Jess Paholsky - Once Upon A Pesto

As the creator of Once Upon a Pesto, Dauphin County resident Jessica Paholsky specializes in unique pesto recipes. She combines often-unfamiliar produce to create flavor profiles of pesto that help at-home chefs travel the world through their tastebuds.

Once Upon a Pesto, Paholsky’s website, was born when she worked at a publishing house and dreamed of writing a cookbook. Her inspiration stems from the idea that pesto is a process, not a recipe. It can be made by grinding or blending ingredients together and is customizable across cultures.

Paholsky specializes in crafting pesto recipes that pair well with a signature dish, paying homage to the history of specific geographic regions around the world.

“When creating my recipes, I discover a significance to a single ingredient in a certain culture or country,” she said. “From there, I research more about that food and why it plays a role in that culture. Then I use my culinary experience to combine flavors and textures, resulting in a brand-new pesto.”

Since its founding in 2016, Once Upon a Pesto has blossomed into a fusion of food history, recipes and international cultures. Paholsky also has expanded her social media presence, growing her following to the double-digit thousands.