Jesse Cool’s life has always centered around food as a delicious way to welcome family and friends. Her father owned a grocery store and grew an organic garden. Her mother’s Jewish/Italian heritage made meals a lively experience in many flavors. So, it was only natural that when Cool opened her first restaurant in the mid-1970’s that she made almost everything from scratch, using as many organic ingredients as she could find, especially produce.

In 1982, Cool opened her second restaurant, the Flea St. Café in Menlo Park, where her continued dedication to organics and local products was recognized on many “best” lists for what was then considered unusual and innovative—menus based on California ingredients and local wines.

Over the years, Cool has made featured appearances on The Morning Show, and The Food Network, taught at Stanford University and Stanford School of Medicine, and been a guest chef at the historic Ahwahnee Hotel’s Chefs Winter Holiday event in Yosemite National Park.

She is the recipient of many business leadership awards and recognition for green business practices. Her personal garden, complete with chickens, is a setting for ongoing community education and inspiration to other gardeners.

Her seventh and most recent book is “Simply Organic” and she is a contributor for numerous national magazines. Cool currently runs the Cool Café at Stanford’s Cantor Art Center, the recently launched Cool Café @ Menlo Business Park and Cooleatz Catering, in addition to Flea St. Café.