Taste of Atlanta is Excited to Welcome
CHEF AARÓN SÁNCHEZ,
Executive Chef/Co-Owner of Centrico Restaurant, Food Network Star & Cookbook Author.

Aarón began his career with the Food Network as co-host of Melting Pot, where he introduced a national audience to his technique and creativity with contemporary interpretations of classic Latino cuisine. Today Aarón stars on multiple Food Network shows including: Chefs vs. City, Chopped, Best Thing I Ever Ate, Next Iron Chef and more.  In 2005 Aarón was nominated as the “Rising Star Chef of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation. The same year he was named one of People Magazine and People En Espanol’s (the country’s #1 Latin Magazine) 50 Most Beautiful People.  Aarón will be signing copies of his new cookbook, Simple Food, Big Flavor: Unforgettable Mexican-Inspired Recipes from My Kitchen to Yours in the Taste of Atlanta Barnes & Noble bookstore tent.

Your Home Plate Stage Emcee
Holly Firfer

Taste of Atlanta welcomes Holly Firfer to the festival as host and emcee of the Home Plate Stage. Holly will fire up the crowd to cheer on our dueling chef demos. Holly is an Emmy nominated journalist who you have seen covering everything from hurricanes to floods to celebrity trials, campaign trails and sporting events for CNN. She is also heard on the radio on 94.1/ Star94 in Atlanta on the weekends.

Holly is active in many charities and actively raises money for cancer research and animal shelters. She has also lent her efforts to the fight against autism and diabetes. Holly is a native of Chicago, Illinois and a graduate of Northwestern University. In her free time she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband Shawn, and being a "mom" to their many animals