Jenny Levison

Jenny Levison is a chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and national TV personality recognized as the founder of Souper Jenny, a collection of neighborhood cafes serving the Atlanta community fresh, wholesome food. Levison attended Carnegie Mellon University and worked as an actress in Los Angeles and New York before transitioning to the culinary industry. She traveled internationally, visiting 24 countries and learning to prepare a variety of cuisines, which inspired her to focus on soup as a universal dish. Levison opened her first restaurant with two employees and a modest investment from a brief hand modeling career.

Souper Jenny has expanded into multiple cafes known for their rotating menus, with the exception of "My Dad's Turkey Chili." All profits from this soup support The Zadie Project, a nonprofit providing healthy meals to children in Title 1 schools. Levison has also introduced additional concepts, including Café Jonah & the Magical Attic and Juicy Jenny Community Juice Bar + Superfood Emporium, and has brought her soups to Florida's 30A corridor.

Levison is the author of several cookbooks, including "Souper Jenny Cooks," "Souper Jenny Does Salads," and "Souper Jenny Goes Vegan." Through her books and television appearances, she shares recipes and stories that promote healthy eating and community engagement. Her background in theater continues to influence her public life, including a one-woman show, "Say Yes – An Evening of Soup, Song, and Savory Stories," performed at Synchronicity Theatre.

Levison established The Zadie Project, named after her father, to address food insecurity among children in Atlanta. The initiative began with 25 quarts of soup for students and has grown to distribute hundreds of quarts weekly, supporting both her restaurants and community mission with produce from a one-acre garden. Levison's career spans the culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and philanthropy, making her a prominent figure in the Atlanta restaurant industry and a voice on community building and the impact of nutritious food.