Jeffrey Saad facts for kids

Jeffrey Saad, born around 1967, is an American chef, author, and TV personality from Chicago, Illinois. He owns restaurants and has also worked in real estate. Today, he hosts United Tastes of America on the Cooking Channel. He is also an Estate Director with Compass in Beverly Hills.

Jeffrey Saad's Journey to Becoming a Chef

Jeffrey Saad first became interested in cooking when he was a teenager. He worked at a diner located behind his junior high school. This early experience sparked his passion for food.

Later, he studied Hotel Restaurant Management at Iowa State University. While there, he became a "chef de cuisine," which means he was a head chef in charge of the kitchen. He continued his cooking education at the Culinary Institute of America and the California Culinary Academy. He even completed an internship in London with a famous chef named Anton Mosimann.

Opening Restaurants and New Ventures

In 1993, Jeffrey Saad traveled to Mexico to learn more about Mexican cuisine. This trip inspired him to open his own Mexican-style restaurant called Sweet Heat in San Francisco. After that, he opened two more restaurants.

He also created his own special line of bottled "chutneys," which are flavorful sauces. Jeffrey Saad also became a partner in Pasta Pomodoro Italian Restaurants in California. Later, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles and started a real estate company together.

Jeffrey Saad on Television

In 2009, Jeffrey Saad tried out for the fifth season of The Next Food Network Star. He finished as the runner-up in the competition. Even though he didn't win first place, Food Network gave him a chance.

They offered him his own online show called Spice Smuggler. On this show, he explored different spices and foods from around the world. After a year, the Cooking Channel asked him to host their show, United Tastes of America.

Other TV Appearances and Competitions

Besides his own shows, Jeffrey Saad has appeared on many other cooking programs. These include Grill It! with Bobby Flay, Unique Sweets, and The Rachael Ray Show. He has also been on ABC World News Now.

In 2012, he competed in Food Network's Chopped All-Stars. In this competition, he came in second place. He competed against other well-known chefs like Marcus Samuelsson.

Jeffrey Saad's Life Outside the Kitchen

Jeffrey Saad lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Nadia, and their two children. His wife has family from Iran. When he's not cooking, Jeffrey Saad enjoys surfing and mountain biking.

He also practices taekwondo, a type of martial art. He started learning taekwondo in college and earned his black belt. He later earned his second-degree black belt.