Black History Month: My Story as a Black Chef

Best known as Chef. Ed Harris, hailing from the Caribbean island of St Lucia, credits his love for great cuisine to his Guyanese upbringing. With his parent's kitchen serving as a central gathering place for the family, Ed's fire for cooking was ignited at a very young age. His passion blossomed and ultimately was what drove him to New York City to pursue his career as a professional chef. Thrust into the fast-paced cooking world in the city that never sleeps, he was able to chef in some of the finest kitchens, like Jean George, Buddakan and River Cafe.

Having served in just about every role from executive chef, tournant, expediter, and saucier to consulting chef, and many in between, he draws from his collective experience to build upon his newest role as a food product developer. Now with Atlanta as his home base, Chef Ed has launched a line of products that include specialty spices, vegan recipes, breakfast foods, and cookbooks, in addition to a line of designer aprons. If he isn't crafting a new flavor fusion in the kitchen, at times he can be found behind the camera, as Ed has appeared on several food shows. He was the winner of Food Network's CHOPPED "Turbot Powered" competition and has been on "Beat Bobby Flay", "Chef Wanted" with Anne Burrell, and a few others.

Though his passion for cooking runs deep in his veins, community service is something he holds dear to his heart. He has participated in several events to help raise funds for different charities. Some of the organizations he has volunteered for include Autism Speaks, Taste of New York, and the James Beard Foundation.

Chef Ed's love for people and food all comes together at home as he regularly teaches his family about the power of healthy eating, how to make good choices while shopping for produce, and the art of blending ingredients to make delicious meals for the family. At the end of the day, Chef Ed feels it's most important to instill in his family and friends the mantra to live well, eat well and be well.