Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Apostolou.
Hi Julia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a 23 year old girl fresh out of college. I got a degree in civil engineering and quickly realized that I did not want to spend the rest of my working years in a cubicle solving problems — so I took action. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a deep passion for all things food and beverage. I knew in the future I wanted to open up small restaurant/cafe one day but that did not seem tangible at this time in my life so I decided to pursue private cheffing on a whim. I went through some rough times during my college years surrounded by eating. I developed a restrictive eating pattern and a very unhealthy relationship with food. It was not until my junior year of college that I turned a new leaf and started to teach myself how to cook. This is when I started to fall in love with cooking and the sense of home it brought me. Growing up in an Italian household – we were always eating good, but going to school 12 hours away from home made me crave those shared meals and family time. This is when I started to gather my friends at my apartment to share meals that brought that sense of home.
I moved to Raleigh in June 2025 & quit my corporate job that same month. Taking a complete leap of faith, I knew that God was going to provide something so purposeful and fulfilling for me. Within 3 months, I landed a dream job in social media marketing, have grown my private cheffing business larger than I could have imagined. I get to provide my services for some very cool people in the area & have been able to grow my socials to over 10k+ followers through my content creation! I truly feel I am living out my purpose.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Of course not! I have been frustrated working jobs that did not fulfill me wondering if this is all there is to life? Work, workout, feed myself, sleep repeat. I needed to find something that truly fulfilled me! Being an entrepreneur is an evergrowing learning curve. I learn something new every single day. From business operations, to time management, to client relations, to budgeting & finances, so many things I never had to think about are now things I am teaching myself & learning on a daily basis.
One of the greatest obstacles I’ve faced is learning when to say no. Scaling a business excites me like nothing else, but really knowing my limits and my worth is something I am slowly starting to grasp!
Another obstacle is finding balance. I tend to overwork myself and not know when to stop. It is the people that are closest to me that often have to give me a wakeup call to log off and take some time for myself and my social life. These few people are truly my backbone and have inspired me in ways I could not have imagined.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a female entrepreneur that is growing my private cheffing business, Parsley & Prosecco. I specialize in Italian food, but truly love creating all types of food, I am known for my focaccia pizza & my chicken cutlets! I am most proud that I am completely self-taught, free of any formal education.
My Nonna has been one of my biggest inspirations. That woman is in the kitchen day and night, always hosting and gathering our family through a delicious multi course meal, and when I say multi-course I mean 5+ courses. This woman knows how to host a beautiful dinner. It is because of her, watching her in the kitchen as a young child, to cooking with her now. She has taught me almost everything I know. And what is so cool about this is that, now I get to teach her as well! Always experimenting in our own kitchens, we call each other up ask for tips and even send each other TikTok’s. I never thought I would say those words out loud. My Nonna scrolls more on TikTok than I do! She even flew all the way to Charleston (when I was living there last year) to help me make homemade sweet potato gnocchi for my first ever private cheffing dinner party! We have a shared passion and this has grown us to become best friends (see photo attached).
What sets me apart from others is my goal oriented personality. I am always chasing the next best thing to scale my business & drafting up different ways to get creative. I have so much up my sleeve I can’t wait to share.
What matters most to you?
My relationship with Jesus and my family. Being deeply rooted in my faith is he most important to me. I know that no matter what I do God has a plan for me. When He lays an idea or a feeling on your heart that ignites you inside, you know that is Him placing your purpose right ontop of you. Being in tune with that purpose at such a young age has given me so much confidence for what is to come in my life. Knowing that everything happens to us for a reason because it is all apart of God’s bigger plan for us gives me such grace and allows me to put my best foot forward in all seasons of life. I wouldn’t be the woman I am without the support of my family. How cliche, I know. But truly my family has been my life line and the reason I am able to do what I do. They are the most supportive, motivating, and humbling people. I know I can always count on them to push me way out of my comfort zone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.parsleyandprosecco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parsleyandprosecco/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-apostolou/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Parsleyandprosecco
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@parsleyandprosecco
