Meet Jessica

Welcome to The Novice Chef, where you can expect tried and true, delectable everyday recipes that your entire family will love! We are a small family team that has been providing high quality recipes since 2008. 

My name is Jessica Segarra and I’m a home cook from Texas who’s now thriving in her Florida kitchen. I grew up in a family that always cooked and rarely ate out. My wonderful mom had dinner on the table every day with a homemade dessert almost every weekend. Food is a passion and I’ve taken cooking classes both with local chefs at their restaurants, at Sur La Table, and even worked as a prep-line cook in my early 20’s. I also taught cooking classes in Tampa, Florida until I had my girls in 2014.

I’m a wife to Jorge, mama to twins Ellie & Lyla and my son Milo. My kids are my life and I love that all three of my kids share a love of cooking – and eating – with me. 

Hi there, I’m Jorge Segarra. I was born in Puerto Rico and moved stateside when I was in elementary school. I grew up with three siblings and a strong single mom. Growing up, food was a major part of our day to day life. From my Abuela’s Tostones, to my Mom’s Arroz Con Gandules and Pernil. As an an adult, I took cooking and wine tasting classes at Syracuse University. I learned basic chef skills, wine pairings, and how to cook everything from pastas and sauces to breads from scratch. 

I don’t get back to the island as often as I would like, so food has become the easiest way to get that taste of home. I’m a former IT professional who retired early to be a full-time stay-at-home dad and to share my Puerto Rican recipes. Thanks to my wife’s amazing platform, I’m hoping I can share family’s love and food with everyone!