Aaron Sanchez

Early Years

Aaron Sanchez is already well accomplished at the ripe old age of 30. It's really no surprise, since food has always been a passion in his family. Born in El Paso, Texas in 1973, Aaron followed his mother's footsteps into the kitchen to help her with her catering business. His mother, Zarela Martinez, a noted restaurateur, cookbook author, and one of the pioneers of Mexican cooking in the United States, moved the family to New York and Aaron starting helping at her first restaurant Cafe Marimba.

Further inspired by an intense week apprenticing with chef Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans, Aaron graduated from high school and returned to work with chef Prudhomme full time. After pursuing a culinary degree from the prestigious Johnson & Wales University, Sanchez returned to New York where he went to work with Nuevo Latino pioneer Douglas Rodriguez at his acclaimed restaurant Patria. It was there that he first partnered with current Melting Pot co-host and restaurateur Alex Garcia. Sanchez then went on to cook at Erizo Latino, L-Ray, and Isla in New York, and after that spent a couple of years in San Francisco at the highly rated Rose Pistola.

Current Projects

Aaron Sanchez returned to New York and in 2001 opened Paladar on the lower eastside of Manhattan, where he is chef and co-owner. Paladar features Caribbean, Central and South American cuisine, and has won excellent reviews from the New York Times and New York Magazine Combining tradition and innovation, Sanchez's version of Latin comfort food is a nuevo twist on standard fare, and is anything but standard. His control and confidence are very evident in his preparation and presentation of the cuisine of his heritage.

In his role as consultant to product manufacturers, retailers, and restaurant groups, Aaron Sanchez has appeared on behalf of Melissa's at the Produce Marketing Association convention for two years running, and has also helped educate several of Melissa's retail partners about the authentic ingredients now available to them. On Friday, August 1, Aaron will be signing his new book and demonstrating delicious recipes using Melissa's products at Gelson's Supermarket in North Hollywood, California.

Recognition

In November 2002, Aaron Sanchez was pictured on the cover of USA Weekend as one of 8 top chefs for a feature on ethnic food, including former mentor Douglas Rodriguez and other Melting Pot hosts Cheryl Smith and Cat Cora. In May of 2003, his first book, LA Comida Del Barrio: Latin-American Cooking Across the United States was published by Clarkson Potter. The book is an exploration and culinary adventure of Latinos living in the United States, showing tradition, heritage, with contemporary influences and necessities. These are the dishes served in homes, from street vendors, and in the restaurants of America's Latino neighborhoods - recipes that are accessible but not always predictable.

Fellow Food Network chefs, restaurateurs, and cookbook authors have said this about Aaron Sanchez: He is the prince of the culinary barrio (Bobby Flay); Aaron is a pioneer in the development of new Latino cooking (Mario Batali). Acclaimed chef Jonathan Waxman has declared that Aaron is the future of American Cooking. High praise indeed for one of the America's leading contemporary Latin chefs, who still has one foot firmly planted in tradition, and many exciting years of cooking and writing ahead of him.