Debora Juliana de la Peña
Debora de la Peña is a highly skilled private chef and house manager with a diverse background in culinary arts, wellness, and household management. Beginning her career as a line cook in restaurants, she quickly expanded her expertise into catering before finding her true passion as a private chef, where she could blend creativity with personal connection. Over the past several years, she has managed high-profile households, overseeing staff, organizing events, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations while providing nourishing meals tailored to her clients’ needs. Her journey has also included entrepreneurship, running her own kombucha company where she brewed in small batches for local businesses and cultivated mushrooms, an accomplishment she counts among her proudest.
With training from NASM in nutrition coaching and unique experiences such as studying mycology at the Fungi Academy in Guatemala, Debora brings a holistic approach to food and wellness. She thrives on helping others develop healthier eating habits, exploring plant-based cooking, and experimenting with fermentation and fungi. Guided by her first chef mentor, Manfred Bachtrog, and the unwavering support of her best friends Trisha and Lana, she has built a career rooted in passion, resilience, and creativity.
Beyond her professional life, Debora loves working with plants, spending time outdoors hiking and camping, and enjoying music and live concerts. She treasures her role as the cool Auntie balancing her devotion to family with her adventurous spirit and dedication to continuous learning. Her career reflects her philosophy of growth, authenticity, and finding joy in the simple yet meaningful things in life.
• ServSafe
• NASM
• Nutrition Coach
• Mycology
• Kundalini yoga
• Funghi Academy
• The Awareness center K.R.I.
• Pasadena City College
• Nasm
• Servsafe
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having integrity and strong work ethic. Always showing up with an optimistic mindset. Maintaining a youthful view of what is presented in front of me. Focusing on bringing joy into everything I do each day.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is, “If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t say anything,” reminding me that feedback comes from a place of growth and support.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to follow your intuition, keep pushing forward, show up and create a clear plan to achieve your goals. Be optimistic. Things will work out, not always what you plan but if you’re showing up and putting in work, great opportunities present themselves.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is learning to slow down and create balance while still pursuing growth and creativity.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are Truth, integrity, open and clear communication.