Bridget Jones
Owner/Personal Chef, SouthernGal in Portugal Bridget Jones, personal chef and owner of SouthernGal in Portugal, launched her business one year ago and has become a household name in Porto! She will share how she leveraged a job loss and turned her passion for cooking into a profitable business, with many happy customers and hungry followers.
About this speaker
Bridget Jones, personal chef and owner of SouthernGal in Portugal, brought her passion of rustic cuisine with southern charm to Portugal, and charmed her way into the mouths of locals! Born and raised in Alabama, she learned the art of soulful cooking from her grandmother, while perched on a bar stool as a kid. She left corporate America and moved to Portugal, bringing spices and a dream to only do work she was passionate about: Cooking.
Bridget launched SouthernGal in Portugal in 2023 as a Thanksgiving event for 24, but that quickly rose to 50, selling out in 3 weeks! That event put her on the map in Portugal and has resulted in a robust list of clients she serves as personal chef to, and the go-to chef others refer, locally and abroad, for southern cuisine.
Bridget has enjoyed many successes from one year ago when she launched, from hosting popup collaborations, cooking classes, and as a travel chef for clients throughout Portugal. She was honored to be featured on “Good Morning America,” https://youtu.be/BBx-BHnHRFo?si=eSwd19uu8Uno1gNKwhere Robin Robert’s crew got a chance to taste her grandmother’s famous homemade biscuits.
Bridget is grateful to do what she loves, and is humbled by the people who trust her with their palates.
“Food is the greatest connector. It’s not just about food, it’s building community. When you feed a soul, you are not only supplying a need, but honoring nostalgia of all the wonderful childhood dishes many in the expat world miss.”
