Ashlee Aldridge is an aspiring foodie, and has been lucky enough to live in three, great food-centric cities thus far. Growing up in Norfolk, VA, she was raised on all things seafood and it wasn’t until she moved to Charlottesville, VA, for college that her taste buds quickly evolved to foods other than fish in the sea. She now resides in Washington, DC, and enjoys supporting the local restaurants and farmers markets that make this city great. An Epidemiologist by day, in her free time Ashlee enjoys playing hostess with the mostess for her husband, friends and family and attempting to check off her never-ending restaurant list she keeps on her iPhone.
Jen Sommers splits her time between D.C. and Rochester, New York, and describes cooking as a lifelong passion, likely inherited from her Mom’s (Italian) side of the family. A lawyer who has spent the lion’s share of her career as a prosecutor, Jen now works at a policing think tank and enjoys bringing goodies into work for her colleagues – an essential feature of any job she has ever held. Jen describes the feeling of cooking while watching Buffalo Bills games in the fall as nirvana with a side order of glee!
Jessica Henderson is embarking on an exciting culinary journey with Just Simply… Cuisine, delving deeper into the art of cooking and experimenting with unique flavors and food pairings. After transformative classes with Chris Coppola Leibner, Jessica’s curiosity was sparked to learn new techniques, refine her culinary skills, and effortlessly combine ingredients chosen from DC’s amazing food and farmers markets. With a growing passion for creating innovative dishes and hosting gatherings, Jessica looks forward to sharing meals that bring people together over good food, wine and lively conversation.
Kerry Kinirons describes herself as a runner, amateur baker, shoe lover, and wine enthusiast (did someone say champagne?). By day, she directs a congressional subcommittee. In her spare time, you can find her testing new cake recipes on her favorite Guinea pigs – her friends and colleagues.
Kimberly Hill is a dog mom, runner, xenophile, and all-round bon vivant who loves bringing people around the table to experience new flavors and ingredients. Her culinary sensibilities have been shaped by many years living abroad, travel to numerous regions and an adventurous spirit. There are few more thrilling endeavors than heading to the local market to discover the freshest champignons, figues