Chopped All-Stars – Season Three Host & Judges Bios Host

Home , Communal dining, Heat Seekers, Iron Chef America, Marcus Samuelsson, Ted Allen, The Next Iron Chef

Press Contact: Seth Hyman Phone: 646-336-3683; E: [email protected]

Ted Allen Emmy® award winner Ted Allen is the host of Chopped and the author of “In My Kitchen: 100 Recipes and Discoveries for Passionate Cooks” which debuted in May 2012, and an earlier book, "The Food You Want to Eat: 100 Smart, Simple Recipes," both from Clarkson-Potter. Allen also has been a contributing writer to Esquire magazine since 1996. Previously, he was the food and wine specialist on the groundbreaking Bravo series Queer Eye, a judge on Food Network's Iron Chef America and a judge on Bravo’s Top Chef.

Judges

Maneet Chauhan Maneet Chauhan received her culinary education at India’s Welcome Group Graduate School of Hotel Administration and the Culinary Institute of America New York, N.Y. After graduating, she worked as executive chef at Vermilion in Chicago and New York City. After eight years of leading the kitchens of Vermilion, Maneet started Indie Culinaire, an avant garde culinary and hospitality company that has served events around the country. She was a season three contestant on The Next Iron Chef and is regular judge on Chopped. Her upcoming book “Flavors of My World,” is slated to be released in April 2013.

Marcus Samuelsson Marcus Samuelsson is the acclaimed chef behind Red Rooster Harlem, Ginny’s Supper Club and American Table Cafe and Bar by Marcus Samuelsson. A committed philanthropist and The New York Times-bestselling author of “Yes, Chef,” Marcus is the youngest person to ever receive a three-star review from The New York Times. Samuelsson has won multiple James Beard Foundation Awards including Best Chef: New York City, and was tasked with planning and executing the Obama Administration’s first State dinner.

Aarón Sánchez Aarón Sánchez, a recurring judge on Food Network’s Chopped and co-host of Heat Seekers, is the chef/owner of Kansas City’s Mestizo. He is also the culinary visionary behind Crossroads at House of Blues nationwide and Tacombi Taqueria in New York City. Sánchez’s passion, commitment and skills have placed him among the country’s leading contemporary Latin chefs. Aarón is also the author of two cookbooks, and his most recent, “Simple Food, Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours,” was released in October 2011.

Chris Santos After graduating with honors from Johnson & Wales University and traveling extensively through Europe, Chef Chris Santos honed his craft, palette and style with Executive Chef stints at the famed Time Café and award-winning Latin restaurant, Suba. In 2005, Santos introduced the world to his unique brand of communal dining with his debut restaurant, The Stanton Social. After opening The Stanton Social, Chris introduced Beauty & Essex to the Lower East Side in December of 2010, and this multi-level restaurant and lounge once again revolutionized dining on the neighborhood. Santos has also worked as food stylist and consultant on movie sets including “No Reservations” and “Hitch.” He also is a regular judge on Chopped.

Chopped All-Stars – Season 3 Host and Judge Bios; Page 2 Geoffrey Zakarian Geoffrey Zakarian has presided over some of the country’s top kitchens over the past 25 years. Geoffrey opened The Lambs Club at The Chatwal Hotel and The National in New York City in 2010. His former New York City restaurants, Town and Country, both received three stars from The New York Times. Geoffrey recently won The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs, earning the coveted Iron Chef title. He has also appeared on Chopped, Chopped All-Stars, Iron Chef America and 24 Hour Restaurant Battle.

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