthy and in remission, she was more passionate than ever to truly implement the importance of health and wellness into whatever she did next.
Virginia and her husband have never been strangers to hosting friends and family in their home; Guests would always compliment the curated meals and creativity behind each dish served. Believing that charcuterie is a great conversational food, Gero always loved bringing her visions to life on a platter. After many friends encouraged her to take her hobby to the next level, she decided to jump all in and start her own company. From here, Arrington Artisans was born! Residing in Arrington, the entrepreneur built a brand curated around her passion for cooking and food preparation to bring others an easy, put-together meal for their own gatherings. For almost three years, Arrington Artisans has continued to impress their customers with the outstanding details and thought put into every order.
“What I really enjoy about it is the creativity… it is more than just food on a plate,” Gero shares. “Anytime someone tells me they have a special event, I want to know more about it so I can elevate their experience and their event by really catering it to their unique needs. It is a creative outlet for me,” she shares.
Arrington Artisans not only curates impressive charcuterie and grazing boards, but they also customize dessert platters, fruit and vegetable trays, homemade dips - made from scratch to eliminate unnecessary oils and refined sugars, and catering. With the ideals of building the menu around the event, Gero likes to talk with her clients to create the perfect array of items that will help tie the ribbon on making the event a success. Whether this be hors d'oeuvres for a luncheon or a full dinner for over a hundred people, it is their goal at Arrington Artisans to design a meal that exceeds all expectations.
“Because I believe everything is so individualized to either your event, your personal taste, or a dietary need, I really like to get a sense of what the event is and customize [the menu] around that,” she explains. “A lot of people upcharge for gluten-free, and I do not… I feel like there should be access and ways to accommodate everyone’s dietary needs because I understand that on a personal level.”
With scarce food options available in Arrington, Gero wanted to create a space that could be a one-stop-shop. Since it can be a hassle to drive out to the grocery store on a whim before hosting, she wanted to give folks an option that would alleviate stress and leave everything ready to go. Serving the Middle Tennessee area, Arrington Artisans has had a hand in events from Nashville to Arrington and beyond.
“I think that’s been the most rewarding part of starting this - as a small, woman-owned business,” Gero shares. “Word of mouth has been extraordinarily amazing, I am so overwhelmingly grateful for the business - and repeat business - the people in the community have given me. For people to choose me for their event has meant a lot to me.”
For more information on Arrington Artisans, visit their website and follow them on socials.
@arringtonartisans
“When people ask me to put together a board, it’s not just limited to fruits, meats, and cheeses.”