Aarón Sánchez Biography

Aarón Sánchez is a Mexican famous Chef, TV Personality, Restaurateur, Cookbook Author, and Philanthropist known for being the part-owner and executive chef of the Mexican restaurant Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans. He is also known for having appeared in the reality TV series “Chopped Jr” and “Chopped.”

Aarón Sánchez Age

Sánchez is 46 years old. He was born on February 12, 1976, in Chihuahua, Mexico. He celebrates his birthday on the 12th of February every year.

Aarón Sánchez Height

Sánchez stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m).

Aarón Sánchez Family

Aarón Sánchez Parents

Sánchez was born to Zarela Martinez (mother) and Adolfo Sanchez (father). Sánchez started cooking at a tender age when he used to help his mom in the preparations of traditional Mexican foods for her catering business. When he reached 16 years old, his mom sent him to spend the summer working with Chef Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans. He and his family relocated to New York in 1984.

Aarón Sánchez Twin Brother

He grew up alongside his identical twin brother, Rodrigo, who works as a lawyer (attorney) in New York City.

Aarón Sánchez Mother Zarela Martinez

Sánchez’s mom Zarela Martinez is an American NYC-based restaurateur and cookbook author. She works on the board of directors for the Mexican Cultural Institute of N.Y. Zarela launched “Cooking in Mexican from A to Z” (a podcast on Heritage Radio Network) in the year 2020, which is co-hosted with her son Aaron. This show explores Mexico’s history, flavors, and food via lively conversations with its guests. In the year 1984, Zarela launched the acclaimed Café Marimba, and Sánchez started cooking in a professional kitchen.

She was born to Aida Gabilondo (mother) and her father in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. Zarela has been instrumental in introducing the people of America to authentic Mexican food, via her writings and restaurants. She has appeared severally on TV. One of her cookbooks includes “Zarela’s Veracruz” (2001). Zarela got diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in the year 2004, triggered by an accident where she got hit by a taxi cab.

Aarón Sánchez Wife

Sánchez has not identified whether he is dating or engaged/married to anyone. There will be an update as soon as any information about his dating is available.

Aarón Sánchez Ex-Wife

Sánchez was previously married to Ife Sanchez Mora (singer). They tied the knot in the year 2009 and divorced in the year 2012, due to unknown reasons. Ife is 46 years old as of 2023 having been born in the year 1977 in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Aarón Sánchez Son

Sánchez and his ex-wife take great pride in being dad and mom to their one son called Yuma Sánchez. He likes spending his spare time with his son.

Aarón Sánchez Net Worth

Sánchez has an annual estimated net worth of $4 Million, which he earns through his career as a Chef, TV Personality, Restaurateur, and Cookbook Author.

Aarón Sánchez Career / Restaurants

He is known for hosting “Taco Trip” (Cooking Channel’s Emmy-nominated show). Sánchez has also starred in “Iron Chef America” and is among the few chefs whose battles have ended in a draw, tying with Masaharu Morimoto in “Battle Black Bass” in the second season. Sánchez has also contested in The Next Iron Chef.

As a philanthropist, she launched an initiative “Aarón Sánchez Scholarship Fund,” which empowers aspiring chefs from the Latin community to attend culinary school and follow their dreams and not give up. Sánchez was among the judges/hosts of “MasterChef” (FOX’s hit reality-TV culinary competition series) from Season 8 onwards.

This was after he co-starred as a guest judge in several episodes in Season 7 and served as a co-host alongside Christina Tosi, Joe Bastianich, and Gordon Ramsay. Sánchez has been with the judging panel of “MasterChef Junior” since season 7 in March 2019. This was after he guest-starred in the 5th season (2017). On the 21st episode of “MasterChef” season 9, Sánchez revealed that his mentor was Jonathan Waxman.

When coming to his education, Sánchez is a 1994 graduate of Dwight School. Upon his graduation, he went to work for Prudhomme in New Orleans full-time. After that, he joined Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island in the year 1996 to study culinary arts. Sánchez has cooked at Patria under Douglas Rodriguez (nuevo-Latino chef).

He has served at L-Ray as an executive chef, where he specialized in foods from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Sánchez has also worked for a restaurant inspired by pre-Revolutionary Cuba, Isla, as an executive chef. He has also served at Rose Pistola in San Francisco, where he was under Chef Reed Hearon, and at Centrico (a Mexican New York eatery) as a chef.

Aarón Sánchez Chopped

Sánchez is known for co-starring in the Food Network’s hit series “Chopped.” This is a reality TV series hosted by Ted Allen, where 4 chefs contest against each other in a 3-round contest using random ingredients provided to them. They should make presentable and delicious food. The series has 52 seasons and it premiered its 1st season on January 13, 2009.

Aarón Sánchez Chopped Junior

Sánchez is also known for co-starring in the Food Network’s hit reality series “Chopped Jr.” This series is also hosted by Ted Allen and it is about little chefs contesting against each other by showcasing their ability to present and prepare delicious food to vie for the title. The series has 9 seasons and it premiered its 1st season on October 27, 2015.

Aarón Sánchez Johnny Sánchez

In August 2014, Sánchez launched Johnny Sánchez (a restaurant) in Baltimore, Maryland with John Besh (fellow chef). However, it was closed in September 2017. In October 2014, the duo launched a 2nd Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans. In February 2019, John discontinued being part of the restaurant’s share. Sánchez, Drew Mire, and Miles Landrem are now the owners of the restaurant. They are in plans to open a 2nd restaurant in New Orleans, eyeing the Mid-City area, though they have not disclosed the name and location.

Aarón Sánchez Tattoo / Daredevil

Sánchez co-owns a tattoo parlor in N.Y.C. known as Daredevil Tattoo. His body features a significant number of tattoos. He says that each of his tattoos has a meaning. He once stated on his TikTok that he once got a tattoo of the name of his romantic partner, which later become a problem when they broke up – he covered up the name of her with another tattoo.

On that TikTok, he challenged his viewers to guess where the name “the offending tattoo” was located on his body. The 1st correct answer received a gift of food from Goldbelly, the online gourmet food company. Sánchez once said that he usually thinks vegetable-related tattoos (particularly) are terrible.

Aarón Sánchez Recipes

CLICK HERE to view his recipes.

Aarón Sánchez Books

Sánchez has authored 2 cookbooks and one memoir.

Cookbooks

• 2011 – “Simple Food Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours”
• 2003 – “La Comida del Barrio: Latin-American Cooking in the U.S.A.”

Memoir

• October 1, 2019 – “Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef”

Aarón Sánchez TV Shows

Sánchez has starred in many other television shows. Some of these shows include;

• Hell’s Kitchen (2020)
• Taco Trip (2014-2015) – host in 18 episodes
• Best.Ever (2015) – season 1, 3 episodes
• Melting Pot (2001-2002)
• Food Detectives (2009) – season 2, episode 1
• Unique Eats (2010-2011) – 2 seasons
• Aarón Loves New York (2011)
• The Best Thing I Ever Ate (2009-2011) – 6 seasons
• Southern Fried Everything (2014) – season 1, 2 episodes
• Rewrapped (2014) – season 2, episode 5
• 24 Hrs to Hell and Back (2019) – season 2, episode 1