Aarón Sánchez (chef) facts for kids
Sánchez in 2009
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| Born | February 12, 1976 (age 49) Chihuahua, Mexico |
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| Cooking style | Cajun cuisine, Louisiana Creole cuisine, Mexican cuisine |
| Education | Johnson & Wales University |
| Spouse |
Ifé Mora
(m. 2009; div. 2012) |
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Current restaurant(s)
"Johnny Sánchez"
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Television show(s)
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Aarón Sánchez (born February 12, 1976) is a famous Mexican-American chef, restaurant owner, and TV personality. He also writes cookbooks and helps others through his charity work. He is the main chef and a co-owner of the Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans.
Aarón Sánchez has been a co-star on popular Food Network shows like Chopped and Chopped Jr.. He also hosted Taco Trip on Cooking Channel, which was nominated for an Emmy award. He has appeared on Iron Chef America and even had a rare tie in a cooking battle. Since 2017, he has been a judge on FOX's cooking competition show MasterChef. He also joined the judging panel for MasterChef Junior in 2019. Aarón has written two cookbooks and a memoir. He started the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund to help young Latin chefs go to culinary school.
Early Life and Cooking Journey
Aarón Sánchez and his twin brother, Rodrigo, were born in 1976 in Chihuahua, Mexico. Their mother, Zarela Martínez, was a well-known restaurateur and cookbook author. The family later moved to El Paso, Texas. Aarón started cooking at a young age, helping his mother prepare traditional Mexican dishes for her catering business.
In 1984, his family moved to New York. There, his mother opened a famous restaurant called Café Marimba. This is where Aarón began to cook in a professional kitchen. When he was 16, his mother sent him to New Orleans to work with the famous Chef Paul Prudhomme for the summer. After graduating from Dwight School in 1994, Aarón worked full-time for Chef Prudhomme in New Orleans. Aarón has a son named Yuma. He has shared that Chef Jonathan Waxman was an important mentor to him.
Becoming a Chef
In 1996, after working with Chef Prudhomme, Aarón went to Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, to study culinary arts. He returned to New York in 1996 and worked at Patria restaurant. There, he met Alex Garcia, who would become his business partner.
Garcia and Sánchez later opened Erizo Latino, a restaurant that received good reviews for its wholesome Central and South American food. Aarón then became the executive chef at L-Ray, which focused on foods from the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. He also worked as an executive chef at Isla, a restaurant inspired by pre-Revolutionary Cuba. Later, he moved to San Francisco to work with Chef Reed Hearon.
In 2000, Aarón was hired to open Paladar, a pan-Latin restaurant in New York City. Paladar opened in 2001 and quickly won awards. It was known for its lively atmosphere and serious cooking. Aarón sold his share in Paladar in 2010. He also worked as the chef at Centrico, a Mexican restaurant in New York, which closed in 2012.
In 2014, Aarón opened Johnny Sánchez, a restaurant, in New Orleans. He now owns this restaurant with his partners, Miles Landrem and Drew Mire. They are also planning to open another restaurant in New Orleans.
Aarón Sánchez on TV
Aarón Sánchez is very well-known for his many appearances on television. He has been a part of some of the most popular cooking shows.
- Chopped: Aarón was a judge on this popular Food Network show for many years. On Chopped, chefs compete by cooking dishes using a mystery basket of ingredients. He also appeared on Chopped Junior, where young chefs show off their skills.
- MasterChef: Since 2017, Aarón has been a main judge on MasterChef on FOX. He helps decide who will be crowned the next MasterChef, often sharing his knowledge of traditional Mexican cuisine.
- MasterChef Junior: He also joined the judging panel for MasterChef Junior, helping young talented cooks.
- Taco Trip: Aarón hosted this show on Cooking Channel, where he traveled to explore different kinds of tacos.
- Iron Chef America: He competed on this show, where he faced off against other top chefs.
- He has also made guest appearances on many other shows, including Hell's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back.
In 2019, Aarón Sánchez released his memoir, Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef.
Images for kids
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Aarón Sánchez in 2009
