Rising Stars: Meet Denise Brune of Orange County, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Brune.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

My love for cooking started long before I ever became a professional chef. Growing up, I was always in the kitchen preparing home-cooked meals. As I got older, I found myself becoming more creative and passionate about food, and I knew the kitchen was where I belonged.

In 2014, I decided to follow my dream and enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at Le Cordon Bleu in Hollywood, California. After becoming a professionally trained chef, I gained experience working in many different areas of the culinary industry—from large-scale and airport catering to full-service kitchens and corporate food service. Eventually, I took a leap of faith and decided to build something of my own.

Today, I am the proud owner of ChefNees LLC, my catering and personal chef business, which will celebrate six years in business in January 2027. Through ChefNees, I provide everything from intimate gatherings to large-scale catering, meal preparation, and personal chef services. I have had the opportunity to cook privately for athletes and artists, and most recently, I began partnering with Airbnb to provide in-home culinary experiences for guests. One of my most loved services is my signature brunch buffet, along with my lunch and dinner catering experiences.

My newest passion is Lil Chef Cooking Academy, which will celebrate its second anniversary in March 2027. My chefs and I travel to schools throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and surrounding counties to provide hands-on after-school enrichment cooking classes for children from preschool through middle school.

Lil Chef Cooking Academy holds a very special place in my heart. We get to connect with children, help them build confidence in the kitchen, introduce them to new ingredients and cultures, and encourage them to try foods they may have once been afraid to explore. Seeing the excitement from our students—and the positive response from their parents and schools—has been incredibly rewarding.

Above everything, I give all the glory to Christ. I truly believe that every opportunity, every open door, and every blessing that has allowed my businesses to grow has come from Him. 🙏🏽

Cooking is more than my career—it is my passion and one of the ways I get to serve others. Whether I am watching a client enjoy a meal I created or seeing a child proudly make their own dish for the first time, I am reminded of why I started.

I get to do what I love, serve people through food, inspire the next generation of little chefs, and continue building the dreams God placed on my heart.

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?
No, it hasn’t always been easy. Owning and managing a business comes with many challenges, and sometimes balancing everything can feel overwhelming. But I’ve learned that every obstacle and struggle can turn into a lifelong lesson that helps me grow, both personally and as a business owner. No matter how difficult things may get, I choose not to give up. I continue to have faith, trust God through the process, and keep pushing toward the vision He has given me.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professionally trained chef, entrepreneur, and the owner of two businesses that allow me to share my love for food in two very different ways.

Through ChefNees LLC, I specialize in catering and personal chef services for everything from intimate gatherings to larger events. I’m especially known for my brunch catering and buffet setups, but I also provide lunch and dinner catering, meal prep, and private chef experiences. I’ve had the opportunity to work as a personal chef for athletes and artists, and I recently began partnering with Airbnb to provide in-home culinary experiences for their guests.

I’m also the owner of Lil Chef Cooking Academy, where my team of chefs and I provide hands-on cooking enrichment classes for preschool, elementary, and middle school students throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and surrounding counties. We teach children more than just how to follow a recipe—we encourage them to explore new ingredients, learn kitchen skills, build confidence, and experience foods and cultures they may not have tried before.

What I’m most proud of is that I took my passion for cooking and turned it into businesses that allow me to serve both adults and children. Seeing someone enjoy a meal I created is incredibly rewarding, but watching a child become excited and confident in the kitchen has given my career an entirely new purpose.

What sets me apart is the heart I put behind what I do. For me, it’s never just about preparing food or running a business—it’s about creating experiences, building relationships, and making people feel cared for through food. I also give all glory to Christ for where I am today. My faith has carried me through the challenges of entrepreneurship and taught me to keep going even when the journey isn’t easy. I truly believe God gave me these gifts for a purpose, and I’m grateful that I get to use them every day. 🙏🏽

What are your plans for the future?
I definitely want to continue growing both personally and professionally. One of my biggest goals for the future is to find more ways to give back and help people in my community. I would love to eventually start a nonprofit organization where I can use my passion for food, cooking, and working with children to make a difference in the lives of others. I have so many ideas and dreams for what I want to accomplish—now it’s about putting those ideas into action, continuing to have faith, and trusting God to guide me in the right direction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chefnees.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefnees