Aaron Sánchez - Biography
As a former co-host of Food Network's 'Melting Pot', Aaron introduced a national audience to his technique and creativity with contemporary interpretations of classic Latino cuisine. His audience gets to sample this fare at his restaurant, Paladar, located in New York City, as well as at Mixx Restaurant in the Borgata Hotel and Spa in Atlantic City.
 
 
 
Born in 1973, in El Paso, Texas, Aaron has vivid memories of helping his mother prepare traditional Mexican foods for her thriving catering business. By 1984, the family had moved to New York and Zarela Sanchez launched the acclaimed Café Marimba. It was here that eleven-year old Aaron got his first taste of professional kitchen life. By his sixteenth birthday, Aaron's flair for cooking earned him a place in a Masterclass with Chef Paul Prudhomme. Upon graduating from high school in 1992, Aaron returned to work full time for Prudhomme in New Orleans.

In 1993, Aaron studied culinary arts at Johnson and Wales in Providence, Rhode Island. He returned to New York in 1994 to work with the renowned Nuevo-Latino chef, Douglas Rodriguez at Patria. In March 1996, Patria earned a three-star New York Times review, further convincing Aaron that traditional Latin ingredients and their contemporary preparation were at the heart of a bold new culinary movement.

Following this, Aaron moved on to explore San Francisco's restaurant scene, where he worked with Chef Reed Hearon at Rose Pistola. After a year, he returned to New York as executive chef at L-Ray, a Gulf Rim and Caribbean bistro, where he received a positive review from the New York Times. Aaron then moved on to the executive chef's position at Isla, a restaurant inspired by pre-Revolutionary Cuba.

In February 2001, Aaron teamed up with Eamon Furlong to open Paladar, a pan-Latin inspiration on the Lower East Side. Funky, but chic, Paladar is a dining experience that incorporates the vibrant energy of the neighborhood with the relaxed intimacy and warmth of a Cuban Paladar.

In its first year, Paladar won Time Out New York's 2001 Award for Best New Lower East Side Restaurant and Best Latin American Restaurant in their 2002 Eating and Drinking Guide. On September 26th 2002, Eric Asimov of The New York Times Dining Out Section featured Paladar in a very positive review, stating: "...As long as Paladar...continues to employ the Nuevo Latino vernacular in a sound and appealing way, it is clear that it is deeper than a passing fancy".

Today, Aaron is a restaurateur, television personality, consultant, spokesperson and author. His first book, La Comida del Barrio was published in May 2003. He has consulted with Proctor and Gamble, Target Stores, Ortega, as well as trade and food industry commissions worldwide. Aaron makes international appearances conducting cooking classes and events where he shares his knowledge of and passion for Latin cuisine with thousands of admirers throughout the year.

As seen on "The Melting Pot" 		¨La Comida del Barrio¨