Jessica Anne Hendrick founded LOVAGE International Culinary and Language Arts in 2012.
Education
Jessica has a Masters in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the University of Alcalá, a Bachelors degree from University of California, Berkeley and a Culinary Degree from Bauman College of Holistic Nutrition and Culinary Arts.
In June 2026 she will graduate from the BEDA Program in conjunction with Catholic Schools of Madrid at Comillas Pontifical University as an Early Language Education Specialist.
She holds Executive and Professional Certificates in Nutritional Therapy, Maternal and Infant Nutrition, and Postpartum Nutrition and Wellness.
Foundational Work Experiences
Jessica began her career as a Personal Chef and Caretaker while living with Italian families in Bologna, Bergamo, Tuscany and Puglia through International AuPair Italy. For three years she taught English to emerging bilingual children and learned the secrets of Italian home cooking. Upon return to California, she became an Italian-speaking caretaker for toddlers and an Assistant Teacher for the groundbreaking Italian immersion pre-school program in Berkeley "Mondo Bambini." She then continued her work as an English Language Arts teacher at Sikkim Himalayan Academy, a K-5 charter school for underserved children in India, as part of her undergraduate senior thesis project at the University of California, Berkeley.
Culinary Background
Inspired by her immersion in farm-to-table cooking in Italy, India and the San Francisco Bay Area, Jessica officially began studying culinary arts and holistic nutrition in 2008. As part of her culinary degree she participated in an externship at Figaro, a seaside Italian and regional Mexican fusion restaurant in La Manzanilla, Jalisco, Mexico. Upon return to California Jessica was quite successful in the famous San Francisco restaurant industry, eventually becoming the Catering and Events Director for a "Top 100" restaurant and a Preferred Caterer, Event Chef and Manager for the British Consulate General of San Francisco. She served the Consulate General for almost a decade and throughout two administrations at their private residence, head office and offsite events. Additionally she co-founded the ARTE Y TAPAS Performance Series, curating dozens of concerts annually offering the unique combination of delicious food, live performances and visual art exhibitions.
Jessica is also a professional Cheesemonger hailing from famous San Francisco Bay Area institutions Cowgirl Creamery, Fatted Calf Charcuterie and Cheese Plus. Jessica studied Cheesemaking with Sasha Laurin, Lead Cheesemaker of Winters Cheese Company and the Art of Cheese Selection with Betty Kostner of L'Amuse Fromagerie and the Essex Street Cheese team at the Cheese School of San Francisco. Jessica now makes her own crème fraîche, feta, marscapone, farmer's cheese, and soft-ripened cheeses.
Jessica offered private kids cooking and cheesemaking classes in San Francisco for over a decade. For three years she also served her community as the Food Coordinator and Chef of the SFMT Youth Theater Project, an afterschool program for San Francisco Bay Area at-risk youth.
Teaching Experiences in Spain
In 2021 Jessica chose to pursue her Master's degree in Spain and officially expand international services following a pause in culinary event production due to the global pandemic. She now specializes in early language education and culinary arts education for emerging bilinguals.
Jessica taught English Language Arts, Social Science, Natural Science, Art Practice and Health Education at CEIP Severo Ochoa for first and second level primary students as part of her Masters practicum at the University of Alcalá.
She currently is in her fourth year working as an English Language Assistant with the BEDA Bilingual Schools program directed by Escuelas Católicas of Madrid and Cambridge English Language Assessment. In these four years she has worked with over 500 students and 30 co-teachers developing and perfecting her teaching style and rigorously expanding her skills and experience in the classroom.
She served her first two years as a native Assistant English Language Arts Teacher at Colegio Apostól Santiago in Aranjuez serving students ages 1-6. She is currently in her second year with all three levels of preschool in the heart of Madrid at Colegio Nuestra Señora de Buen Consejo.
Curriculum Design
Jessica is the author of a groundbreaking dual-language curriculum design for Spanish-speaking children in California which combines culinary arts, health and bilingual education enrichment. This curriculum design was originally submitted as her Masters thesis at the University of Alcalá in June of 2022 and received the highest possible accolades; it is due to be published as a public resource for California educators in 2026.
Private Educational & Boutique Culinary Services
As an educator, Jessica currently offers private Cooking Classes and Language Arts Classes in English, Italian and Spanish for all ages. She specializes in curriculum development and personalized services in early bilingual education that support families with young children in their pursuit of excellence in multicultural language and culinary skills.
As a Private Chef and Postpartum Nutrition and Wellness Specialist, Jessica offers boutique client service packages offering research-backed, holistic and deeply personalized postpartum care for new mothers.
International Presence
Jessica was born and raised on occupied Gabrieleño/Tongva territory in Southern California, and spent many years in San Francisco on native Ramaytush Ohlone land.
She currently resides in the historic neighborhood of Lavapiés in the heart of central Madrid, a mecca for lovers of food, art, language and culture on the beautiful Iberian penninsula.
Her private clientele and events keep her active throughout Spain as well as seasonally on location in Italy, Greece, Mexico, California and beyond.