Growing up in Washington D.C. being influenced by her father’s herb gardening while storytelling, and her mother’s kitchen narratives, Deborah has honed her craft towards the ultimate goal of becoming a true “America’s Cooking Sweetheart”.
Theatrically, Deborah trained and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Howard University, considered continually by past and present day US presidents as one of the nations’ most esteemed learning institutions. To sharpen her culinary technique, Deborah went on to receive an associate degree from the world renowned Le Cordon Bleu School (Pasadena, CA Campus). Chef Deborah sojourned on to be chosen in the highly competitive internship program at the Food Network in New York; went on to be personal chef to NBA great Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway of the New York Knicks.
As fate (and faith) would have it, Deborah returned to the Food Network, but this time as one of the eight finalists (Chosen out of a pool of ten thousand) for the televised prime time program “The Next Food Network Star” (season 1). In this highly touted chef’s competition, Deborah “fewelled” herself to becoming first runner-up.
Currently, and for the last 11 years, she is a freelance personal chef to A-list celebrities Will and Jada Smith. She has also been a personal chef for the late Hip Hop/Reggae Artist and Actor Heavy D, Actress Tasha Smith, Actress and R&B Artist Brandy Norwood, and the list goes on. She has also been a freelance private chef/caterer for Sean “Puffy” Combs, Actress and Actor Angela Bassett and Courtney Vance, Actor Omar Epps, & D.L. Hughley.
Deborah was featured as a host for the one hour special “Surf and Turf” on the Food Network. For two seasons, she has been seen on TLC’s “Home Made Simple” as the Chef Host. Deborah was also featured in Good Housekeeping magazine, ESSENCE magazine, and Essence.com.
With treatment projects being presented to her on a regular basis, Deborah is now in position to receive what she’s been working towards her whole life, which is to give voice, story and experiences to the meals she prepares for people who love to eat.
Contact: (626) 786-7762
email: debfewell@aol.com