Rose Archer was a professional chef for 16 years. After an 11-year break, she’s back!
Rose’s passion for food was instilled in her at a very young age. Highly driven, Rose graduated from the Les Cordon Bleu - Western Culinary Institute in 1998 at 19 years old in the top 5% of her class. She then moved to Los Angeles to work at the top-rated restaurants Spago’s, Campanile, and Les Deux Cafes under the incredible chefs Nancy Silverton, Suzanne Goin, Kim Sklar, Sherry Yard, Wolfgang Puck, and David Wynne.
When an opportunity to work in Paris presented itself, Rose jumped. At age 21, Rose arrived in Paris with $700 to her name, three maxed-out credit cards, no work visa, nowhere to live, and she didn’t speak French. However, having been raised by welfare hippies on Maui, what she did have was grit in spades.
What she thought would be a 6-month stint in Paris turned into 4.5 years in Europe in France, Italy, and the Bavarian Alps. She went to Europe thinking she would learn about cooking but ended up learning about herself (and cooking!). She worked in almost any restaurant that would hire her under the table. She worked in high-end restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and even a fashion house for runway season!
Most notably, Rose worked in the kitchen of Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy, under chef Massimo Bottura, which was named the number-one restaurant in the world in 2016 and 2018.
Rose returned to the US and spent many years as the Pastry Chef of fine dining restaurants. She started a catering company at the age of 27 and then moved into teaching as the Culinary Director of a cooking school and restaurant consultant. Rose took a break to have her son, Aidan, and help start a charter school in Bend. When she returned to the workforce, she launched an online learning cooking school and moved into business operations.
After a few years of working in the management and operations of other people’s companies, Rose felt the call to get back to food and launch another company. Rose had dreamt of a monthly supper club for years. She wanted a way to keep her hand and heart in the world of cheffing but not work crazy hours. The Luscious Supper Club was born in December 2022!
Rose also works full-time as a Deep Tissue Laser Therapist at her other company, Ignite Laser Therapy. Hop over to the website to learn more about that!
Rose Archer - Chef / Owner
Deena Cook brings her passion for elegant service to the Luscious dining room.
Deena grew up as a Navy brat, traveling and tasting food from around the globe. She has lived and traveled throughout Europe, the Philippines, Central America, the Seychelles, and Thailand. Her parents loved cooking and entertaining, and they passed that passion on to her. Deena brings over 30 years of hospitality management and fine dining experience to the Luscious Supper Club. Deena has worked in dining establishments ranging from charming coffee shops to Michelin Star restaurants. She has an unwavering passion for service, dining, and cuisine. Deena wants to build a memorable and unique experience for every Lucious Supper Club guest.
Deena Cook - Dining Room Manager
Jenny Howard brings a dose of eclectic energy to the Luscious Team!
Jenny’s gypsy-like journey through life comes courtesy of a military upbringing, a chance encounter in Naples, Italy, with her soon-to-be (military) husband, and 30-plus years traversing the country with her family at the whim of the US Navy. Hawaii, Guam, Virginia, Washington DC, Connecticut, Nebraska, Washington, California, and Oregon all have lead roles in the chapters of Jenny’s story. Born into an entertaining family (in all senses of the word), Jenny quickly realized that her inherited proclivity for cooking and catering offered job opportunities regardless of where she landed. (As opposed to her degree in Russian and French, which initially brought her a job offer to translate on a Russian fishing vessel…as the only female on board!
Navigating Jenny’s motley resume is about as exciting as some of her catering jobs for DC diplomats (she once served cookies to Hillary Clinton at a crowded house party) or for blushing brides (who invariably insisted on hosting 500 guests outside, with no kitchen, in 100 degree heat). Over the years, she’s enjoyed some side dabbles outside of the kitchen as well, including management gigs at a culinary retail boutique, a neighborhood wine bar, and at the Wente Family Vineyards Tasting Room in Livermore, California.
In 2019, Jenny went all-in on her enduring love of Italy and pizza, launching Gigi Rolling Wood Fired Kitchen, a mobile catering business served from a lovingly restored 1962 International Harvester firetruck. With an authentic Italian wood-fired oven and 4 beer taps on board, the business was a party on wheels brought directly to her Northern California clients. ‘Rolling with Gigi’ was an instant hit and the perfect vehicle for Jenny’s flour-dusted passions.
Now permanently settled in Bend with her husband (and two grown daughters not so far away), Jenny is keeping her enthusiasm for elevated wine + food experiences front and center. She has a spoonful of serendipity to thank for connecting her to the Luscious Supper Club, where you’ll find her busy behind the curtain helping to bring Rose’s culinary creativity to life.
Jenny Howard - Sous Chef
Jojo Buss exudes positivity and joy in everything she does!
Jojo was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA where she grew up watching her father cook. While helping him prepare dinners and find recipes, she developed a love for being in the kitchen. After graduating college in Vermont, she spent a handful of years working in the outdoor industry all over the Western United States. She finally settled in Bend in 2017 and continued to cook and bake at home. But after a few years, she decided to truly follow her passion for food and started working in kitchens throughout town. Jojo is incredibly excited to join this all-female kitchen team and explore her passion for fine dining.
Jojo Buss - Lead Cook