After growing up in a small community in West Virginia, Chef Jessica was inspired as a child by Julia Child, insisting on watching each and every day! After graduating from Marshall University with a Psychology degree, Jessica Ray flew south to Atlanta, Georgia to attend Culinary School at the Art Institute of Atlanta, where she graduated with honors.

After graduation, Chef Jessica moved further south to St. Simons Island where she began her quest for success at the Cloister on Sea Island. From there, Chef Jessica continued on to Jacksonville, Florida to become the cooking class coordinator at Williams-Sonoma and as a personal chef.
Before too long Chef Jess really missed Atlanta and Atlanta missed her culinary talent! Soon after, she relocated permanently to Atlanta to dig roots in the community and her garden.

In the five years Chef Jessica had been back she’s had the privilege of leading a team of culinary professionals in Atlanta while Director of Viking’s Cooking School and at Hal's Kitchen. You may have even taken one of her engaging cooking classes!

In her role as owner/ceo of Culinary Artistry Personal Chef Service you’ll find Jessica preparing lavish wine paired, multiple course dinner parties for clients, conducting private cooking classes in the homes of clients, aboard a CSX office car train cooking for esteemed guests at events like the US Masters and Kentucky Derby, preparing weekly dinners for clients or teaching future gardeners in her organic herb and vegetable garden, where she enjoys spending time.

Jessica has a great passion for creating wonderful dishes with the freshest ingredients. This passion is matched to her desire to share her knowledge through teaching and private underground dinners.

Chef Jessica comments: “My mom recalls having to wake up early on Saturdays to supervise me cooking everyone breakfast at age 3. I guess I started at an early age…

I wake up every morning feeling fortunate to be doing what I love every day!!”