Jilly & Jessie Lagasse

Jillian Lagasse’s talent and passion for food was apparent from quite an early age. Recognizing her natural talent in the kitchen, her father gifted her with a set of Chefs Whites and allowed her to start helping in the Pastry and Dessert Department in one of his restaurants. This led to her assisting him on book tours, cooking events and even working alongside him on his “Emeril’s Creole Christmas” cookbook.

In 2004, the same year she was diagnosed with Celiac’s, Jillian decided to follow another passion, moving to London, England, to attend a renowned make up and airbrush artistry school. Her career immediately took off, drawing her to such cities as Los Angeles, Mumbai and New York City. She continued to work with her father, but in a different capacity, moving from the kitchen to the television set, becoming the staff makeup artist for “The Originals” program as seen on The Cooking Channel, as well as “Emeril’s Table” on The Hallmark Channel. Jillian currently splits her time between New Orleans and London. An apron is always packed and on hand for cooking in anyone’s kitchen she can along the way.

Jessie Lagasse Swanson is just a girl who needed to follow a gluten-free diet and decided she wanted tastier food than was being offered to those with her condition. Prior to her position of full-time Mom, Jessie was a Certified Public Accountant specializing in tax and litigation support. She obtained an undergraduate degree in classical studies and a masters of business administration from Tulane University. Always wanting to run her own business, Jessie and her husband started a waste vegetable oil recycling business, Louisiana Oilworks, in 2008. She handled the administrative end until 2009, when she “retired” to motherhood! Jessie currently resides in New Orleans with her husband, Steven, and two sons, Jude and John Peter.