Jilleba graduated with honors from The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, New York, and is one of only 68 ACF-certified Master Chefs in the nation. He has received numerous medals in national and international competitions, including winning a gold medal and three bronze medals as part of the Confrérie de la Chaî des Rô Culinary Team at the 1992 “culinary Olympics” in Frankfurt, Germany, and two gold medals in the 1988 competition. He served as manager of the 2012 ACF Culinary Team USA and ACF Culinary Youth Team USA from 2001–2009.