Debby Portillo Joins the James Beard Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Program

In barbecue, we talk a lot about legacy. About what gets passed down. Fire techniques, seasoning memory, what time to start the pit. For Debby Portillo, co-founder of 2fifty, legacy runs even deeper  it lives in the women who came before her.

This year, Debby has been selected as part of the 2025 James Beard Foundation Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership (WEL) Program. Only 20 women across the country are chosen for this prestigious fellowship. It's a moment that honors not just where 2fifty is going  but exactly where it came from.

Three Generations, One Purpose

Debby’s journey didn’t begin with a business plan. It began in her family’s kitchens in El Salvador. She’s the third generation of women in her family to own and manage restaurants. That story, built on strength, long hours, and service with soul, is the foundation of everything she does.

“I did not always know it, but I was being prepared,” Debby says.
“The strong women that came before me were setting the path for me.”

At 2fifty, Debby leads with intention. She handles the numbers, the structure, the growth  but always with care. Her leadership isn’t loud. It’s clear. Every brisket served is backed by a decision she made to protect the team, invest in the future, or uphold quality over shortcuts.

A National Stage, A Local Story

The James Beard Foundation’s WEL program is an 11-week intensive created in partnership with Cornell University, a global leader in hospitality education. The program sharpens strategy, expands vision, and deepens the impact of women-led restaurants across the country.

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Debby’s acceptance into this cohort brings our story  Salvadoran roots, Central Texas craft, Washington DC grit  into the national spotlight. But she’d be the first to say: this is bigger than one person.

“It’s not just about me. It’s about making room for every woman in hospitality doing the work with care and purpose,” she says.

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Smoke, Soul, and the Road Ahead

At 2fifty, we believe great barbecue is about more than meat. It’s about respect. For time, for tradition, for the people making it happen. Debby lives that every day  and now, she brings that spirit to the national conversation.

We're proud. We're grateful. And we’re just getting started.

Come taste what leadership built.
#2fiftyBBQ #WomenInHospitality #JBFWEL2025

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