About

Inspired by the generations of imaginative and animated storytellers in her Cuban and Jewish family, Jennifer Stempel has been weaving tales of her own since she first learned to speak. As a child with an insatiable curiosity about the world, she was commonly found with her nose in a book, and soon earned the schoolyard nickname, “Bookworm.” Fueled by her love of story, character, and performance, Jennifer pursued her undergraduate degree from Northwestern University’s School of Communication, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Theatre. There, she focused on Creative Drama and Storytelling, and she co-founded a traveling storytelling troupe, which toured the greater Chicagoland area. 

Following her return to her hometown of Los Angeles, she expanded her storytelling skills by earning a Master’s degree in Writing for Screen and Television at USC. During her studies, she placed as a finalist for the Desi Arnaz Writing Award, issued by the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. Throughout her subsequent 15-year career in the entertainment industry, Jennifer inspired many as a television development executive, collaborating with award-winning writers and producers to craft and pitch stories for various studios and networks. She shepherded and supported numerous projects that successfully sold to CBS Studios, Fox TV Studios, Showtime, TNT, USA, STARZ, A&E, HBO, E!, Lifetime, SyFy, NBC, ABC, and FOX Network.

As an additional creative outlet, Jennifer tapped into her cultural roots to launch her food blog, TheCubanReuben.com, in 2013. Here, she expertly intertwined family stories and recipes, seamlessly bridging the divide between her Cuban, American, and Jewish heritages, and sharing her passion for food and traditions. As her blog garnered more attention, she frequently contributed to culinary and editorial outlets, including Woman’s Day, Rachael Ray Everyday, POPSUGAR, NBC Latino, and Relativity Media’s Coin. Additionally, her work has been featured by The Jewish Daily Forward, PJ Library, The Nosher, MyJewishLearning.com, and Be’chol Lashon.

As her love for food writing grew, Jennifer pivoted careers to focus more on creating content in this space, as well as teaching cooking classes, both in-person and virtually. Her lively and interactive workshops, which range from Jewish cooking, Cuban flavors, and everything in between, have helped build confidence in the kitchen for countless students, ranging from young children to those who are young at heart. 

Another extension of Jennifer’s storytelling gifts can be found in her debut children’s picture book, With a Needle and Thread: A Jewish Folktale from Cuba. Here, Jennifer showcases the Cuban Jewish community’s resourcefulness and ingenuity in keeping their traditions alive. Her book is inspired by relationships and observations she’s made, during her numerous trips to Cuba, as well as the treasure trove of stories passed down to her from her own elders.

Jennifer is married to her college sweetheart, a real-life rocket scientist, and is the mother of two fantastic storytellers. She and her family currently call the St. Louis area home, and she relishes passing down traditions to her own kids, one story at a time.