Chef Jenna Arcidiacono

I met Chef Jenna when our friend MJ- invited us to a Wine Tasting dinner at Amore' Trattoria Italiana in Grand Rapids. It was an amazing dinner with Italian Wine Masters- sharing their organic wines... and the food was Incredible. We met the proprietors Mauricio and Jenna Arcidiacono- a young couple that opened this charming restaurant nearby our house. The Rest is History!On this week's Life in Bloom- Romantic Flowers Episode- Jenna joins me in the kitchen at home- where we create Rose- Infused Vodka- and we mix it up with Rose Spritzers and talk about Italian Traditions and break out the Flower Crowns! No matter what or when Chef Jenna and I meet up - it's always Fun- with lots of Laughs!Jenna and Mauricio - met in San Francisco- where they both worked in an Italian Restaurant "Mona Lisa" - they fell in love and married- and Mauricio took Jenna to live with his family back in Italy- Romantic... yes... but while Mauricio would go off to work - Newlywed Jenna stayed at home with his Mother- who spoke no English- and Jenna - No Italian. Quickly the Mother realized she would communicate to her new Daughter-in-law through cooking- and began to teach the young Jenna- Authentic Northern Italian Cooking- as a form of communication... Again- the Rest is History!The couple moved back to Grand Rapids MI- Jenna's home town started a family and a quaint Authentic Northern Italian Restaurant- Amore' Trattoria Italiana- Amore' for short! Now- let's discuss the food- quite remarkably the finest Lasagna- I've ever eaten...As a family we have Jenna's Lasagna for Christmas Eve every year and fight over the leftovers... The Involtini is out of this world... the Saltimbocca is ... I can't find the symbol for drool- in my emojis... everything on the menu is Superb... it's impossible to find something on the menu- that is not GREAT!Fun Fact- Jenna is a Vegan- and so the menu offers wonderful delicious options for Vegans and Gluten Free diners as well... as I said... you've not been OUT- until you've gone out to Amore' for dinner!Chef Jenna and I - both appear on the Local ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids- WZZM- on the lifestyle show- My West Michigan- We've taught classes together at Amore' - Chef Jenna shares her secrets to Northern Italian Cuisine- and I teach flower arranging during ... we've also brought that little show to the Local Farmer's Market. Jenna has participated and WON- our Annual uBloom Local Celebrity Flower Power Challenge- (you'll see that very event in an upcoming Life in Bloom Show)...  and she's guested on my Fun with Flowers and J on uBloom!Kelly and I had our wedding reception at Amore'- thanks to our Best Friend Suzanne - that threw a party for our Friends- who dined on Authentic Northern Italian deliciousness- while serenaded by the John Shea Jazz Trio... amidst plenty of gorgeous flowers... and a Cheesecake Wedding Cake- complete with 2 Prince Charmings... it was one of the most incredible nights of our lives... Thanks to amazing Friends!Jenna has created her World Famous Authentic Italian Dishes for celebrities - like Snoop Dogg, Cindy Crawford, Nichelle Nichols and ... Me! hehehe! The Pictures hang in the foyer of this charming Trattoria - where people visit, eat and drink in the atmosphere- and enjoy 'gifts from the Kitchen' - like Spoons of Tiramisu - or Chocolate-cello... and Chef Jenna makes the rounds to every table- to share a laugh- hug- and make sure your experience is over the moon!Watch Jenna's First Appearance on Fun with Flowers and J- on uBloom.comCheck out Jenna's recipe for Rose-cello- made with organic garden roses in my Book- Fun with Flowers!Visit Amore' Trattoria Italiana in Grand Rapids- and experience the Finest Authentic Northern Italian Dishes...(Psst... if you come on Fridays at 5pm- you can watch "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" on the big screen) Just sayin'