Meet Chef Alyssa

Growing up in Charlotte, NC Alyssa Wilen (formerly Alyssa Gorelick) has been involved with cooking nearly her entire life. For her, cooking has been a culmination of her love of art and fine food. Alyssa has always had the creative spirit in her – whether it was in dance, art, or theater. In short time, Alyssa found her love and passion for cooking and focused her career path on this model.

Alyssa has made many wonderful stops in her professional journey. A 2005 graduate of the Art Institute of Charlotte, Alyssa started and ran her own catering company while in school. Her professional career has taken her to Italy and several restaurants in Charlotte the range from upscale restaurants, a country club, to small intimate dining.

In 2011, Alyssa was presented with the opportunity to hone her style in a brand new restaurant in Charlotte. Fern, Flavors from the Garden, appointed her the opening Executive Chef and in October 2011, Alyssa officially became “Chef Alyssa.” Working tirelessly for months, Chef Alyssa made countless connections with local farmers to ensure that all of her menu items would be healthy and local. The menu and dessert items, which changed seasonally and daily upon availability, reflected her efforts.

While at Fern, Chef Alyssa was recognized in multiple local, regional, and national magazines, including Food & Wine Magazine. Aside from being named one of Charlotte’s Top 5 Chefs by CBS Charlotte, Chef Alyssa had the opportunity to cook two separate times at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City.

Since starting Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, Alyssa won the 2014 Iron Fork Competition, named as one of the top 10 chefs in Charlotte to know by The Braiser and listed as one of the top culinary minds in Charlotte by South Park Magazine. In 2015 and 2016, Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen was named Best Cooking Class by Charlotte Magazine. She can been seen cooking weekly on TV every Saturday morning at 9:15 on NBC Charlotte, WCNC.

In 2016, Chef Alyssa launched her product line of condiments: Chef Alyssa’s Spreads. Most recently, Chef Alyssa appeared on June 24, 2016 on Beat Bobby Flay on The Food Network. During that year, she was also recognized as one of the top females in Charlotte culinary scene by South Park Magazine. In 2017, Chef Alyssa was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Charlotte by The Mecklenburg Times.

Alyssa loves adding her personality, passion and creative sense into all of her menu items. She credits Chefs Joseph Bonaparte, Paul Verica, and Lorenzo Polegri. Currently, Chef Alyssa resides in Charlotte, NC and enjoys practicing yoga, exercising, kombucha, and trying new things.

Meet Andrew

Andrew Wilen, an energetic and creative leader, grew up in Baltimore, MD. He has always been an athlete, playing team sports from lacrosse and soccer to basketball and baseball. With his involvement in so many outdoor sports, it’s no wonder that the Carolina weather drew him down south.

In 2008 he graduated from Elon University with a BA in Corporate Communications and double minors in sports marketing and business management. Following graduation, he worked in marketing and media relations for the Carolina Panthers and Bank of America. He also managed promotions for many events including the Chicago Marathon and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Denver, New York, Houston and Dallas. His ability to motivate a team and get the group excited to accomplish its goals contributed to the reason he became an event planner.

Following this career path, Andrew continued event planning with LivingSocial Adventures as the Charlotte Events Manager. He was able to design and manage exciting events for guests seeking to explore Charlotte in a vibrant and new way. Some of the events he designed were music festivals, sushi making and wine tours. He thrives in situations where he can motivate others, add his creativity, transform a space and, most of all, making sure guests have a good time. Following LivingSocial, Andrew worked for Charlotte Center City Partners in South End, the “SoHo” of Charlotte, for 5 years. Amongst other localized events in South End, Andrew organizes Small Business Saturday and the Craft Beer Crawl each year for the area. He loves organizing events which strengthen the community and cultivate the art and cultural scene in Charlotte.

Andrew delivers his dynamic personality to Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, which brings people together to explore cooking great food and learning in a fun way. In 2015, Andrew was named one of Elon University’s Top 10 Under 10 award recipients. In 2016, Charlotte Agenda named him as one of the Top 30 under 30 professionals. In 2017, Charlotte Business Journal named Andrew one of the Top 40 under 40 award honorees for his professional work and service in the community.

In his spare time Andrew stays active and plays in a softball league and pick-up basketball. He is an avid golfer who participates in several fun tournaments a year with his dad. Previously, Andrew has coached flag football and basketball for the British American School in South Charlotte, served on the Charlotte Alumni Board of Elon University for four years as the Events Program Manager and organized (with Alyssa) the Common Grounds Corncuopia raising funds and awareness for the Urban Ministry Center.

Andrew runs the Operations, Marketing, and Event Management for Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen. Please contact Andrew for all private event and press inquiries: andrew@chefalyssaskitchen.com

Meet Emily

Our first full-time team member is Emily Beck. Born and raised in Rock Hill, SC Emily graduated culinary school from the Art Institute (same school Chef Alyssa went to!) in 2014. While at Art Institute she was the Salutatorian of her graduation class and won the Culinary Showcase. After graduation, she began working for Boar’s Head. Emily is a passionate a cake maker and decorator. She can even make a cake for you! Follow her Instagram Page: tasteandseecakesrh

In 2017, Emily was featured in “Sous Terrain”. A Food Art Show featuring dishes from 8 of the best Sous Chefs/Chef Assistants in Charlotte.

With Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen, Emily leads of all our Kids Classes including our Kids Summer Culinary Camps. In 2017, our Kids Culinary Camps (after just two summers) were named Best of the Best by Charlotte Magazine for Top Cooking Camp in Charlotte.

Emily also assists with all of the regular classes and private events. She can be found around town sampling Chef Alyssa’s Spreads too!

Meet Gloria

Gloria Wheeler has been working part-time for Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen since February 2015 and in June 2017 accepted a full time position. Gloria was born in Washington D.C and is from Bamburg, SC. A 2015 culinary graduate from Johnson & Wales, Gloria has spent her career working in restaurants such as 300 East.

Gloria assists our cooking classes and team building events. She also helps plan many of our private events and keeps things organized!

During the summer and throughout the year, she teams with Emily to lead Chef Alyssa’s Kids Culinary Camps. In 2017, after just 2 summers, the kids camps were named Best of the Best by Charlotte Magazine.

Meet Dani

Dani Rowland joined Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen in Fall 2017 as our first part-time chef instructor. Dani grew up in Charlotte, NC and received her culinary degree from Central Piedmont Community College. Dani has spent her career working in catering, restaurants and food trucks. However, for the past 8 years she’s owned and operated Rowland’s Row Organic Farm with her husband, Joe. They grow vegetables, raise chickens and are a big supplier for Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen!

Dani will be leading many of our private cooking class events. We are excited because Dani brings her engaging personality, enthusiasm and southern charm to our kitchen.

Meet Jonathan

Jonathan joins Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen in July 2018 as the Chef de Cuisine of spin-off concept, Chef Alyssa’s Table. Jonathan is born and raised in Charlotte. He began his restaurant career in high school at Mr. K’s. Taking positions of increasing responsibility at 5 Church and Nan & Byron’s, he eventually rose to Sous Chef at Passion 8. For the past two plus years, Jonathan was the Executive Chef of Sea Level, ranked a Top 15 restaurant in Charlotte.

Jonathan shares our passion for local, sustainable food to be made with exceptional flavor. Our Chef Alyssa’s Table meals can be for pick up or delivery, and are perfect for office lunch catering and family dinner meals.

Meet Raven

Raven is originally from Newport News, Virginia. Raven moved to Charlotte to attend culinary school at Johnson & Wales University, where she later graduated. Her work experience includes Earl’s Grocery and Nan & Byron’s Restaurant. While in school in 2014, Raven began assisting Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen for cooking classes. She continued to work at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen until spring 2016 when she moved to Charleston to work at Jasmine Porch, part of the 5-star resort The Sanctuary Hotel at Kiawah Island.

At Jasmine Porch, Raven grinded her way up to Sous Chef. Beginning in June 2018, Raven officially re-joined Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen. She’ll be working in all parts of the company. Primarily, she’ll be cooking at Chef Alyssa’s Table’s office lunch catering and family dinner meals. Raven will also be assisting cooking classes and events.

Meet Logan

  Logan joined Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen as a private event chef instructor in September 2018. Logan grew up in Charlotte, NC and has cooked his way up in restaurants during his career. He is currently a Sous Chef at Longview Country Club in Waxhaw, NC. Prior to that he worked for several years at Heritage Food & Drink under Chef Paul Verica, a James Beard award semi-finalist. Logan brings his years of restaurant experience, passion for teaching and detailed explanation of steps to teach a wide variety of skills!