Unity Conference

Friday Keynote Speaker: Chef Alisa Reynolds

Chef Alisa Reynolds is the Executive Chef/Owner of Los Angeles’s very popular My Two Cents, and she is the host of the hit Hulu show, “Searching for Soul Food” and the podcast, “My Last Meal with Chef Alisa.”

A Los Angeles native, Chef Alisa began her professional career as a visual merchandiser designer for Saks Fifth Avenue Beverly Hills before moving into TV and film production, working from wardrobe to post-production on several television shows and films. Not creatively satisfied, Alisa decided to change directions. As an innately gifted cook, Chef Alisa began her journey toward becoming a chef when she worked with Celebrity Chef David Burke at his legendary Park Avenue Café in New York City. She went on to work with some of L.A.’s top chefs, including Chef Hans Rockenwagner of Rockenwagner, Joachim Splichal of Patina, and Fred Erich of Vida and Tiara.

Chef Alisa opened her own restaurant, the critically celebrated Paio in Los Angeles’s hip Silver Lake neighborhood, in 1998. That was followed by east coast collaborations with New York’s Chef Dennis Foy. For years, she served the French food found in most high-end restaurants. That would change when she opened My 2 Cents in Mid-City, Los Angeles in 2013. She wanted to show what soul food could be in a healthy and organic environment. Whether it's her gluten- free fried chicken, quinoa mac and cheese or grit fries accompanied by fresh market vegetables, Chef Alisa has introduced how soul food can evolve without losing the comfort and flavor it is coveted for. “My parents are from the South. So, I grew up on a lot of these traditional recipes and after years of cooking in the fine dining arena and traveling the world, I really wanted to bring to the table soul food in a modern and eclectic way.” 

For the last 10 years she has grown a huge following, having catered distinguished events
including the Golden Globes, CAA Party, the IFF Awards, and the Sundance Festival. Her vast client list includes Joaquin Phoenix, Flaunt Magazine, Levi’s, Nike, Barack Obama, Gwen Stefani, Oprah Winfrey, Macy Gray, and Undefeated, to name just a few. In 2021, Beats by Dre celebrated her with their Flowers For Black Women program.