Executive Culinary Director, Emma’s Torch; Brooklyn, NY

Alexander Harris is executive culinary director at Emma’s Torch, a non-profit social enterprise organization that empowers refugees through culinary training and job placement. Alexander took a slightly different career path to become the chef that he is today. After graduating from the University of Delaware, he began his professional career in the pharmaceutical industry in the greater Philadelphia area. Growing up with a love for food, this job gave him the means to travel and eat at many of the great restaurants in the area. This was all that it took for him to fall in love with cooking and he enrolled in the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. After graduation, Alexander’s love of French cuisine led to working with some of the great restaurants and restaurant groups in Philadelphia including Lacroix at the Rittenhouse Hotel, Jose Garces, and Stephen Starr. Alexander had a goal of “making it” in New York City and as a chef there, he advanced his culinary career at influential groups including The Pierre Hotel and Union Square Hospitality Group. At the same time and unexpectedly, he began to find his place in the industry. The great amount of diversity in both the city and the workforce drew him closer to American culture and cuisine and led him to his current passion, building the next generation of great chefs. Alexander joined Emma's Torch in 2017 as culinary director. His goal is to use his twenty plus years of industry experience to help empower the young aspiring chefs of today. Now as executive culinary director, he maintains the culinary direction for Emma's Torch, ensuring that the food and techniques studied are educational, delicious, make sense for the business, and set the nonprofit’s students and staff up for success. @emmastorchfood (Instagram)