His journey began at thirteen in a neighbourhood pizzeria, though his first passion was photography. After studying at East Los Angeles College and the ArtCenter College of Design, he pursued fine art photography, following in his father’s footsteps. His work appeared in The Los Angeles Times and was exhibited across Southern California, including at the Carnegie Art Museum.

As photography shifted to digital, De Leon felt disconnected and was drawn back to the hands-on world of cooking. In 2012, he and his wife Linda opened Apollonia’s Pizzeria on LA’s Wilshire Boulevard.

He focused on long fermentation, bold flavours, and precision, developing a devoted following for his thin-crust round pies.

In 2018, he introduced a game-changing square pizza with crispy frico edges and an airy interior. It quickly went viral, cementing Apollonia’s as a top destination for pizza lovers. Celebrated by The New York Times and Esquire, and praised by Peter Reinhart, De Leon continues to blend artistry and technique in every slice at Apollonia’s.