Umberto Rose pastry chef at Vestals Catering
Before joining Vestals Catering, Umberto Rose faced significant challenges, including homelessness. He was in the process of transitioning off the streets when an unexpected encounter changed his life. One day, while panhandling not far from the former Vestals Catering kitchen, Jordan Swim, the owner of Vestals Catering, recognized Rose from CitySquare’s food pantry, where he volunteers. Swim stopped to talk to Rose, gave him his business card, and invited him to visit the kitchen sometime. The following week, Rose took Swim up on the offer. He met with Swim and another member of the team who had once been homeless as well, but with the support of others— including Swim—she had overcome her challenges and was now working at Vestals Catering. Rose felt instantly at ease, thus giving him the courage to share his story with the Vestals Catering team: a scooter accident had resulted in a broken back, making it difficult for him to find and keep a job due to ongoing pain, and for two years he struggled to find an employer willing to hire him given his physical limitations. After hearing his story, Swim offered Rose a job on the spot.
Umberto Rose, Pastry Chef at Vestals Catering. Photo courtesy Vestals Catering Janice Hope
pastry chef at Marcia Selden Catering & Events For 30 years, Janice Hope has been crafting deliciousness at Marcia Selden Catering & Events, and “honestly, I’m not sure what we’d do without her,” says Chef Robin Selden. Hope started out as a prep chef, quietly working events and honing her craft behind the scenes. Hope doesn’t just bake; she pours her heart into every cookie, tart, and cake that leaves the kitchen. Some call it perfectionism, but the Seldens call it pure magic. Hope embodies the core values of the company: dedication, collaboration, integrity, service excellence, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. Her standards are as high as her heart is big. No tray of cookies, no cake or tart leaves the kitchen without her careful inspection, every edge clean, every glaze glistening. She doesn’t just meet expectations; she exceeds them, ensuring that each sweet treat tells a story of care and craftsmanship. More than her baking skills, though, it’s her heart that leaves the biggest impact. She’s the one who keeps morale high, cracking jokes when stress is running wild. She has sweet terms of endearment for every team member which always brings a smile to their faces. “We always say that our food tells a story, and Janice is one of the best storytellers we know,” says Selden. “Every dessert she makes, every smile she shares, and every moment she spends lifting up her teammates is proof that Janice isn’t just a talented chef, she’s family to us. She’s the heartbeat of our kitchen, the keeper of our morning rituals, and the reason half our team is secretly addicted to chocolate chip cookies. She’s a true unsung hero, and we couldn’t be luckier to have her in our family at Marcia Selden Catering.”
Janice Hope, Pastry Chef at Marcia Selden Catering & Events. Photo courtesy Marcia Selden Catering & Events
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