Chef Brandon Walker, a Brooklyn native, is the executive chef/owner of Essie’s Restaurant in Poughkeepsie NY. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park NY and has a range of professional experiences in the culinary arts. His experiences have been in renowned New York City restaurants along with traveling around the world to further expand on his global knowledge of culinary arts.

Chef Walker was drawn to Poughkeepsie, NY and the Hudson Valley Region because of its rich culture of artisans. Immersing himself in the food scene; he has worked in some of the best local restaurants in the Hudson Valley and received numerous accolades for creating seasonal menus that uniquely displayed his cooking style, along with utilizing ingredients from local farmers and purveyors.

Chef Walker founded B&L Hospitality in 2014, B&L Hospitality is the Hudson Valley’s premier restaurant group. His mission is to "Create Memories with Exceptional Food and Service" through all of his restaurant concepts. In June 2016 Chef Walker opened Essie’s restaurant. Essie’s is a place that showcases Walker’s globally influenced cuisine but also pays homage to his grandmother and the women in his family who are great cooks and are the reason his interest in food was ignited. Since the opening of Essie’s Chef walker has received reviews and accolades from the Poughkeepsie journal, Hudson Valley Network News, Khaleej Times, Parlour magazine, Daily Voice, Chronogram, Edible Hudson Valley, Verizon FiOS Restaurant Hunters, and Best of the Hudson Valley 2017 from Hudson Valley Magazine for delivering outstanding food and Service. He was also featured on Food Networks show  Re-Wrapped  "Ritzy Business" and a finalist on Chopped  Episode  "Sweet and Sour". 

Chef Walker believes in his community and gives back by getting involved with local profit and non-profit organizations. Annually he educates a women’s group that focuses to improve their eating and cooking skills using local products, workforce development and mentoring to young men and women seeking a career in the culinary arts, and several fund raisers that provide services to his communities underserved.