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MasterChef Judge Aaron Sanchez Dishes On His Favorite Meals!



As MasterChef prepares to return for its 10th season on Wednesday, May 29th at 8/7c  on FOX, we caught up with restaurateur and judge Aaron Sanchez on his favorite meals and food cities. And if you’re inspired by Sanchez’s favorite dish, check out these collections of some of the most popular places to get Latin food in New York, Los Angeles, across the US.

What is your favorite dish of all time? My grandmother’s albondigas

What’s your favorite meal to prepare? I love to make quesadillas at home because they’re so easy and great comfort food, but I love roasting a whole chicken as well.

And what’s your favorite type of food? Besides Latin cuisines, I really enjoy Italian.

Let’s switch gears a little bit, what should you never order at a restaurant? Any wine that’s been open for more than a few days.

Last meal on Earth — what restaurant are you going to, what are you eating and who are you dining with? K-Paul’s with Paul Prudhomme and we are having gumbo and crawfish étouffée.

Yelpers love food — what city’s food scene should be on everyone’s list? New Orleans for sure.

What are your top restaurant(s) in NYC, Miami, Chicago, LA? Barbuto, Nobu, Butter and Red Rooster are some of my favorites in New York, I love Joe’s Stone Crab and Michael’s Genuine in Miami, Big Star, Boka, Publican and PST in Chicago, Son of a Gun, Redbird, Jon + Vinny’s and Mozza in LA.

Photo by Shelly Z. on Yelp

What’s the hardest part of being a chef? Balancing work and personal life is a big one and then finding your culinary voice and not just regurgitating your mentor’s work, I would say are the two hardest things.

Who has inspired you the most in your career? My Mother, Zarela Martinez, Chef Paul Prudhomme and Douglas Rodriguez.

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