Aaron Valdez, Neighbor

Chef Aaron is currently working at an Algonquin area restaurant. He is a graduate of Le Cordon Blue Chicago and has his BA in Sociology from the University of Iowa. Though trained in the classic techniques of French cuisine, chef Aaron finds that his food is influenced by his grandmother, born in central Mexico. "It was my grandmother who instilled in me the reationship between food and love. Food was her gift to her hungry grandson. A gift from her heart to nourish me. A gift that I am so grateful to pass on to you!"