Taylor Halley

Photo Credit: Gabby Halley

NC Chef Ambassador Taylor Halley is the Executive Chef at The Wine Feed in Durham, NC.  

In 2008, Taylor humbly began his culinary journey in the kitchen of Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q,  where he learned the pace and rhythm of professional cooking.  He then went to work at 'Pazzo!', a small Italian restaurant and pizzeria, in Chapel Hill.  It was there Taylor discovered his calling. I was able to work closely with the chef-owner, preparing daily dishes with seafood brought straight from Atlantic Beach, NC, and I fell in love with the craft, the stories, and the seasonality of North Carolina’s coast.

Next, he joined Elements Restaurant in Chapel Hill in 2019.  In the role of Sous Chef and Sushi Chef, Taylor learned to break down, prepare, and handle seafood with precision and respect. During the pandemic, He expanded his skills further while preparing sushi for takeout, strengthening both patience and technique.

Since 2022, Taylor has been the Executive Chef at The Wine Feed in Durham, NC,  where he continues to showcase local seafood through weekly “North Carolina Catch” offerings, and a series of curated wine dinner events, each crafted around what’s in season and local. No two weeks are the same, because neither is the ocean!

Chef Halley is also an ambassador for Help the House Foundation, supporting restaurant industry workers in need of financial, mental, or physical help. Giving back to the community/industry is a core part of what makes the world turn.

Taylor continues to build relationships with producers and fishermen, and to share my knowledge with anyone willing to listen- whether on the line, at the table, or on the docks at sunrise! The approach is simple: keep it fresh and local, respect the fisherman and the environment, and invite guests to try something new!

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