Chris Santos
Encyclopedia
Chris Santos is a renowned New York City chef and the Executive Chef and owner of perennial Lower East Side hotspot and celebrity haunt The Stanton Social. In late 2010, he opened Beauty & Essex, a 250-seat, 10000 square feet (929 m²) restaurant in the heart of the lower east side. He is currently a recurring guest judge on the Food Network
show Chopped
, and is developing a show of his own.
, to a family of mixed heritage; his mother was of Irish
descent and his father was of Portuguese
descent.
. Eventually the chef moved him from the sink to the stove where he started learning how to cook in his early teens.
He attended Mt. Hope Senior High in Bristol, Rhode Island
, graduating in 1989. Upon graduation, Santos studied culinary art
s at Johnson & Wales University
in Providence, Rhode Island
, initially planning on attending for only two years. However, after the school awarded him a fellowship, he remained for two more years studying restaurant and hotel management, graduating in 1993 with honors.
Even though Santos is appreciative of his culinary art training at Johnson & Wales, he considers himself to be more so a "self-taught" chef, never undergoing formal training under esteemed master chefs such as Jean Georges
, Boulud
, or Batali
.
After graduating from Johnson & Wales, Santos moved to New York City and in 1994, he was hired by the iconic Time Café where he would eventually would become their Executive Chef at the age of 23, where he remained until 1998.
In 1999, he devoted the better part of a year visiting 14 countries and over 40 cities in Europe - which only furthered his passion and love for cooking. One of his first kitchen jobs upon returning to the US was at Boston's French-inspired Cranebook Restaurant and Tearoom.
In 2000, Santos returned to NYC and pulled a brief stint as consulting chef for Rue 57. In November 2000, at the age of 29, Santos opened his first restaurant, Wyanoka, where he was partner and Executive Chef. Wyanoka, a tiny "hidden gem" of a restaurant with just 27 seats soon had a determined and loyal following and received glowing reviews from publications such as The New York Times (where he was favorably critiqued by current food critic Sam Sifton).
In 2003, he became Executive Chef at award-winning Latin restaurant Suba, and the following year he held the same position at Brooklyn
, New York's Mojo. Simultaneously, he was co-owner/executive chef at The Mexican Sandwich Company in Brooklyn, New York.
In January 2005, Santos opened his most successful restaurant yet, The Stanton Social. This restaurant, located in New York City's Lower East Side
, was very well received and has been praised in many celebrated magazines and newspapers such as Time Out New York, New York Magazine, and The New York Times
. The Stanton Social introduced the world to Santos' unique brand of experiential communal dining with its expansive menu of multi-cultural small plates. In 2007, he was named Star Chefs Rising Star Chef and began developing a sister-restaurant to his first smash hit.
In December 2010, Santos opened his largest restaurant to date, Beauty & Essex. The Lower East Side's historic M. Katz Furniture store was transformed into a dramatic bi-level restaurant and lounge with a two-story crystal chandelier and a twenty foot skylight. Within months of opening, Beauty & Essex was voted the "Hottest Restaurant in the U.S." A become staple destination for A-list clientele, the perennially booked restaurant has continued to propel Santos' career as an influential, celebrity chef.
In 2012, Santos plans to begin work on restaurant locations in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami. In addition Santos is the consulting Chef for a large National restaurant group, is working on his first cookbook, and still hopes to launch a long-rumored line of tattoo inspired chef apparel with celebrity Tattoo Artist Michelle Myles.
Food Network
Food Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
show Chopped
Chopped (TV series)
Chopped is a reality based cooking television series created by Michael Krupat, produced by Daniel Kay, and hosted by Ted Allen that pits four chefs against each other competiting for a chance to win $10,000. New episodes air every Tuesday at 10pm EST on Food Network.-Format:In each episode, four...
, and is developing a show of his own.
Biography
Chris was born in 1971, in Fall River, MassachusettsFall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
, to a family of mixed heritage; his mother was of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
descent and his father was of Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
descent.
Professional career
At age 13, Santos's first job in the kitchen was washing pots at a small local restaurant in his hometown of Bristol, Rhode IslandBristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
. Eventually the chef moved him from the sink to the stove where he started learning how to cook in his early teens.
He attended Mt. Hope Senior High in Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
, graduating in 1989. Upon graduation, Santos studied culinary art
Culinary art
Culinary art is the art of preparing and cooking foods. The word "culinary" is defined as something related to, or connected with, cooking. A culinarion is a person working in the culinary arts. A culinarian working in restaurants is commonly known as a cook or a chef. Culinary artists are...
s at Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University
Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, co-educational, career-oriented university with four campuses located throughout the United States. Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is home to JWU's first and largest of four currently operating campuses. Founded as a business school in 1914, by...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, initially planning on attending for only two years. However, after the school awarded him a fellowship, he remained for two more years studying restaurant and hotel management, graduating in 1993 with honors.
Even though Santos is appreciative of his culinary art training at Johnson & Wales, he considers himself to be more so a "self-taught" chef, never undergoing formal training under esteemed master chefs such as Jean Georges
Jean-Georges Vongerichten
Jean-Georges Vongerichten is a French chef. He was born in Alsace, France, in 1956 and now resides in the United States of America. Vongerichten commands restaurants in culinary capitals Las Vegas, London, Paris and Shanghai, as well as New York's Jean Georges restaurant...
, Boulud
Daniel Boulud
Daniel Boulud is a French chef and restaurateur with restaurants in New York City, Palm Beach, Miami, Montreal, Beijing, and Singapore...
, or Batali
Mario Batali
Mario Batali is an American chef, writer, restaurateur and media personality. In addition to his classical culinary training, he is an expert on the history and culture of Italian cuisine, including regional and local variations. Batali co-owns restaurants in New York City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles,...
.
After graduating from Johnson & Wales, Santos moved to New York City and in 1994, he was hired by the iconic Time Café where he would eventually would become their Executive Chef at the age of 23, where he remained until 1998.
In 1999, he devoted the better part of a year visiting 14 countries and over 40 cities in Europe - which only furthered his passion and love for cooking. One of his first kitchen jobs upon returning to the US was at Boston's French-inspired Cranebook Restaurant and Tearoom.
In 2000, Santos returned to NYC and pulled a brief stint as consulting chef for Rue 57. In November 2000, at the age of 29, Santos opened his first restaurant, Wyanoka, where he was partner and Executive Chef. Wyanoka, a tiny "hidden gem" of a restaurant with just 27 seats soon had a determined and loyal following and received glowing reviews from publications such as The New York Times (where he was favorably critiqued by current food critic Sam Sifton).
In 2003, he became Executive Chef at award-winning Latin restaurant Suba, and the following year he held the same position at Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York's Mojo. Simultaneously, he was co-owner/executive chef at The Mexican Sandwich Company in Brooklyn, New York.
In January 2005, Santos opened his most successful restaurant yet, The Stanton Social. This restaurant, located in New York City's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
, was very well received and has been praised in many celebrated magazines and newspapers such as Time Out New York, New York Magazine, and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. The Stanton Social introduced the world to Santos' unique brand of experiential communal dining with its expansive menu of multi-cultural small plates. In 2007, he was named Star Chefs Rising Star Chef and began developing a sister-restaurant to his first smash hit.
In December 2010, Santos opened his largest restaurant to date, Beauty & Essex. The Lower East Side's historic M. Katz Furniture store was transformed into a dramatic bi-level restaurant and lounge with a two-story crystal chandelier and a twenty foot skylight. Within months of opening, Beauty & Essex was voted the "Hottest Restaurant in the U.S." A become staple destination for A-list clientele, the perennially booked restaurant has continued to propel Santos' career as an influential, celebrity chef.
In 2012, Santos plans to begin work on restaurant locations in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Miami. In addition Santos is the consulting Chef for a large National restaurant group, is working on his first cookbook, and still hopes to launch a long-rumored line of tattoo inspired chef apparel with celebrity Tattoo Artist Michelle Myles.
Personal life
Santos currently resides in Brooklyn, NY. He is the youngest of four children and has one sister and two brothers. Besides cooking, Santos has a strong passion for boxing and music, and is an accomplished drummer.[4] Santos is a self-proclaimed bacon fanatic; and even has a bacon tattoo among his collection of ink.[4]Television Appearances
- ChoppedChopped (TV series)Chopped is a reality based cooking television series created by Michael Krupat, produced by Daniel Kay, and hosted by Ted Allen that pits four chefs against each other competiting for a chance to win $10,000. New episodes air every Tuesday at 10pm EST on Food Network.-Format:In each episode, four...
- Judge Season 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 - CBS The Early ShowThe Early ShowThe Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
- The Today Show
- The Food Network'sFood NetworkFood Network is a television specialty channel that airs both one-time and recurring programs about food and cooking. Scripps Networks Interactive owns 70 percent of the network, with Tribune Company controlling the remaining 30 percent....
Heavyweights - The Martha Stewart ShowMartha (TV series)Martha, also known as The Martha Stewart Show, is an American, weekday one-hour talk show hosted by Martha Stewart. Previously airing in first-run syndication, the show began exclusively airing on cable network Hallmark Channel since September 13, 2010.-History:The program originally debuted on...