About Me

Jennifer has been a professional chef since 1998. Her career began in her hometown of Philadelphia, but as she became more interested in organic and locally raised products, she found herself moving to Seattle. There she opened her first business, Bruschettina, at the regional Seattle-area farmers’ markets to local and national acclaim. In 2006, Jennifer did an intership on an agriturismo outside of Siena, but ending up falling in love with neighboring Umbria.

After working at the renowned Osteria Il Bacco Felice in Foligno (Umbria) and later opening her own place, Trattoria Basiliko’, Jennifer decided to take a break from the restaurant biz to start a family and is now the proud mamma of 2 Italo- American bambini.
Jennifer started her third successful entrepreneurial adventure, Life Italian Style in 2011 working as a private chef and leader of eno-gastronomic tours for visitors to Umbria. She works closely with the local artisan producers she has met over the years and keeps her ears open at the markets, always ready to learn a new traditional recipe from an Italian Nonna to share with you!
In January of 2020 things were going so well that Jennifer decided to open an enoteca in Bevagna, Le Barbatelle Wine Bar, to complement Life Italian Style..... and then the end of the world happened.  Tours stopped and Le Barbatelle needed to survive so the format changed from simple wine bar to a small restaurant. 
Fast forward to 2024 and Jennifer has incorporated Gusto Wine Tours into the Life Italian Style portfolio, offering exclusive new wine tours and even a monthly Wine Club!

We hope to see you in Umbria this year - Ciao!!