An Inspired Chat with Danyel Weber of Inglewood

We recently had the chance to connect with Danyel Weber and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Danyel, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have you stood up for someone when it cost you something?
Recently I had to go to a medical facility for an examination. The office was having problems with their computer system and were not able to call patients in the order that they had their appointments. Resulting in multiple people being helped before me and another person because we were simply on the wrong calendar. When I asked for an office manager to step in and do something about it, it resulted in me being called while a lady in front of me was still waiting. I found that unfair and asked them to help the lady first as it was originally her turn. They helped her and she was appreciative. She’s been waiting for almost an hour

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Danyel Weber and I work as a personal chef in Los Angeles. I take care of meals for busy families, cooking for them in their homes and offering my meals through a large platform. After taking full care of my youngest daughter after she was born through the covid pandemic, I started working as a personal chef, working for a diverse group of clients. About a year ago, after working as a production manager in a large bakery for two years, I launched my personal chef services ‘Good Mood Food’. I grew up having meals at the dinner table with my family, a time where we would all connect. That feeling of family, that time of connecting together, is something I want to facilitate by taking the hassle of cooking away so there is more time for each other to focus on what is important.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
When it comes to work, working, my family has taught me the most. I come from entrepreneurs. Both my mom’s side and my dad’s side of the family had their own businesses. And when my mom and dad opened their own restaurant, I learned what working really means. What it means to accept the responsibility to make someone’s wedding spectacular for instance. The day I worked the most hours, we catered a large wedding at a spectacular location. We covered cutting the cake, a 3-course dinner for 45 people and all the food and drinks during the reception/party. The satisfaction afterwards, when everything ended successful and we had an ecstatic wedding couple, it was so worth working 22 hours straight. I learned that doing your work with integrity and as well as you can do, is honorable and is a reflection of your personality.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
These questions are quite intense and with tears in my eyes I am answering this one. I moved out of my parent’s house when I was 20-21. I was going to law school and was failing miserably. I thought that switching universities, being in the same city as my best friend, would be more beneficial to me. I was pretty lonely and not doing well going to university from my parent’s home. That move did not work out as well as I had hoped. I had developed a dependency on soft drugs. Marijuana to be precise. And I was losing a grip on my studies, my social life. And at the same time, my parents decided to divorce, adding a pile of emotions on top of what I was already going through. I remember being in my college dorm room one night and I had my knife set in front of me. A complete set but pretty cheap. The chef knife was large and still very sharp and for hours I sat in a chair and tested how sharp it was on the skin of my wrist. Then, when I left my room to go to the shared bathroom of the dorm, I ran into one of my dorm mates. She seemed to sense something was wrong and we talked for a long time. She was amazing. She did not judge, she just listened. And because she did, I realized I had to put away the knife set and get some help. I realized that there was more to live for as there was to die for.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
I am originally Dutch. I have been in Los Angeles for 7 years, have my Costco membership and have gone through traffic on the 405 without having to come to a full stop. I’d say I am not a transplant anymore. One of the cultural values I hold on to as a Dutch person, is tolerance. It doesn’t matter to me how old you are, what the color of your skin is, what your faith is or what political side you prefer. As long as you are respectful and caring for your fellow Angelinos or whoever is in your community, you are welcomed and accepted. As long as you don’t bother your neighbors. That cultural value I carry with me everywhere.
Also, The Dutch are notoriously direct. They come across as ‘mean’, or inconsiderate. But the Dutch view directness as the most efficient way of communicating. Especially in a workplace. That directness is something that I carry with me and apply to situations that as for it. I have learned too when not to use it.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
Without my role, without my name, without my possessions I would still be a father, a brother, a son and a friend. In the end it comes down to personal relationships. Those truly stay with you forever. My mom and dad will always be my mom and dad, my sister will forever be my sister, and my children will forever have me as their dad. Partners and friends, even when relationships end, are forever too because they leave an impression on your life. They change you just by sharing a part of their journey with you. And I believe that will leave a positive impression with them all

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/gmfbydanyelweber
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/gmfbydw

Image Credits
all pictures by me