Chef Carlos Gaytán

About

Mexican chef, restaurateur, and television personality known for becoming the first Mexican chef to earn a Michelin star and for appearing on Top Chef and Familias Frente al Fuego.

Before fame

He began his culinary career as a dishwasher at the Sheraton North Shore Hotel and eventually trained in French cuisine under chef Dominique Tougne at Bistro Margot. He opened his first restaurant Mexique in Chicago in 2008 and earned its first Michelin star in 2013.

Trivia

He was named Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation in 2011. He has served as president of Bocuse d'Or Mexico and co-founded the Culinary Institute by Southwest University. He published his first biographical cookbook Raíces in 2024.

Family life

He learned to cook alongside his mother Doña Teté in Mexico. He moved to Chicago, Illinois when he was around 20 years old. He has two children including a daughter named Caliani.

Associated with

He competed on the eleventh season of Top Chef which was hosted by Padma Lakshmi in 2013.