Mama Jean
Written and Photographed by Nancy Clover
If you have not had a savory turnover or a sweet treat from Mama Jean’s baked goods, you are missing a delightful indulgence!
Jess Drench, a personal chef and proprietor of the women-owned business, just celebrated her first business anniversary.
Mama Jean is named after Jess’s grandmother, a Ukrainian refugee. Growing up in Massachusetts, her home was filled with homemade cooking. The pastry dough, which she rolls out on her mom’s one-ton butcher block table is her mother’s recipe.
Everything Jess bakes is from scratch, with no preservatives, utilizing local farms and produce. The herbs and edible flowers are grown in her Melrose home garden.
A believer that everyone deserves good food, she shapes her menu to include gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-restricted.
Her teaching background is perfect for her classes at The Kitchen including courses on cooking with the seasons and meal prep club.
Mama Jean strives for zero waste by composting and using compostable bags and parchments. Community oriented she donates to the local community freezer and the Melrose Food Drive.
You can find her beautifully displayed products at the Melrose Farmers' Market, Union Square Farmers Market in Somerville, and Green Street Natural Food.
Jess’s favorite food is sushi and she is passionate about traveling to try new cuisine and unusual spices.
Over the last year, she has learned to balance the calendar and block out time for herself.
What do you think is a quirky thing about Melrose – “There are 3 train stations in this small city!”
Treat yourself to one of Mama Jean’s baked goods and thank me later.
