Harvey's BBQ Kitchen | Our Story
Chef Harvey Alexander Elevates American BBQ as an Art, and a Craft
Harvey's BBQ Kitchen was born from a passion for culinary arts, a backyard grill and smoker, and the entrepreneurial conviction to "start small, think big." Since 2009, Chef Harvey Alexander has been redefining what barbecue can be — one smoke-kissed plate at a time.
As an African American and the first person in his family to graduate from college, Harvey took a passion to culinary arts. He earned a culinary degree from Florida Culinary Institute and gained experience in luxury hospitality and restaurants, including AAA Four and Five Diamond resorts such as The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and Cheeca Lodge and Spa, and on-site and off-site catering for discerning, high-profile clients.
Harvey always wanted to be an entrepreneur, taking the knowledge gained through his career and studies to own and operate his own business. Smoking BBQ, as Harvey explains, is "an obsessive passion." With over 30 years as a chef, he brings creativity and culinary skill to every menu.
From Cutler Bay to a Kendall virtual kitchen
In 2009, Chef Harvey opened Harvey's Smokehouse BBQ as a brick-and-mortar takeout restaurant in Cutler Bay, Florida — a community-first bet that South Florida would embrace serious, soulful barbecue. For over a decade, the neighborhood proved him right, fueling the brand's growth one loyal guest at a time.
After 10 years as a brick-and-mortar, Harvey's BBQ had outgrown its original location and a bigger location and market reach became necessary.
Harvey's BBQ Kitchen launched in 2019 as a virtual brand concept, also known as a ghost kitchen, operating from a warehouse kitchen in Kendall, Florida. This centrally located kitchen continues and expands delivery, catering and curbside pickup from Cutler Bay to Coral Gables, South Miami and throughout Kendall.
Harvey's BBQ continues to grow, developing e-commerce plans to cryovac and ship barbecue nationwide. Harvey has bottled Harvey's Original BBQ Sauce and is in discussions with retail grocers.
Progressive BBQ
Chef Harvey draws from all four great American barbecue traditions — Carolina, Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas — seasoning every cut with original dry and wet rubs and finishing with his proprietary sauces, including Harvey's Original BBQ Sauce now bottled and available to ship nationwide. His mission: move barbecue beyond "pigs and picnic tables" and into its rightful place as an art and a craft.
