Who is The Dining Traveler? Jessica van Dop DeJesus is an award-winning travel and food digital content creator, author, and social media strategist. She began traveling as a young Marine over 25 years ago and has been to over 60 countries on and off duty. She spent most of her post-collegiate years Living and working abroad. The journey began with a military tour in Okinawa, Japan, six years in Belgium (with a year in Germany in between), and back to living in Washington, DC. She now divides her time between Brussels, Belgium, Washington, DC, and Western New York.
Her husband is from Rotterdam, The Netherlands, and she’s fallen in love with Dutch culture and travels there several times a year. She comes from a bicultural upbringing as she grew up in Puerto Rico and Western NY State. All of these experiences give her a broad perspective on food and travel.
Head to our Press Page for clips, quotes, and collaborations.
The Dining Traveler Travels
Jessica van Dop DeJesus has actively traveled for over 25 years. In 2006, she left active duty military service, became a weekend warrior, and moved to Brussels to pursue her MBA. Given her experiences, she has been fortunate to view the world from many different angles. She has fed elephants in Thailand, hugged Koalas in Australia, fished in Dakar, sang schlager songs wearing a Dirndl in Munich, waddled pregnant around Japan, and now has traveled to countries like Slovenia, Colombia, and Austria with her daughter.
The Dining Traveler Eats
As the name implies, a big part of The Dining Traveler is food. Whether it’s cooking global fare at home or eating out, we love to tell the stories of food, dining, and the people behind the dishes we love. Whether it’s sharing the stories of top chefs or sharing my mother’s recipes, The Dining Traveler commits to sharing stories of global dining.
The Content
What does The Dining Traveler offer? For leisure travelers, time is of the essence. Jessica runs a digital marketing business, is a freelance travel/food writer, and recently retired as a Marine Reserve Officer. Her goal is to find and share efficient travel experiences. She’s a pro at turning a business trip into leisure travel. Some travelers believe they cannot experience a city or country during a short 24-96 hour period. Life is short! Take a weekend trip, whether it’s across the Potomac or a getaway in Spain, and maximize your precious vacation days!
For Jessica, travel and food are intertwined. You get to experience culture through food. When you find a local, off-the-beaten-path place to dine, you can get a perspective on how people live. Her mission is to inspire others to travel, whether it is to an Austrian vineyard or a museum in Washington, DC.
Social Impact
One of the goals of Jessica and The Dining Traveler team is to create content to uplift the voices of the hardworking people in the hospitality industry, especially women, veterans, and underrepresented communities. Jessica does this by being involved in community associations, volunteering, and amplifying voices via her contributions to different media outlets.
Here are some of the organizations and initiatives we work with:
Board of Directors, Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation
Advisory Board/Media Partner, The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture
Communications Committee, Les Dames d ‘Escoffier (board member)
Active Volunteer: World Central Kitchen, Friends of Puerto Rico
Mentor and Facilitator: Bunker Labs (Veteran Entrepreneurship)
Member of the Year (2021): International Association of Culinary Professionals
Contact
Want to work with Jessica? Send her an email jessica (at) diningtraveler.com
