Story & Lesson Highlights with Dr. Yana Todorova of Monterey Bay

We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Yana Todorova and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Yana, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The quiet mornings are my favorite part of the day. I am also awake early around 4 am. I start cooking (baking sourdough bread, making desserts, preparing the sushi rice). Then, I eat my healthy breakfast in peace. Afterwards, the kids start coming downstairs and I cook different breakfast for each one. They all have their own preference. So, I cook multi courses menus.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I was born in Bulgaria. I was raised in a family where food is at the center of every reunion. All conversations happen at the table. At the age of 17, my family moved to Mexico. I had to learn Spanish and study my last year of high school and my undergraduate degree there. It was very challenging. I was missing my European family and I was adjusting to a completely new culture. But I was immersed in a new culinary world as well…. I also did my master’s degree in computer science in Mexico. But then, for the Ph.D. level, I moved by myself to USA. I did my Doctorate Degree in Computer Science at Texas Tech University. This is where I met my husband in 2005 and my cooking became more than a passion. I was always in the kitchen. I did everything from scratch, but not very professionally. I told him that my dream was to study at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. He is from Mexico and the good part was that at that time, my Spanish was fluent, we had amazing conversations. It was a match from first sight. We have been together since then. After graduating, I started teaching in the Mathematics Department. We got married but couldn’t have kids for 5 years. We moved to California to work as professors at California State University. With the help of great doctors, in 2014, I gave birth to our TRIPLETS (2 boys and 1 girl). This was THE MOST CHALLENGING PART of my life! It was a high-risk pregnancy, and I was in a bed rest for 10 weeks in a hospital by myself. I survived and they were born without any complications (but 2 months premature). Then, I became so busy with taking care of the babies, while still teaching classes at the university. Few years later, we went to Thailand, and I became a certified yoga instructor. I practice Ashtanga Yoga daily and I am a 500 hours RYT teacher. While visiting Bangkok for yoga training, we saw the Culinary School Le Cordon Bleu Dusit and decided that we must go back one day and finally pursue my dream. Well, we did. In 2019, my family moved to Bangkok, and I started the Pastry Chef courses. It was the best! I learned so much!!! In 2024, we lived the summer in Japan. I went to professional school Tokyo Sushi Academy and became also a sushi chef. Currently, I am the owner of Todorovi Boutique Desserts and do catering of desserts, Neapolitan pizzas, and authentic Japanese sushi. I am a private chef for tourists and locals in Monterey Bar. I teach culinary classes for Cabrillo College and Monterey Peninsula College. I am a food writer. I have written recipes and food articles for a local magazine and for a very renowned French brand Boiron Puree. I was a winner of a competition, and my recipe was published in their 80th anniversary book. The Pastry Arts Magazine has also published my desserts recipes. Kids are 11 years old now and I find more time for cooking and creative experiences.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I started cooking when I was a kid, growing up in Bulgaria. My mother and grandmother were great cooks. During my Ph.D. studies in Texas Tech University, I started cooking more than usual. It was the time I felt powerful. I dreamed about going to a professional Culinary School. After many years of teaching as a professor in the mathematics department at California State University at Bakersfield and giving birth to triplets! my husband took a sabbatical leave in 2019 and we went to live in Bangkok, Thailand for 8 months. The kids were 5 years old. I studied at one of the most prestigious culinary schools: Le Cordon Bleu Dusit. Immediately upon our return to California, I decided to open my own business. I was willing to share everything I learned, and I wanted all my friends to try my desserts. Well, the friends tried them and then many people from the city started ordering. The business is growing continuously, and I am very happy to provide to my customers high quality French-inspired desserts. The powerful feeling got even better, once I became a sushi chef and started doing private chef events. It just feels so good to realize my dreams.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Be brave. Do what you love and love what you do. There is no reason to please other people. Just follow your dreams and goals.

My plans are to open a Culinary Academy where I can teach cooking classes. I also want to publish more recipes for International Pastry Arts Magazines (write a book?). I would love to become a professional Food Photographer. Recently, I took a photography course with one of the best food photographers in Lima, Peru. And finally, I love wine, so I would love to study for a professional sommelier. So, my business will be transformed into a space where people can learn cooking (maybe yoga too), buy some very creative modern desserts, authentic Japanese sushi, Contemporary Neapolitan pizza, and there will be a studio for food photography. Some nights, there will be wine and food pairing events, where customers can taste my savory and sweet creations together with wines from around the world!!!

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Growing up in Europe, there were cultural values that I kept forever. Daily time with the family. All meals made from scratch and eaten at the dinner table. Communication. But what I protect at all costs is the internal happiness, the joy living, the slow food movement, and the healthy body–mind connection.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I would like people to tell the story about my passion. Everything I do, I do it with consistency. Passion. I work hard and all my dreams have come true. People will remember my smile. The joy I have in my eyes. And the kind heart I have.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.todorovidesserts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/todoroviboutique/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/todoroviboutique/
• Other: https://www.takeachef.com/en-us/chef/yana-todorova?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic-seo&utm_content=en-us-chef-yana-todorova