Meet Melissa Zuniga

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Zuniga.

Melissa, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started really young! I’ve always been drawn to cooking. When I was In middle school in the San Gabriel Valley, I would Take food from my parent’s fridge and make lunches and sell them to kids and teachers at school!

Knowing what I wanted to do gave me an advantage, I got to Graduate early and went straight to the Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena. After Graduating, I worked In a number of kitchens across LA from Santa Monica to Glendale to East LA. After working in restaurants for almost ten years.

I opened a catering company/pop up in the city of industry and from there was lucky enough to move into my current job as a private chef in Beverly Hills.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, it’s been a really amazing journey. I can’t complain, I don’t have any real horror stories. The job is hard, but I love it, so that makes it easier. I’ve also been really lucky to have always been surrounded by a great group of people who have supported me and my creativity and growth.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
I am currently the Private chef for DJ Khaled and his Family! It’s a really amazing opportunity, and I still can’t believe I’m here sometimes.

What I specialize in is also what I’m most proud of! It’s my dedication to health through food. Not just weight loss but also a holistic approach to better living that starts With what and how you eat!

It’s so rewarding to get to see the daily impact my food has on the people around me who I feed and nourish everyday.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There isn’t one moment; it’s a collection of moments that have led to me being where I am now.

Looking back at all the times I wasn’t sure what I was doing or being unsure of the risks I was taking not knowing what would happen makes it all the more rewarding when I stop and realize where I am now.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @Chefmelissazuniga

Image Credit:
Ivan Berrios

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