Voted Female Chef of the Year 2021 by l'Espresso and Best Chef at Identità Golose 2023, Jessica Rosval came from Canada to join the Francescana Family and she leads "Al Gatto Verde", 1 Michelin star and 1 green star. The chef is also involved in social-oriented initiatives through the nonprofit organization AIW and the self-managed restaurant, "Roots."
Born in Canada in 1985, Jessica Rosval attended a culinary school in Montréal and began her culinary career in 2001, working at "Chez L'Épicier" in Montréal and later at "Bearfoot Bistro" with Melissa Craig. However, her professional breakthrough came in 2013 when she arrived in Italy, following her boyfriend who was studying at Bocconi University.
In October, to celebrate her birthday, she visited "Osteria Francescana" in Modena: "It was a lightning bolt. After dinner, Massimo stopped to chat with us. I had told him about my passion and my small culinary experience." Fast forward, two months later, Jessica joined the Francescana Family, working in the appetizer section of the Osteria.
She later also became responsible for Osteria Francescana's external events, and since 2019, she has been at the helm of "Casa Maria Luigia," taking care of and overseeing the entire gastronomic offerings of the establishment from breakfast, to the Francescana at Maria Luigia experience, to Sunday brunch where she evolved her cuisine tecnique using the wood-burning oven.
It was precisely the latter format that evolved in September 2023 into the Francescana Group's new restaurant, also located in Modena, called "Al Gatto Verde." Here she carry on her style of cooking, also made of intense flavors given by the skillful use of fire. The restaurant has been awarded a Michelin and a green star in 2024.
She was awarded the Female Chef of the Year 2021 by the l'Espresso, and in 2023, she won the Identità Golose award for Best Chef.
Jessica is also a co-founder of the organization AIW, which provides training courses and professional opportunities for migrant women interested in the culinary field. Through AIW, she also manages "Roots" in Modena, a coworking space during the day and a cosmopolitan restaurant in the evening.
Cover Photo: @paoloterzi
