Chef Jesse Roque
Jesse Roque
Chef & Restaurateur
The day that Jesse Roque headed north to South Carolina, Florida lost a little bit of what makes it the “sunshine state”. This bundle of blond ambition, full of fiery passion and a desire to create, was bound for culinary greatness…with a stop along the way at the Charleston campus of Johnson and Wales.
Jesse felt right at home at the esteemed culinary institute, perfecting pastries and sweet delights, ultimately excelling as a pastry chef. Her skills and growing reputation landed her gigs at such prestigious haunts as Fontainbleau Hilton Hotel, Miami Beach and The Charleston Grill, a Mobil Four-Star/AAA Four-Diamond oasis located in the Charleston Place Hotel, Charleston, South Carolina.
While the education and experience enhanced Jesse’s talents, it was most likely her childhood among the artists and inventors (aka her family), which truly inspired Jesse to be the creator that she is today. New ideas for flavorful dishes and culinary treats can almost overwhelm this busy Chef. She’s constantly researching new flavors, trends and styles, and then blending them with her own culinary point of view: a mix of Low Country South Carolina flavors with Mexican traditions. Jesse calls this style of cooking Low Mex and infuses it into menus found in her signature creations: the Never Blue Tapas Bar & Restaurant, the Sweet Violet Chocolate Lounge (yes, even there), the Blue Gypsy Saloon (opening September 2011), and her newest addition, Never Blue on Broadway in Asheville. Her style is palpable: a mix of spice, tradition, and edginess that makes you happy you stopped by.
Thankfully, Jesse and her husband Edson made their way to Hendersonville, North Carolina in 2007. Working alongside her mother, professional sculptor and artist Pam Cosner, Jesse renovated a former garage on Main Street in Hendersonville into the vibrant space that is Never Blue and the equally cool spot known as Sweet Violet Chocolate Lounge.
Stick around, this Chef is sure to keep moving and creating.
