about us
jo
After 12 years as a successful hospital physician in London’s top hospitals, Jo decided in 2015 that it was time to follow her heart.
She went to culinary school and then worked in a range of London’s Michelin-starred establishments including Chez Bruce, Spring, Medlar, Bar Boulud and Cafe Murano, before joining the UK’s iconic Italian restaurant, The River Café. During this time, Jo fed her passion for simple, seasonal, authentic and excellent Italian food.
Soon after moving to the United States, Jo was hired by the James Beard Award-winning chef, Gavin Kaysen. She was part of the team that opened the acclaimed French restaurant, Bellecour in Wayzata, MN.
Most recently, she and Lisa have been running their own bespoke catering and private cheffing business while occasionally popping up as Gia.
lisa
A minnesota native, Lisa was inspired to cook after a childhood of watching her parents cook, entertain, laugh & feast with friends and family.
It was whilst working at Cocoa & Fig bakery in Shakopee, Minnesota, that she realised her calling and applied to culinary school.
After 2 years at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, she landed a highly-coveted externship at Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc in Yountville, California. Soon after she returned to Minnesota where she joined Gavin Kaysen’s French restaurant, Bellecour, where she remained until the pandemic closed it down.
Lisa has been working with Jo since 2020 and brings a passion for rustic French cooking and endless good humour to their partnership.
the gia philosophy
gia was born from our combined belief that food should be uncompromisingly delicious. we get our inspiration from the authentic, the rustic and the traditional and then create food which is contemporary and refined.
our fundamental belief is that high-quality ingredients, simply but perfectly prepared, are the route to culinary happiness… beautiful broccolini, handfuls of lacinato kale, garden fresh herbs, tomatoes, vegetables and more. we practice ethical sourcing and support sustainable farming methods - looking after our environment and local farmers. where possible, we buy local and organic.
we believe that sharing food should be a fun and bonding experience. sitting down to eat a meal nourishes us physically and spiritually. it promotes family and community. we hope that a seat at the gia table provides that for you.