Aarti Sequeira

Aarti Sequeira, cooking show host, cookbook author, journalist, television producer and tv personality has become a mainstay on Food Network after winning season six of Food Network Star. With her unique signature style of recipes and her great knowledge of spices, she has inevitably been dubbed "The Queen of Spices" and has become a sought-after television host, guest, influencer, commentator, and judge. In addition to hosting her own shows, Aarti Party and the travel show, Hidden Eats, Aarti also serves as judge on hit shows like CandyLand (recently launched on Food Network and hosted by Kristen Chenoweth), Luda Can't Cook (A new show with Ludacris, available on Discovery+ in 2021), Guy's Grocery Games, Cooks vs. Cons, and Christmas Cookie Challenge. She also cooks alongside some of the best chefs in the country, on Guy's Ranch Kitchen. She co- hosted Drop 5 Lbs and has made numerous talking-head appearances on Best Thing I Ever Ate, Best Thing I Ever Made, and Unique Eats on Cooking Channel. A seasoned competitor (or glutton for punishment!), she also won Chopped All-Stars, Cutthroat Kitchen All-Stars, and Guy's Grocery Games. Off-network appearances include her recent role on the special holiday premiere episode of Season 2 of Selena Gomez' cook-along show, Selena + Chef available now on HBO Max. Aarti has also been a colorful, memorable repeat-guest on Today Show, CBS' The Talk, Home and Family (Hallmark Channel), and Dr. Oz. She also penned a nationally-syndicated column for the Associated Press entitled "World's Fare" in which she taught readers how to use ingredients in the international aisle in simple, weeknight dishes. A gifted writer, Aarti published her first cookbook, Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul in 2014 (Grand Central). You may also recognize her voice while watching the animated character of Chef Shobha in Disney Jr.'s, Mira, The Royal Detective, that featured a star-studded all-Indian cast. Born in India, brought up in Dubai, and educated in a British school, Aarti grew up against a varied tapestry of food cultures that contribute to her cultured palette as well as an extensive spice rack that goes well and beyond any masala dabba, the fundamental Indian spice box. Aarti also likes to joke that her love of food began in the womb (she was a 10-pound baby) and shows no signs of abating. Now she takes her food knowledge, love for cooking, and enthusiasm for sharing information to the masses! It was during the first Gulf War that Aarti decided to pursue a career in journalism, eventually earning her bachelors degree at Northwestern's prestigious Medill School of Journalism. She went on to work for CNN straight out of school, covering everything from economic reports to the plight of firefighters after 9/11. She also produced Sand and Sorrow, the HBO documentary about the genocide in Darfur, narrated by George Clooney and directed by Peabody Award- winner Paul Freedman. After staging under James Beard Award-winner Suzanne Goin at Lucques, Aarti began shooting a YouTube cooking-variety show, Aarti Paarti, with her husband behind the camera. At the behest of said spouse, she sent an audition video to Food Network Star, and was immediately called in. The rest is history! Aarti is an ardent advocate for women battling postpartum depression having experienced it herself following the births of each of her two daughters. A passionate Christian, she also speaks to women of faith about overcoming fear and the sacred nature of breaking bread. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband, actor Brendan McNamara and daughters Eliyah and Moses.