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About Carlos Gaytán
In The Beginning...
Carlos Gaytán was born in Huitzuco, Guerrero, Mexico. From a young age, he was enamored with cooking, exploring a full spectrum of flavors while perfecting heirloom recipes alongside his mother, Doña Teté. At 19 years of age, he craved a new adventure and set his sights on Chicago, Illinois. Little did he know that this journey would inspire a seismic life shift and solidify his dedication to a career in gastronomy.
His culinary path began at the Sheraton North Shore Hotel, where he worked as a dishwasher and cook. Carlos quickly rose through the industry ranks, continuing as the chef-garde manger and banquet chef at the Union League Club of Chicago, and ultimately landed under the tutelage of esteemed Chef Dominique Tougne at Chicago’s beloved Bistro Margot, where he served as chef de cuisine. There, Carlos’ passion for French technique blossomed in full.
Journey Before Destination...
Far from home and on his own, the road wasn’t always easy. Carlos navigated a thorny path to eventually realize his dream of owning his own restaurant, Mexique. With a seamless unification of his Mexican heritage and his love of French culinary style, he became the first Mexican-born chef to earn a coveted Michelin star in 2013. In 2018, Carlos closed Mexique with a desire to grow and reconnect with his roots. With a vow to return to Chicago, he journeyed to Mexico, where he cooked, studied, traveled, and worked on new projects that allowed him to rediscover his origins and deepen his understanding of his heritage.
In 2019, Carlos made good on his promise to return to Chicago, opening Tzuco – inspired by Huitzuco, Guerrero. Tzuco presents the colorful flavors of Mexico while connecting to the techniques of French haute cuisine that Carlos has honed through years of training. The restaurant exudes austere beauty through architecture and design by award-winning partners Cadena + Asociados Concept Design and ATRA Form Furniture, tracing the chef’s intriguing past, present, and future.
The Fruits of Labor...
Chef Gaytán was a contestant on BRAVO’s Top Chef in 2013 and is widely recognized as an ambassador of Mexican cuisine. He has appeared on numerous cooking shows as a judge in both the U.S. and Mexico and starred on Univision’s Familias Frente al Fuego. Since opening, Tzuco has received critical acclaim from leading publications and was named a semifinalist in the Best New Restaurant category by the James Beard Foundation Awards in 2020.
In partnership with SOMOS and Patina Restaurant Group, Chef Gaytán opened Paseo, Céntrico, and Tiendita in May 2024. Located in downtown Disneyland (California), these ventures reflect his unique interpretation of traditional Mexican recipes with modern culinary techniques, bringing cultural authenticity and the genuine flavors of Mexico to new audiences.
The Story Continues...
In 2024, Carlos was awarded another Michelin star for his restaurant HA’ in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, making him one of the few chefs to earn a Michelin star in two different countries. Chef Gaytán serves as the President of Bocuse d’Or Mexico, an award-winning team, and is also the Founder of the Culinary Institute by Southwest University, alongside chefs Mikel Alonso and Jonatan Gómez Luna. The institute offers an immersive learning experience that transcends conventional classrooms, allowing students to deeply immerse themselves in the world of culinary arts.
By 2025, Chef Gaytán will inaugurate Teté, Cocina del Alma, a concept inspired by the cuisine of the Pacific and dedicated to his roots, located within the iconic Princess Mundo Imperial Hotel in the Puerto of Acapulco, Guerrero. Named in honor of his mother, this fine-dining establishment will reflect his passion for tradition and innovation. Then, in 2026, he will open Céfiro, a luxurious restaurant within the prestigious St. Regis Hotel in Los Cabos, bringing his culinary vision to one of Mexico’s most exclusive destinations.
“There’s a Mexico that very few in other parts of the world know. It’s my purpose to share it with them through my food.”
Carlos Gaytán
/ The Dream Realized
Discover Something new...
Chef Carlos Gaytán has been awarded one Michelin star initially in 2013 for his Chicago restaurant Mexique, making him the first Mexican-born chef to receive such an honor.
More recently, his restaurant Ha’ in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, was also awarded one Michelin star.
Chef Carlos Gaytán
