Harold Villarosa

Harold Villarosa is an executive chef, entrepreneur, and proven leader in creating social impact. Born in the Philippines and raised in the South Bronx, he hustled his way from working in fast food to landing spots at Michelin-rated restaurants such as Per Se and Batard in NYC, as well as the #1 rated Noma in Copenhagen. He earned his first executive chef position at Freemans Restaurant, a hidden gem at the end of Freemans Alley in the LES.

In 2013, Chef Harold launched his non-profit Insurgo Project to mentor and teach kids from his neighborhood about the opportunities in the restaurant industry. He has since taken the program global and is now the US Culinary Ambassador of Denmark, Romania, and The Bahamas. Harold has been featured in numerous media outlets over the years including VICE’s ‘Munchies’, Zagat, NY1 (where he was named ‘New Yorker of the Week’), and Bon Appétit.

Chef Harold recently partnered with Brookfield Properties and will be launching his first restaurant Villarosa & Buti Diba at their San Francisco 5M Project. The development is set to open in the January of 2023 and will serve as a cultural hub for the historically Filipino community. haroldvillarosa.com