Falafel and Ingredient Integrity

Plant‑Powered Flavor Architect — Elevating Restaurants, Kitchens & Your Next Bite 

Aaward-winning plant-based chef Ed Harris joins Michele to share his journey from omni-chef to global plant-based innovator. Chef Ed breaks down the art of building flavor, why cutting and charring vegetables changes everything, and how simple techniques can transform everyday vegan cooking into unforgettable meals.

Chef Ed Harris’s story begins in the Caribbean and travels through kitchens in New York and around the globe.  But the real turning point came at home—during a family documentary night watching What the Health. That single moment led his entire family to shift toward a vegan lifestyle, changing the trajectory of his cooking and his career.

With warmth, clarity, and contagious enthusiasm, Chef Ed shares:

How to Build Real Flavor in Vegan Food

• Why vegetables aren’t bland—our techniques are
  

• How charring transforms broccoli, cauliflower, beans, and more
  

• Why the way you cut vegetables affects the taste
  

• How to layer flavor using herbs, smoke, bay leaves, and spices
  

• The biggest mistakes home cooks make (and how to fix them)

Behind the Scenes of Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay & Iron Chef

• What a 1-hour episode actually takes to film
  

• The mental focus needed to cook under extreme pressure
  

• How those experiences shaped his confidence and craft

Shifting to a Plant-Based Life

• How a documentary changed everything for his family
  

• His emotional reaction to learning about animal agriculture
  

• Why chefs need to question the traditions they inherited

Helping Restaurants Modernize Plant-Forward Menus

• Why many kitchens misunderstand vegan diners
  

• How he consults with hotels and restaurants to develop flavor-forward dishes
  

• The falafel lesson every chef needs to know
  

• Why hospitality must improve for plant-based guests

Chef Ed and his wife have created a vibrant online community where members learn plant-based cooking, explore global flavors, and share their stories. As he says, a “rich life” is about family, culture, and connection—not money.

Connect with Chef Ed and Jane Harris at The Rich Life. 

Or on Instagram @Chefedharris

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