Aarón Sanchez
The co-star of the hit series Heat Seekers and Food Network’s Chopped, Aarón Sanchez is the executive chef and co-owner of Centrico Restaurant and Mestizo By Aarón Sánchez. He is also the culinary visionary behind Tacombi Tacqueria and Crossroads at House of Blues. The son of celebrated Mexican cooking authority Zarela Martinez, Aarón’s passion, commitment and skills have placed him among the country’s leading contemporary Latin chefs.
Aarón began his career with Food Network as co-host of Melting Pot. Today, Aarón stars on multiple Food Network shows, including Heat Seekers, Chopped, Chefs vs. City, Best Thing I Ever Ate and various specials.
In 2011 Aarón joined forces with FOX’s Utilisima to create Aarón Loves NY, a Spanish-language cooking series that airs in North America, South America and Latin America.
In 2004 Aarón opened Centrico in New York City, featuring contemporary Mexican cuisine, with renowned restaurateur Drew Nieporent of the Myriad Restaurant Group (Nobu, Tribeca Grill, etc.). In 2011 Aarón teamed with House of Blues to open 15 Crossroads across the country. Shortly after, he opened Mestizo By Aarón Sánchez near Kansas City.
Aarón’s first restaurant, Paladar, a pan-Latin inspiration in New York City, won Time Out New York’s 2001 awards for Best New Lower East Side Restaurant and Best Latin American Restaurant in its 2002 Eating and Drinking Guide. Funky but chic, Paladar incorporated the vibrant energy of the neighborhood with the relaxed intimacy and warmth of a Cuban paladar.
In 2005 Aarón was nominated as the Rising Star Chef of the Year by the James Beard Foundation. He was also named one of People's and People En Espanol’s 50 Most Beautiful People that year.
Aarón is a restaurateur, television personality, consultant, spokesperson and author. His book Simple Food, Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours was released in October 2011. His first book, La Comida del Barrio, was published in May 2003.
When he’s not in the kitchen or shooting his TV shows, Aarón spends most of his time with his family, writing and traveling the world exploring different and interesting cultures.
