Chef Jose Garces

A second-generation Latin American, Garces was born to Ecudorian parents and raised in Chicago. His culinary passion was cultivated at a young age by his paternal grandmother, Mamita Amanda, who taught him the Latin way of cooking. Today, Garces is still driven by those values and continues to embrace a wide array of influences. After graduating from Kendall College’s School of Culinary Arts, Garces worked in top-rated professional kitchens from Spain to New York before moving to Philadelphia in 2001. He has since emerged as one of the nation’s leading chefs, running over a dozen restaurants and a thriving event/catering division. He is a James Beard Award Winning Chef and won the Iron Chef TV show in 2013. He founded Buena Onda in 2016 and is excited to see the brand grow!