In celebration of Women’s History Month, the PR Council of Greater Atlantic City has selected Executive Director Chef Deborah Pellegrino of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa as its 2025 Woman of Achievement. Pellegrino, a trailblazer in the culinary arts, will be honored at the Council’s luncheon on March 25, where she will also serve as the keynote speaker.
Women’s History Month, observed each March, recognizes the vital contributions of women to American history and society. Past honorees for the PR Council’s Woman of Achievement award include Dr. Barbara Gaba, president of Atlantic Cape Community College, and Henrietta Shelton, co-founder of Chicken Bone Beach Historical Foundation, Inc. This year, the PR Council is spotlighting Pellegrino for her groundbreaking achievements in the culinary industry, where she has paved the way for future generations of female chefs.
A graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts Class of 1992, Pellegrino launched her career aboard a 204-foot private motor yacht, cooking for a crew of 18 while traveling to more than 40 islands and countries. Her talent led her to cook for President Bill Clinton and international dignitaries during the first Summit of the Americas in 1994. Returning to her roots in Ocean City, she honed her skills in Atlantic City’s casino industry, discovering her passion for pastry.
Pellegrino spent nearly two decades as executive pastry chef at Harrah’s Casino, overseeing bake shops across four casinos and producing desserts for 47 restaurants. She gained national recognition after winning the Food Network’s “Chocolate Myths Challenge.” She later co-founded MADE, a chocolate shop in Atlantic City, before taking on the role of executive pastry chef at Borgata. Within eight months, she shattered glass ceilings by becoming the first female executive director chef in Atlantic City casino history, now overseeing 13 restaurants at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa.
The luncheon honoring Pellegrino will take place at the MGM Tower (formerly The Water Club). For more information, see https://tinyurl.com/yttnp39u or email info@acprcouncil.org.
