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Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Before Chef Aaron Sanchez rose to fame on shows like MasterChef and Chopped, he was a restless Mexican-American son, raised by a fiercely determined and talented woman who was a successful chef and restaurateur in her own right—she is credited with bringing Mexican cuisine to the New York City dining scene. In many ways, Sanchez, who lost his father at a young age, was destined to follow in his mother Zarela’s footsteps. He spent nights as a child in his family’s dining room surrounded by some of the most influential chefs and restaurateurs in New York. At 16, needing direction, he was sent by his mother to work for renowned chef Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans.
In this memoir, Sanchez delves into his formative years with remarkable candor, injecting his story with adrenaline and revealing how he fell in love with cooking and started a career in the fast-paced culinary world. Sanchez shares the invaluable lessons he learned from his upbringing and his training—both inside and outside the kitchen—and offers an intimate look into the chaotic and untraditional life of a professional chef and television personality. This memoir is Sanchez’s highly personal account of a fatherless Latino kid whose talent and passion took him to the top of his profession.
Review:
I've watched Aaron Sanchez over many years, first on the Food Network show Chopped, and later on Fox's Masterchef. Each appearance showed he was a respected chef who really knew his way in the kitchen. I was excited to read his memoir, Where I Come From. It is filled with stories about his career, what he has learned, and most importantly, with recipes! I really enjoyed it.
What I Liked:
Career:I really only know about Aaron's career on television, and I was eager to learn more about his culinary career. With a combination of talent and timing, Aaron seemed destined to be on a fast-track to success. But "fast" may be an overstatement. Aaron has worked a long time to get to his current level of achievement. With a compelling narrative, Aaron brought his struggles to life.
I also felt a strong connection to his story because I am also Mexican-American. He discussed whether being Mexican has pigeon-holed him into cooking solely Latino foods, or has allowed him to use his background to explore Latin-American foods in a way few other chef were able to do.
He also talked about the cultural taboos surrounding mental health issues. Typical of a Mexican-American family with a history of depression, it was never openly discussed. When he finally started to confront his issues, THEN he learned that several people in his family had the same challenges. I can SO relate!
Life Lessons:
Aaron has also had a huge learning curve in how to be a responsible adult. Even with good intentions, Aaron has taken some detours, especially in his teenage years. At one point, his behavior was so frustrating to his mom that she actually enrolled him in the Outward Bound program for troubled teens. Following his transformation from a teen with a chip on his shoulder to a renowned and respected Chef and business owner was compelling.
Recipes:
Cooking and eating Mexican food is a large part of my life. I don't really use recipes, as most of what I've been taught was passed down from the women in my family. Aaron had similar experiences. But then, he went a step further and researched (as his mother did before him) to find out about the many variations of Mexican, and Latin-American cooking.
The recipes in this book are a sampling of some delicious looking foods. I am already making plans to try out many of them. These alone would make this book well worth buying and I plan on getting this as a Christmas gift for several relatives (hopefully they won't read this review!).
What I Was Mixed About:
I think that this book would appeal most to people who are already fans of Aaron Sanchez. If you don't already know of him from television, I don't think you would necessarily find his story so engaging.
Rating:
Release Date: October 1st, 2019
Author: Aaron Sanchez
Publisher: Abrams Press
Genre: Memoir
Page Length: 288 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: If you are a fan of Aaron Sanchez, or if you enjoy behind the scenes tales of the restaurant industry, you will love this book.
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