Chef Allysa is, as the name suggests, a lover of food and a proponent of peace. Food continues to serve as an anchor and cornerstone in her life, uniting her loved ones, and giving her a chance to share her experience, passion, and talents with as many people as possible.

 Of Guyanese and Bajan descent, with a keen affinity for Latin flavors, it is no surprise that Chef Allysa brings bold and complex flavors to every meal she creates.

 A versatile chef, she creates robust dishes that draw inspiration from a variety of cuisines – American, Italian, Asian, and beyond – with her Caribbean roots ever-present in each bite.

 Chef Allysa had an early start in the kitchen, often helping her mom, cousin, and aunts with chopping, dicing, and slicing components for whatever masterpiece they created. They never used recipes, they never measured anything, but each time they cooked, they delivered consistent, flawless, off-the-chart meals.

 It was inspiring for a young Chef Allysa to say the least. She knew she enjoyed those moments in the kitchen with the women in her family but did not realize the gravity and importance of it all.

 After the loss of her mom, Chef Allysa felt cheated but found peace when thinking of the memories they shared through food. She cherished all the priceless gems passed down to her including how to season dishes, how to make deviled eggs, ‘picks’, and other party appetizers. They didn’t constantly hug or show other typical displays of affection, but they sure made a lot of deviled eggs, which of course came with a side of gossip and discussion.

 Subconsciously and naturally, a passion and love for food developed.

 Chef Allysa became an avid restaurant-goer, embarking on food adventures and studying as if she would be tested on different types of cuisines and cultures. She married those findings with her humble beginnings of bold and classic Guyanese cooking and began experimenting in her own kitchen. Chef Allysa started an Instagram account with the handle, @FoodLoverNotaFighter to document it all and received positive feedback for her presentation and natural abilities.

 The rest is history.

Today, Chef Allysa couples her over 10 year accounting experience, with her passion for food, and is the CFO of a growing restaurant group by day and looks forward to putting on her chef hat at nights and on weekends.  

Chef Allysa enjoys simulating her favorite Food Network show, Chopped, and is actively preparing for the day they invite her to compete.