Meet Julianne Jamel

Julie Jamel

Although Julianne was born and raised in Wisconsin, a carnivore’s paradise, she is a practicing vegetarian. Because of this mismatch, she had to learn quickly which foods were going to work, and not incidentally, how to shop for them. As time went on she developed a love of food preparation and the moment that it creates. Her affinity for meal planning and food preparation is fueled by fond memories of family get-togethers while growing up. The memory of the smells from her grand aunt’s fresh baked desserts and her grandmother traditional fixings continue to motivate her.

At this stage in life, many of Julianne’s favorite activities occur in the kitchen, particularly when she can prepare a meal from scratch. Music is probably playing in the background, with Billy Holiday being one of her favorites. A glass of wine is also likely on a nearby countertop.

A love of fresh produce has led to growing herbs and vegetables in a potted garden on her patio. However, Julianne also enjoys the quest for finding the perfect produce at the local farmer’s market. In fact, she likes to search for and shop markets both here in the States and when traveling in places like Munich, Amsterdam and Singapore.

Ever eager to learn, Julianne recreates meals she has enjoyed while dining out – another of her favorite activities. In fact, it is not unusual to see her pull out her iPhone in a restaurant and jot down what she believes are the ingredients of an especially tasty dish. A few days or weeks later, she challenges herself to duplicate or even improve upon it.

In case you are wondering, Julianne works at mastering all forms of cooking, including dishes with meat -- because she strives to please all of her guests. And, just like with her fruits and vegetables, she prefers the freshest cuts, and when possible, those produced by organic farmers.

Julianne has lived on both coast but continues to be rooted in the Midwest. She is a graduate of Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor of Social Work degree . She has worked in the film and TV community where she explored her creative side and developed a love for the craft service table. Julianne enjoys photography, reading a good history book and listening to music.