COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Last month, hundreds of midwestern women met in California for the Remarkable Woman awards, including one businessowner from Grand Rapids.
The journey to Hollywood started when Grand Rapids chef Jenna Arcidiacono was nominated earlier this year for the local West Michigan Remarkable Women award hosted by Nexstar Media Group.
But it was when she received a call from The Jennifer Hudson Show while there that she truly became speechless.
She was asked to attend the taping for the May 22 show and go down the “spirit tunnel,” a show tradition allowing guests to have a grand entrance.
Related: Grand Rapids chef to appear on The Jennifer Hudson show for nonprofit work
“That’s a bucket list item complete,” she told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. “I was the first to go down, not knowingly. I was like, ‘Are we for real?’ This is something I’ve been watching on TikTok for the last couple of months because they’re so fun.”
Arcidiacono dropped her purse and phone to the ground and began to dance, completely bewildered that she was living a dream.
Celebrities who have danced through the spirit tunnel include Keke Palmer, Angela Bassett, Shemar Moore and Gwen Stefani.
Out of the 125 women invited to the show, only five were interviewed by Jennifer Hudson, following a segment featuring American drummer and record producer Questlove.
“They made us feel like stars - even gave everyone a Hollywood star with our names on it, just like the Walk of Fame,” Arcidiacono said.
Better known as Chef Jenna across Michigan, Arcidiacono has built a strong reputation since opening her restaurant, Amore Trattoria Italiana at 5080 Alpine Ave. NW, in 2010.
She and her husband’s focus on creating an outstanding customer experience has made them a favorite dining destination in West Michigan, even being named in 2018 as one of the top Italian restaurants in Michigan by MLive.
Arcidiacono has also made strides to support the local community since the COVID-19 pandemic through her nonprofit, Food Hugs.
She began delivering meals in 2020 to area first responders, hospitals, and those who needed encouragement during those times of uncertainty.
During the show, she spoke about her nonprofit, which has given $1,000 tips to local restaurant workers at least 70 times.
The most recent giveaway to China Inn, a family-owned restaurant in Holland, went viral on TikTok.
“It’s over 7.1 million views right now,” Arcidiacono said. “The owner was just super grateful.”
She also has worked with women who want to be chefs, hosting an annual fundraiser to give scholarships starting at $5,000 to those in the food industry.
Arcidiacono said she did two segments on the Jennifer Hudson Show, one about Food Hugs itself and the other about what’s next for the nonprofit.
Back home in Grand Rapids, she said the reality of her Hollywood experience and national television appearance has yet to fully sink in.
She will always remember not only the opportunity to meet Jennifer Hudson, but also the long-lasting relationships she forged with the other women featured on the show.
“I met so many amazing women and heard their stories in that small amount of time,” Arcidiacono said. “There are people you’re drawn to, so a lot of us exchanged information, and we have a Facebook group that’s always busy.”
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