On April 24, Deborah Scott will showcase her culinary skill for a good cause. Kemo Sabe and Indigo Grill, of which Scott is the executive chef, will participate in the second annual Dining Out for Life event in San Diego. Scott, who is also executive chef and partner at Island Prime/C Level in Downtown, has penned diverse menus at the three restaurants, all the while finding time to contribute back to the community.

Scott shared a few of her triumphs and challenges with us and told us why Dining Out for Life is an event she supports.

What is the single most important thing you’ve done to make a difference in your industry, the community or even the world?

San Diego, as a culinary city, has come so far in the last decade, gaining national acclaim in the industry and joining the ranks of major cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. I feel that the first Indigo Grill I opened 15 years ago was at the forefront of style, diversity and food presentation in this city. This creativity and originality in restaurant design and cuisine translated through to the opening of Kemo Sabe and the current Indigo Grill; both of these restaurants have unique taste combinations and aim to showoff the art form of food. I love coming up with beautiful, imaginative ways to present each dish, so that the customer is wowed when the plate arrives at their table. I really believe people first eat with their eyes then with their taste buds and so presentation and food art is really important to me.

How friendly is the San Diego business community towards women in business and their career growth?

I really believe that you make your own way. Business in general is never friendly, but you have to persevere and have determination so that you can achieve what you have set out to. In bigger cities it is definitely harder for women, but in San Diego we are fortunate enough that there is still room to make our own way.

What for-profit or nonprofit boards do you sit on?

I sit on the board of Project Wildlife, (www.projectwildlife.org), which cares for injured, orphaned, and sick native wildlife of San Diego County, and releases rehabilitated animals back into their natural habitats. I love wildlife and nature and I think we need to do everything we can to preserve it, especially in our hometown. I support many non-profits especially those that help anyone that cannot easily support themselves, like animals, children and the elderly.

I have been gifted with incredible restaurant success which has enabled me to give back to several organizations such as The World Wildlife Fund, San Diego Earth Day, Natural History Museum, San Diego Coast Keeper, San Diego County Special Olympics and San Diego State University’s Hospitality and Tourism.

Why do you support Dining Out for Life?

Supporting the local community is something that I hold very dear to me. We do so throughout the year and the Dining Out for Life fund-raiser is one way we like to give back to San Diego. Kemo Sabe and Indigo Grill are very proud to be a part of an international fund-raising event that raises funds for San Diego HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs. It’s a wonderful way to give to the cause.

What is your biggest passion outside of work?

My home life, which keeps me grounded, my partner Sharon, my family and my animals … I have two parrots and two dogs! Another thing people may not know about me, is that I love to sing. When I’m not in one of my restaurants or with my family, I collaborate with and sing in my band.