Jose Garces

Jose Garces is an Iron Chef, father, husband, James Beard Award-winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist and food innovator. He is known as a leading culinary authority of Spanish and Latin-American food.

From the Spanish tapas at Amada, his first restaurant, to the playful Japanese street food at Okatshe in Atlantic City, Chef Garces continually pushes the boundaries of culinary excellence.

While he maintains his successful career owning and operating full-service restaurants, Chef Garces is also looking toward the future, with an increased focus on bringing restaurant-quality experiences to the homes and businesses of culinary enthusiasts in new and interesting ways. From enhanced home delivery options and virtual online cooking demos, to live online cooking classes, Chef Garces is excited to connect with both fans of his work on television, as well as the home cook who’d like to experience “chef life” in their own kitchen.

As a child of immigrants and a leader in the diverse and inclusive hospitality industry, the wellbeing of his community in Philadelphia has always been dear to Chef Garces’ heart. To help provide ongoing and actionable assistance to the immigrant community, Chef Garces co-founded The Garces Foundation in 2011. The Garces Foundation provides services, including community health days, English language skills classes that target the restaurant industry, and most recently, an increased focus on procuring and providing food supplies to the food insecure.

Chef Garces is the author of two cookbooks, Latin Evolution and The Latin Road Home, published by Lake Isle Press.

Taking a heartfelt and creative approach to time-honored recipes and dishes, Garces, in partnership with IdEATion Hospitality (New Orleans-based Ballard Brands; David Maser, a Philadelphia attorney and investor; and Ronnie Artigues, Ballard Brands’ general counsel), operates numerous restaurants including Amada, Distrito, Tinto, Village Whiskey, JG Domestic, Volvér, Buena Onda, Ortzi at the LUMA Hotel Times Square, Okatshe, Olón and Bar Olón at Tropicana Atlantic City, and Amada and Distrito Cantina in the Ocean Resort Casino.