Chef Joseph Carey is the founder of the Memphis Culinary Academy and was Memphis' first Certified Executive Chef.

Carey worked as an executive chef in San Francisco for 16 years, where he opened five restaurants. He then left to establish the Memphis Culinary Academy, and in Memphis, he opened three distinguished restaurants. He has hosted several television cooking shows and acts as consultant to national celebrities in search of personal chefs.

When national celebrities such as Tom Cruise and Debbie Rose come to Memphis, Chef Carey is consulted on a regular basis for recommendations for personal chefs, and in fact, has provided chefs trained by himself to such well-known people as Dixie Carter, Annie Potts and Hal Holbrook. He has trained cooks to cater for the artist formerly known as Prince and George Thoroughgood. He has cooked for the Egyptian and Irish ambassadors to the United States.

Joseph has written two cookbooks: "Creole Nouvelle: Contemporary Creole Cookery" and "Chef on Fire: The Five Techniques for Using Heat Like a Pro".

Joseph has recently moved to Portland.