Aarón Sánchez (chef) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Aarón Sánchez

Sánchez in 2009
Born	February 12, 1976 (1976-02-12) (age 49) Chihuahua, Mexico
Cooking style	Cajun cuisine, Louisiana Creole cuisine, Mexican cuisine
Education	Johnson & Wales University
Spouse	Ifé Mora ​ ​ (m. 2009; div. 2012)​
Current restaurant(s) "Johnny Sánchez"
Television show(s) Chefs vs. City (2009–2010) Heat Seekers (2011–2012) Taco Trip (2014–2015) MasterChef (2017–2024) MasterChef Junior (2018–ongoing)

Aarón Sánchez was born on February 12, 1976. He is a famous Mexican-American chef, restaurant owner, and TV star. He has written cookbooks and helps young chefs. Aarón is the main chef and part-owner of the Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans.

He was a co-star on the Food Network shows Chopped and Chopped Jr.. He also hosted Taco Trip on Cooking Channel. Aarón appeared on Iron Chef America. He even had a battle that ended in a tie with another famous chef, Masaharu Morimoto. He has written two cookbooks and a book about his life.

Aarón started the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund. This fund helps young chefs from the Latin community go to culinary school. In 2017, he became a full-time judge on FOX's cooking show MasterChef. He judged alongside Gordon Ramsay, Joe Bastianich, and Christina Tosi. He also joined the judging team for MasterChef Junior in 2019.

About Aarón's Life

Aarón and his twin brother, Rodrigo, were born in 1976 in El Paso, Texas. Their mother, Zarela Martínez, was also a chef and cookbook author. Aarón started cooking when he was very young. He helped his mom make traditional Mexican food for her catering business.

In 1984, his family moved to New York. His mother opened a famous restaurant called Café Marimba. This is where Aarón first cooked in a professional kitchen. When he was 16, his mother sent him to New Orleans. He spent the summer working with Chef Paul Prudhomme. After finishing school in 1994, Aarón worked full-time for Chef Prudhomme. Aarón has a son named Yuma.

Aarón's Cooking Journey

In 1996, Aarón went to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island. He studied culinary arts there. After college, he returned to New York. He worked at a restaurant called Patria. There, he met Alex Garcia, who would become his business partner.

Alex Garcia later opened his own restaurant, Erizo Latino. Aarón helped him open it. The restaurant was praised for its "casual" and "earthy" feel. Its dishes were a great introduction to Central and South American cooking.

Aarón then became the main chef at L-Ray. This restaurant focused on foods from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. He also worked as an executive chef at Isla, a Cuban-inspired restaurant. Later, he moved to San Francisco to work with Chef Reed Hearon.

In 2000, Aarón was hired to open Paladar. This was a pan-Latin restaurant in New York City. It opened in 2001 and quickly won awards. Time Out New York named it the Best New Lower East Side Restaurant. It was also called the Best Latin American Restaurant in 2002. Paladar was known for its lively atmosphere and serious cooking. Aarón sold his part of Paladar in 2010.

He later became the chef at Centrico, a Mexican restaurant in New York. It closed in 2012.

In 2014, Aarón opened Johnny Sánchez in Baltimore with Chef John Besh. That location closed in 2017. They opened a second Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans in 2014. As of 2019, Aarón Sánchez and his partners, Miles Landrem and Drew Mire, own the New Orleans restaurant. They are also planning to open another restaurant in New Orleans.

In 2017, Aarón joined MasterChef US as a judge. He helped judge contestants' cooking and baking. He is an expert in many cooking styles. His special skill in traditional Mexican cuisine is often used on the show.

In 2019, he appeared on Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back. He also released his book, Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef. In 2020, he was a guest judge on Hell's Kitchen for a Mexican food challenge.

TV Shows and Appearances

Aarón Sánchez has appeared on many television shows. Here are some of the most well-known: