Real Live Willy Wonka! Chocolatier Philip Ashley Rix WRITTEN BY: CARY WONG
I t was one of those things that was probably so common that it did not stick out at the time, until he opened Phillip Ashley Chocolates. Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, Chef Phillip Ashley Rix was not only influenced by the city’s rich culture and diverse culinary scene, but he was also exposed to art, music, sports and of course food, thanks to his parents’ support. As a child, he loved hanging out with his grandmother Jean - despite taking him away from his friends - who was a great gardener as well as a skilled chef. He learned how to process what they grew, how to use the kitchen tools and create dishes with love. Despite always having a sweet tooth, his culinary career only began after his education in chemistry and work in the marketing and sales field. And it literally came from a weird dream in 2007, in which he visited a Godiva chocolate store with his mom. “When I woke up, I knew
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