CHEF JESSE MERCHANT ZUNIGA
An LA native, despite having an art history degree, Jesse decided to pursue a culinary career after working at Sunday Suppers in Brooklyn. After graduating from the International Culinary Center, she cut her teeth as a pastry chef at Lilia (James Beard Winner). From there, she went on to fine-tune her skills at respected New York restaurants like Wildair and Cervo's and eventually, as a sous chef at Hart’s in Brooklyn. Currently, along with husband Javier Zuniga, she is the Chef/Co-Owner of Bad Habit, a high-end ice cream brand, and Caleta, a small plates concept due to open in January 2023.
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Career Highlights
Sunday Suppers
Lilia
Wildair
Cervo's
Hart's
RESERVE A DINING EXPERIENCE WITH RESIDENT
PRIVATE DINING EXPERIENCE
Private dinners, corporate gatherings, birthdays, brand activations, and more — all planned with Michelin-trained chefs, exclusive NYC venues, and seamless full-service production.
What to expect when planning an event with Resident and our Michelin-trained chefs:
One-night-only menus created exclusively for your event
Chef-led presentation of each dish, ingredient, and inspiration
Hosted in iconic and exclusive NYC venues
Designed to bring people closer, one course at a time
*Subject to chef availability, we offer a broader roster of Michelin-trained chefs to choose from.
TICKETED DINING EXPERIENCE
A chef-guided, one-night-only menu served in intimate New York venues to a small group of guests. Not private — intentionally shared, and made memorable by the people you meet.
What to expect when attending a ticketed event at Resident:
A dining format crafted for connection, novelty, and convivial moments
A chef-guided, one-night-only menu shared by design
Not private — intentionally communal, powered by new connections
Intimate New York venues that spark conversation before the first course lands
*Subject to chef availability, we offer a broader roster of Michelin-trained chefs to choose from.
