Hidden Gems: Meet Julia Shelley of French chef at home

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Shelley.

Hi Julia , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in France, where food was always a huge part of life, family, and culture. I studied culinary arts there and developed a passion for traditional French cooking and fine dining. About ten years ago, I moved to California and spent years working in restaurants in San Francisco before eventually building my own private chef business in San Diego.

Over time, I created “French Chef At Home,” where I specialize in personalized dining experiences, luxury private dinners, and event catering. My work has allowed me to cook for a wide variety of clients, from intimate family gatherings to professional athletes and high-profile events, while traveling throughout California and other locations for private chef services.

What drives me most is creating experiences that bring people together. I love combining classic French techniques with fresh local ingredients and adding creative influences from my travels and experiences. Building my business independently has come with challenges, but it has also taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of personal connection with clients.

Today, I continue growing my business while focusing on creating memorable dining experiences that feel both elevated and personal.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road. Moving from France to the United States and building a business from the ground up came with many challenges. I had to adapt to a new culture, create a network from scratch, and prove myself in a very competitive industry.

One of the biggest challenges has been balancing the creative side of being a chef with the reality of running a business. As a private chef, you are not only cooking , you are also managing clients, logistics, shopping, travel, staffing, scheduling, and the pressure of delivering a perfect experience every time. The hours can be extremely long, especially during busy seasons or when traveling for clients and events.

Another challenge has been learning resilience and consistency. There are periods of uncertainty, last-minute changes, demanding schedules, and personal sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship. Working in hospitality also means constantly adapting to different personalities, expectations, and environments.

At the same time, those challenges helped me grow both personally and professionally. They taught me discipline, flexibility, and how to stay calm under pressure. Looking back, every obstacle helped shape the business and the person I am today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about French chef at home ?
French Chef At Home is a private chef and luxury catering business based in San Diego, specializing in elevated French-inspired dining experiences. My goal has always been to bring the feeling of a fine dining restaurant directly into people’s homes or private events while creating a warm, personalized atmosphere.

I offer customized multi-course dinners, private chef services, luxury event catering, and curated menus tailored to each client’s preferences and dietary needs. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to cook for families, professional athletes, high-profile clients, intimate celebrations, corporate gatherings, and destination events throughout California and internationally.

One of the most unique parts of my career has been working as a private chef for world-renowned MMA fighter Francis Ngannou during fight camps and training periods. This work has involved traveling for camps and events, including internationally to places such as Saudi Arabia, and managing high-performance meal preparation in intense and fast-paced environments. Through this experience, I’ve learned how to balance nutrition, performance, recovery, and fine dining quality at the highest level.

My work with elite clients and athletes has also opened opportunities in media and entertainment, including appearing in content connected to Netflix productions, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look into the lifestyle, discipline, and culinary side of professional sports and private chef work.

What sets my business apart is the combination of authentic French culinary techniques with creativity, flexibility, and a highly personal approach. I focus not only on the food itself, but on the overall experience — presentation, hospitality, atmosphere, and attention to detail. I love creating menus that feel elegant yet approachable, often combining classic French cuisine with modern influences and fresh local ingredients.

One thing I’m especially proud of is building this business independently and growing through word of mouth, repeat clients, and personal relationships. Many clients become long-term clients because they value the trust, consistency, and care that I bring into every event.

At the end of the day, my brand is about creating memorable experiences around food — experiences that feel intimate, elevated, and meaningful for the people sharing them.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
There are so many people who deserve credit for supporting me throughout this journey. Building a business is never something you do completely alone, and I’ve been very fortunate to have amazing people around me along the way.

First, my parents and my grandmother have always been a huge source of support, encouragement, and inspiration. Coming from a French background where food, hospitality, and sharing meals are such an important part of life deeply shaped who I am as a chef today.

I’m also incredibly grateful for my team — Estella, Karla, Ramon, and Freddy — who help bring events and experiences to life behind the scenes. In hospitality and catering, teamwork is everything, and having reliable people you trust makes all the difference.

I also want to recognize Celine, Francis Ngannou’s assistant, who has been wonderful to work with during private chef assignments, fight camps, and travel experiences. Working in those environments requires a lot of organization, flexibility, and communication.

My best friend Jessica Cvetic from Citrus Aesthetic has also been an important supporter and collaborator. We partner together on wellness and health retreat experiences, combining luxury, wellness, and hospitality to create unique experiences for clients.

Another person who deserves recognition is my close friend Richard, owner of Ohlala French Bistro in Las Vegas, whose friendship and support within the hospitality world have meant a lot to me over the years.

And finally, I’m incredibly thankful to all of my loyal clients who continue to trust me with important moments in their lives. Their support, referrals, and loyalty are truly what allowed French Chef At Home to grow into what it is today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.juliafrenchchefathome.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frenchchefathome_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frenchchefathomesd/
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/french-chef-at-home-san-diego