Chutney Mary’s

Nerissa Maria Josephine Ward

Chef and Entrepreneur

HISTORY

Nerissa's passion for cooking started at the age of 4. Although she was looked down upon and often scolded by her parents for wanting to be a cook, as this was not a career in the 80's in Calcutta-India where she grew up. Being from a middle class Anglo Indian family, there were maids and servants to take care of those chores, she was encouraged to focus on her books, instead of being in the kitchen. However she never let that stop her passion from ever getting in the way, and as soon as her parents would leave for work or errands she would find herself back in the kitchen cooking up something or the other. Being raised in a community with so many different cultures around, it was always a gift to learn new flavors and cooking techniques with her grandmother Mary Violet Ward, or maids and nannies, who allowed her to help out with the little tasks in the kitchen.

Born into an Anglo-Indian home her mother of German, Armenian and Irish descent, Ann Margaret Christine Ward (Mackrodt), was always catering, distributing food and creating recipes that were even put in a cook book by Madhu Jeffrey, well known Indian author and chef, in the BBC. Her father Kevin A. Ward (British, Anglo Indian) a well known and respected teacher for over 25 years in Calcutta, also had a great skill for cooking, who she credits for her patience and chopping techniques, along with Chef Martin Yan.

In August of 1996 the Ward family immigrated to San Jose California, where some weekends and evenings were spent helping out in her aunt Jeanne Bonk's restaurant in Santa Clara. The Empress of India, one of the first Indian restaurants in the Bay area for over 20 years. Helping to wait tables, wash dishes, and prep was some of the first tasks in a professional kitchen at 14. While in high school, recess was work time for Nerissa, and would enjoy distributing food at the lunch line and snack shack.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

After graduating with the class of 2000, from William C. Overfelt in San Jose, California, she stayed close to home by achieving degrees in Business Entrepreneurship and Hospitality Management at San Jose State University. While a student, she worked at the SUDS (student union dining services) alongside the chefs in charge of the grills, woks and breakfast station. A few months after, at the age of 20, she was handed a station of her own called "Chutneys" where she was cooking the Indian Food for her fellow Spartans. Hard work and balancing jobs was never an issue, since Quiznos Subs, Mary Kay, Spartan Shops, and Stanford University Dining were all employers of Nerissa during the same time, all while she was a student at SJSU, finishing her degrees.

During the summers 2001-2005 she worked for the City of San Jose's "Family Camp" near Yosemite, where she applied for the prep job, but once her talent in the kitchen was discovered, she was promoted to the Head Chef and Food Services Manager. Here she was responsible for all meals on the campsite, ranging from 100 to 450 per shift, plus the staff who maintained the grounds. Upon her return to the Bay area, she decided to work in Nutrition and Dietary Health at the Community Hospital of Los Gatos, and after its closure, she landed the job for a sous chef at Google Headquarters in Mountain View, California, in 2009-2011. Running Cafe Moma was a great experience for Nerissa, as she was given the opportunity to shine in her international culinary talents and learn so much more from other chefs who she came across. It was a blank canvas, and the colors limitless. But after the corporate life of Google and Apple, it was time to start her own food establishment, as her relationship and satisfaction for the clientele was something she revered most.

HOW IT STARTED

A new chapter began as the food truck industry was taking off in the bay area, and Nerissa wanted a piece of that pie. Chutney Mary's was officially on the road 19th January, 2012. The Metro 2012, the Santa Clara Times 2014, FilAm Star 2014, Food and Wine Magazine, have all had the opportunity to capture the ambiance and creativity of Nerissa, but she is like an evolving spirit, and only time will show what she was yet to accomplish. The Silicon Valley was just the beginning of the history to follow, serving high tech companies like Dell, Microsoft, Samsung, Apple, Groupon and many more.

In 2018 she relocated with her sister Tech Sargent Yolande Ward, United States Airforce, to Alexandria Virginia, to try a new scene of the culinary world. She decided to give the restaurant business a try again and helped open a German-Austrian restaurant, The Village Brauhaus 2019. Unfortunately it was not the best decision, as her talent and skill were not being put to use, and she decided that it was time for Chutney Mary's to be back. A custom built detailed food truck was designed by Nerissa and made according to her specifications, and was ready for opening in February of 2020. However due to the pandemic, this was not how things went forward. The truck was on hold, and Nerissa found herself working at a local wine, beer, gourmet cheese and charcuterie store. Cheese had always been a part of her career, but this time it was up close and personal, and curiosity began this new path as a Cheesemonger at Unwined in Alexandria Virginia.

The truck is up and running since August 2020, serving all Military Bases in the DMV area (District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia) during the day, and Nerissa still continues to share her love for cheese during the evenings. She researched many hours and started a Cheese Document and Log Book which she plans to publish. She also took responsibility for organizing and launching a Cheese & Charcuterie ordering programme, which has been a smashing hit for the store since October of 2020.

HOW IT'S GOING

Alexandria, Virginia, though vast in diversity, does not have the flavors that the California food scene has, and Nerissa has made it her duty and passion to spread joy and satisfaction through every plate she makes. She continues to make her business grow and is still doing her healthy and home style meal program called Mary's Table, and is a frequent on her YouTube channel "Miss Chutney Mary" where she shares her travels, recipes, and appetite for life.

WHY SHE'S AWESOME

Nerissa aka Miss Mary takes pride in what she does, and is very thorough on getting dishes perfected to the right balance of authenticity and innovation. She loves to create and bring the clients vision to life, and what she does with limitless cuisines is unmatched by any other caterer. With thirty plus years under her belt, she currently offers thirty five plus different Cuisines, something no other chef is doing in the area, and has actually been flown out to different states by clients to cater events. She does not believe in a website, and would rather talk to the client directly to develop a relationship, get exactly what the client requests, since each client is special, and she makes sure they know it. Besides her food truck service (including dessert trucks as well), she also offers drop off catering, buffet set up catering, full service events (plated, passed, platters, charcuterie, weddings to corporate) and even small dinners for an intimate setting, with table side cooking. Her creativity, talent, and customer service is guaranteed to leave you waiting for the next event for you to hire her.