Meet Jeanette

Jeanette grew up in the hilltop city of Zahle in Lebanon—the largest predominantly Christian community in the Middle East. She was one of seven children, and her grandparents and aunt also lived with her family. Her father was a farmer, and every day he would bring home the freshest, most delicious vegetables for her mom to cook. 

Jeanette learned to cook from her mom, her grandmother, her aunts, and her friends. She first became interested in cooking when she was a teenager and loved cooking with her family and friends growing up. Jeanette still vividly remembers learning to make tabbouleh from her aunts, a recipe she painstakingly perfected over time. After she got married at nineteen, Jeanette also learned her mother-in-law’s recipes, expanding her culinary repertoire.

Jeanette worked as an elementary school French teacher in Lebanon before moving to the United States in 2006. Today, she lives with her husband on Staten Island near her three grown children and one grandchild. She is an active member of her Lebanese Catholic church and is known as one of the best cooks in the community. She often caters small parties and events.

Jeanette’s delicious Lebanese cuisine has been featured by Food & Wine, Vogue, Serious Eats, Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, The Infatuation, Chopt Travels, and other publications.