Meet Julie Peterson of Julie’s Homecooking in Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Peterson.

Julie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in the kitchen. My greatest inspiration was my Big Mama & I was her shadow. My roots are Southern & Asian, as my father was from Arkansas & my mother is Korean. My first conscious love was food, lol. I used to get in trouble for either eating everything or cooking everything for the neighborhood.

Becoming a chef was definitely an organic process…my love affair with food combined with my passion for people & service naturally drew me into the food service industry. I’ve been a restaurateur for 20 years. My mother, sister & I started R&J Southern Homecooking Restaurant in Downey CA in 1996. I took sole proprietorship in 2003 & sold my restaurant in 2015. The years in between were incredibly rewarding & challenging yet I know that all of my efforts were preparing me for this endeavor. After selling my business, I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do but I knew that I wasn’t ready to commit to another brick & mortar restaurant. I had gladly sacrificed much for service however, my children hardly saw me outside of those walls. I had missed so much & I wanted to re-prioritize my life so I could have more time for my family & my friends. That was a scary time for me. The uncertainty brought its own breed of stress – unlike the stress that I was accustomed to with the restaurant. The ‘unknown’ frightened me to my core. Thankfully my faith kept me grounded & eventually (it didn’t take long – true love will always draw you) I made the decision to enter the personal chef industry. I knew nothing about it & felt ill prepared to compete so I researched, wrote my business plan, completed a Master Chef Program & established Julie’s Homecooking. My success so far has been nothing short of amazing. I am immeasurably grateful. I’m blessed to do what I love for busy families so they can have time for each other. How awesome is that?

Has it been a smooth road?
Dealing with the countless challenges of owning & running a restaurant for 20 years built up my tenacity & resilience. The personal chef biz is a feast or famine type of industry. I am grateful that I took the time to research & strategize my entrance. I’m also grateful that I had the resources to invest in marketing. But from the conception of Julie’s Homecooking to my first consultation with a potential client was pretty difficult. I’d never done anything like it before, had no idea if I had what it took – especially among so many talented, experienced chefs. I did a whole lot of talking to myself! I questioned myself. Doubted myself. Second guessed myself. Ultimately I trusted God. I know that may sound dubious to some. Nevertheless, it’s true. I trusted the same God that brought me through the unpredictable strains of being a small business owner, the Great Recession, a disastrous audit that caused me to lose my home & credit worthiness, the loss of my father…I trusted because this is also the same God that brought the most incredible customers through my doors, gave me the fortitude to fight & win my audit case, gave me great employees, friends, family & my brilliant children & more. This is no cake walk. I’m always learning. It’s hard work & nothing is promised. Yet the purpose in fulfilled passion, my clients’ appreciation & my love of food makes my hardest workday sweeter than my peach cobblers!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Julie’s Homecooking – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Julie’s Homecooking Personal Chef & Catering is where comfort meets gourmet. I am a time gifting food fairy! I create personalized menus based on my client’s palate/preferences/dietary needs, I do all the grocery shopping & freshly prepare meals in my client’s kitchen. I bring all necessary equipment and I leave the kitchen spotless after packing up & labeling all the meals. I also prepare for events of all sizes with ease thanks to years of event & corporate catering experience. I specialize in delicious comfort food with a gourmet twist. Whether it’s Red Rice Jambalaya, Lemongrass Salmon with Coconut Sauce, Jerk Shrimp Croquettes, Vegan BBQ Seitan Ribz, Tri Tip Enchiladas or an authentic 5 course Italian feast with wine pairing – all cuisines are made with love. I’m most proud of the trust that my clients place in me! I’m coming into their homes; their sanctuaries & it is my honor to contribute to their health & their quality of life. Truthfully, I have never given thought to what sets me apart from anyone. We all have something special to contribute. I’m focused on giving my best in every endeavor.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Los Angeles, California has got to be one of the best cities to live in! I personally love the accessibility to everything one could want. We’ve got the glamorous & elite, we’ve got close knit neighborhoods, we’ve got endless shopping, nightlife, museums, theme parks, mountains, beaches, deserts & anything in between. Plus, we have a beautiful blend of so many cultures to keep things interesting!

My least favorite aspect of LA life is the traffic. Ugh. My commutes are a nightmare. Boo traffic!

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.julieshomecooking.com
• Phone: (323) 334-0269
• Email: shelovescooking@gmail.com
• Instagram: Julie’s Homecooking
• Facebook: @lovechefjulie
• Yelp: Julie’s Homecooking