Michael Carter better known as “Mike” is the Executive Chef at the mission-driven restaurant, Down North Pizza in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Inspired by family dinners and his Grandmother’s cooking, Carter followed the joy and creativity he found in food and turned it into a dedicated career. After stints at notable Philly restaurants (Porta, Booker’s and V Street) the culinary activist found a home at Down North Pizza where he benefits from the restaurant's mission of reducing recidivism through providing economic opportunities for the formerly incarcerated.