Born and raised in Philadelphia, Chef Barry E. Sexton has successfully acquired over 30 years experience in the culinary arts. The Philadelphia Art Institute graduate always believed that great food is a combination of bold tastes, textures and color. Like fine art, crucial ingredients waiting to be blended on a canvas. Chef Sexton’s was classically trained for more than a decade under the tutelage of Master Chef Jean Pierre Tardy, who was the Executive Chef of Le Bec-Fin for seven years. Chef Barry worked closely with him keeping the creative process alive by using his imagination with the best and freshest ingredients available to create signature dishes at Jean Pierre’s Restaurant in Newtown, Pa., known locally for its French cuisine. Chef Sexton demonstrates his passion and love for cooking in every aspect. Throughout his career, he has worked at some premiere restaurants and hotels in Philadelphia and Bucks County areas.

This award-winning chef is well known for his keen sense of creativity, gourmet catering, and private cooking classes that showcase his style of cooking. His cuisine integrates the sophisticated flavors of African, Caribbean, Italian and Asian all infused with a cultural blend from around the world. In 1995, he was voted the Top Chef to watch, while working at Striped Bass, a well-known restaurant that specialized only in seafood flown in from around the world. Chef Sexton created dishes that reflected his proven track record with customers. He also helped launch Zanzibar Blue, a popular upscale jazz/blues restaurant located in the Philadelphia Hyatt Hotel. Chef Sexton’s menus have been well received by notable personalities such as Rosa Parks, mother of the Civil Rights Movement, actor Denzel Washington and former congressman Bill Gray. His artful plating and delicious food attracted admirers of his unique cuisine.

Chef Sexton has also been employed as Executive Chef of the Buck Hotel & Conference Center in Feasterville as well as abroad at the five star Round Hill Hotel & Resort, Jamaica, W.I. During his stay at Round Hill, Chef Sexton was invited to cook a dinner for several Ambassadors and Prime Minister’s of the Caribbean Council.

Chef Sexton’s impressive style has been featured in news and magazine articles, as well as local television shows. He was featured on the popular Food Network Show, Dinner Impossible starring Robert Irvine. This award-winning chef also participated in the Atlantic City Food Show 2007 where he collaborated with Iron Chef Morimoto and Chef Guy Fieri of Diners, Dives & Drive-Ins.

Chef Sexton was invited to be a judge at The Restaurant School in 2008 with Master Chef Jean Marie Lacroix for the C-CAP Scholarship Program for young aspiring culinarians. In 2008 while at the Gourmet Food & Wine Festival, Chef Sexton had the pleasure to work with other famous Food Network Chefs such as Chef Tyler Florence who has been seen on Food 911 and Tyler’s Ultimate. Also Duff Goldman owner of Charm City Cakes and his show the Ace of Cakes.

Chef Barry Sexton is the proud owner/operator of the Opinionated Palate Catering service, allowing him to create customized menus for memorable occasions for his clients. Chef Sexton’s incredible reputation as a premiere chef/caterer has catapulted his career to new heights.