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Aaron London (Chef)

Aaron London (Chef)

Aaron London is an American chef and entrepreneur.

He is the owner and head chef at Al's Place in San Francisco.

[0]

Career

London got his first job working at an earring factory on the outskirts of a tiny town called Graton, California.

He would stamp the backings with a "made in Thailand" stamp and then attach the earrings and sort them in boxes.

[1]

His next job brought 14 year old London closer to finding his passion in food.

This time he was working as a dishwasher at a Mexican food restaurant that was owned by his second grade teacher, Mario.

He then went on to become a dishwasher at a fancier Greek restaurant where he also had a chance to perfect menial cooking tasks like wringing spinach and folding phyllo dough.

[1]

At 16 years old London lied his way into an advanced cooking class at his local junior college, claiming to be a sous chef at a fancy restaurant.

Even though he barely passed, it was during this class at a Meals on Wheels event where London had a serendipitous meeting with Dan Berman, chef-owner of Mixx.

At 17 years old London became the sous chef at Mixx.

[1] [2]

He then moved to NYC where he finished culinary school and worked at a chain of Michelin-starred restaurants, Daniel, L’ Astrance, Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Au Pied de Cochon and Ubuntu.

He left Ubuntu to open up his own eatery, Al's Place.

Al's Place is a 45 seat reverse-steakhouse, which means that it's vegetable focused and meats are treated as side dishes.

[1] [5] [6] [7]

Awards

While working at Ubuntu, London became a two-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee for Rising Star Chef in 2011 and 2012.

[4]

Al's Place topped Bon Appétit's Top Ten Best New Restaurants list in 2015.

[3]

Personal Life

Aaron London's tattoos are inspired by 19th century naturalist, Ernst Haeckel.

[8]

References

[1]
Citation Linkalsplacesf.comAl's Place website
Mar 11, 2019, 11:24 PM
[2]
Citation Linkmunchies.vice.comAaron London Vice profile
Mar 11, 2019, 11:34 PM
[3]
Citation Linksonomamag.comSyrah takes over Mixx
Mar 11, 2019, 11:47 PM
[4]
Citation Linkbonappetit.comAmerica's best new restaurants 2015
Mar 12, 2019, 12:01 AM
[5]
Citation Linkfoodnetwork.comJames Beard Foundation Q&A
Mar 12, 2019, 12:02 AM
[6]
Citation Linkbizjournals.comBlog about Al's Place
Mar 12, 2019, 12:04 AM
[7]
Citation Linkastrancerestaurant.comL'Astrance website
Mar 12, 2019, 12:23 AM
[8]
Citation Linkbluehillfarm.comBlue Hill at Stone Barns website
Mar 12, 2019, 12:24 AM
[9]
Citation Linkbonappetit.comBon Appetit Al's Place profile
Mar 12, 2019, 12:34 AM