Meet The Chefs
Jeremy Collins
Executive Chef, 2012
A Florida native and long-time Vero Beach resident with large family roots, Jeremy is also a 2004 graduate of the Florida Culinary Institute, former sous chef of Nantucket’s Ships Inn, and its sister restaurant, Ellie’s, previously of Vero Beach, Florida. Upon Ellie’s closing in 2004, Jeremy continued to hone his skills at John’s Island Club and Gloria Estefan’s Costa D’este, Oriente restaurant. Jeremy is still an integral piece of Chef Mark Gottwald’s Ships Inn of Nantucket, MA. He and his wife Michelle spend each summer on island, and return to Vero Beach just in time for the start of Vero’s winter season. Recently named executive chef, Jeremy is passionate of Orchid Gourmet’s quality and lasting enrichment of client-happiness and positivity. He loves delivering perfection to every Orchid Gourmet party.
Jesse Alexander
Owner, 2010
Orchid Gourmet was founded by Jesse Alexander whose passion for cooking started at a very early age. His first apprentice position was with his great grandmother, “Great Gran,” at the age of six. After graduating from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Jesse pursued his love of food and cooking at Ellie’s restaurant in Vero Beach, Florida. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a sous chef in two short seasons. As Ellie’s closed, Jesse continued to hone his skills as a private and consultant chef for a number of years until Orchid Gourmet was born in 2010. Having never worked for a caterer, Jesse’s clients get a fresh and more a la minute approach to on-site and in-home catering. “We don’t take any shortcuts, from our homemade stocks to our ever-growing organic inventory, all of our operations are done with the highest quality ingredients and our client’s satisfaction in mind.”