About

Celebrity Chef/ Entrepreneur

Claudette Zepeda is an award-winning, San Diego-based chef and culinary entrepreneur known for her fearless style and bold approach to regional Mexican cuisine. A celebrated culinary anthropologist, Zepeda draws upon 20+ years of experience working in restaurant kitchens, as well as her extensive travels around the world and throughout Mexico that inform her vast knowledge of indigenous ingredients and cross-cultural expressions of cuisine. Zepeda's multi-faceted expertise is showcased in her role overseeing the creative vision as Founder of Chispa Hospitality, including food concepts in San Diego, Nashville, Australia, Mexico. Her latest project, Novecientos Grados, a Mexican food restaurant in partnership with Tony Hawk located in the San Diego airport. Celebrating both the border and skater culture through delicious food. In 2022-2023, she represented the U.S. in London & Paris for the Taittinger Champagne Prix Culinaire, the first time ever the US participated in the 55 year competition history. Zepeda has also garnered national acclaim for her food, including receiving a glowing review from the New York Times, inclusion on Esquire’s 2018 & 2021 Best New Restaurants & Michelin Bib Gourmand list. Zepeda was also named both Eater San Diego and San Diego Union Tribune’s Chef of the Year in 2018, and was a James Beard Best Chef West semifinalist in 2019.

Television appearances highlights:

2017-18 Top Chef Season 15 & Top Chef México Season 2

2022 Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend & Iron Chef México

2022 Bobby’s Triple Threat

2023 Guest Chef on Selena & The Chef, Christmas Special

2024 Total Access with Mario Lopez

2025 Pamela’s Cooking with Love

2025 House of Knives

2025 Tournament of Champions VI

Philanthropy:

In 2019 Zepeda Founded Viva La Vida, LLC., establishing micro businesses with single mothers throughout Mexico’s seven regions to import their heirloom ingredients previously unavailable in the U.S. Through Viva La Vida, Zepeda helps Mexican women support their families without sacrificing their safety. Expanding into establishing a fund dedicated to helping Hispanic women break from generational poverty in the United States.