Chef Harper Rocks the 2012 Taste of Del Ray

Rock Harper knows Alexandria. The alum and former winner of Gordon Ramsey’s “Hell’s Kitchen” loves Alexandria, too.

“This neighborhood continues to grow and develop,” Harper said Sunday at the . “It has changed quite a bit since when I was growing up, and it just keeps getting better.”

Although he now calls Woodbridge home with his wife and three children, Harper is no stranger to the Del Ray community and its growing culinary forces.

“I keep hearing great things about , which used to be Taco Maxi when I was younger,” Harper said. “However, just about every time I try to go there, the place is packed and I can’t get a seat, but I’m going to keep trying.”

Although he hasn’t had the opportunity to frequent many Del Ray favorites since his Taco Maxi days, Harper is looking forward to eating his way up and down The Avenue in the near future.

Dressed in casual summer linen pants with a cotton tee and a fresh set of spectacles on Sunday, the renowned chef and author meshed seamlessly with the patrons, interacting with chefs and attendees alike at the various restaurant stations.

“I am really excited about today’s event,” said Harper with a smile, “and having the opportunity to taste what Del Ray is all about.”

Fueled by an early morning workout and a breakfast of scrambled eggs with cheddar, a banana, an orange and a 5-hour energy, Harper got the feel goods flowing early and came to Del Ray ready to eat. 

And eat he did. 

With more than 1,000 attendees at this year’s event, Harper seemed at ease with his fans, taking time to graciously pose for photos and sign cookbooks and pictures for attendees.

“It is truly wonderful to come back to my home for an event like this and to a community like this,” said Harper, who noted that his family planned to take a few pictures of their own at , his junior high alma mater, on their way back to Woodbridge.

Harper was jovial when it came to announcing his top picks and joked with the crowd, noting that his car was parked close to the stage in case he had to make a mad dash if the audience had a problem with his selections in the Judge’s Choice category.

As far as what is on the horizon for the chef and author of “44 Things Parents Should Know About Healthy Cooking for Kids," Harper noted that he is on the move quite a bit and is always up for a new challenge.

“I am always looking for an opportunity to grow and learn,” said Harper. 

With a new book in the works that Harper hopes will serve as a guide to sustaining the harmony between food and love, Del Ray has not seen the last of this Alexandrian, both locally and on the bigger stage.

For more information on Harper and his future endeavors, check out his website.