{{Short description|Venezuelan chef and television personality (born 1988)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}} {{Infobox chef | name = James Tahhan | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1988|10|26}} | birth_place = Los Teques, Venezuela | education = Le Cordon Bleu | style = Modern Latin American cuisine, Fusion cuisine, Spanish cuisine, and Middle Eastern cuisine, Global cuisine | restaurants = La Doña by chef James | prevrests= {{plainlist| * [http://www.saboresbychefjames.com Sabores – by Chef James ] * Perfecto Gastrobar }} | television = {{plainlist| * Un Nuevo Día * ¡Levántate! * Puro Chef * BELatina }} | website = {{URL|www.jamestahhan.com}} }} '''James Tahhan''' (born October 26, 1988) is a Venezuelan chef, television personality, restaurateur, and author who uses the stage name of '''Chef James'''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-14 |title=El chef James Tahhan nos habla de su misión: ‘Quiero impactar al mundo de forma positiva a través de la comida’ |url=https://www.hola.com/us-es/celebrities/20211020314615/chef-james-tahhan-foodiescuela-thanksgiving-entrevista/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=HOLA |language=es-US}}</ref> He is best recognized for being the official chef of Telemundo, and being a co-presenter of its morning show ''Un Nuevo Dia''. In 2014, together with his friend, television personality Raúl González, Chef James opened his first restaurant, Sabores – by Chef James. It has subsequently been named one of the best restaurants in Miami. In 2016, Chef James released a cookbook, ''The Homemade Chef: Ordinary Ingredients for Extraordinary Food''.
Tahhan has been a judge on several competitive cooking show including, MasterChef Latino,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-06-07 |title=Meet the Incredible Chefs Turned Judges on 'MasterChef Latino' |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/masterchef-latino-judges |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Distractify |language=en-US}}</ref> Chopped,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Matt |title=Worst Cooks in America Winner - Season 20 |url=http://www.foodnetworkgossip.com/2020/08/worst-cooks-in-america-winner-season-20.html |access-date=2023-05-31}}</ref> Top Chef Middle East,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-18 |title=Chef James Tahhan |url=https://issuu.com/jamestahhan/docs/chef_james_tahhan.pptx |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref> and the 19th season finale of Worst Cooks in America on the Food Network.<ref name=":0" />
== Early life and education == Tahhan was born in Los Teques, Venezuela, the son of Bachir Wahbi Tahhan, of Syrian descent, and Mimi Masri, of Syrian-Venezuelan descent. He was later joined by one brother, Wahbi Tahhan. During his formative years, Tahhan learned home cooking from his parents. During this period, Tahhan was also influenced by David Abal, a neighbor and professional chef of Galician descent, who taught Tahhan the basics of at-home cooking.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chef James Tahhan {{!}} Bark Profile |url=https://www.bark.com/en/us/company/chef-james-tahhan/v7O6m/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.bark.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
At the age of 13, Tahhan emigrated to the United States with his mother, ultimately settling in Miami, Florida. Tahhan began to work to help his mother pay the household bills.<ref name=":1" />
At the age of 16 Tahhan started working on radio as a spokesperson for different brands and products, where his advertisements played on radio stations including WAMR-FM, WAQI, and WMGE.<ref name=":1" />
After two years Tahhan attended Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Miami, where he specialized in international cuisine as well as in Patisserie and Baking. While attending school, he also started his own catering business, called Avokado.<ref name=":1" />
==Television career ==
===Early career=== His first job after graduating from Le Cordon Bleu was as a line-cook at "Arabian Nights", a Mediterranean restaurant in Miami.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=James Tahhan|url=http://hispz14.sched.org/james_tahhan.hswq3zu4|website=sched.org}}</ref>
After almost six years working with different brands and products on radio, Tahhan auditioned for a position in Telemundo.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Torres|first1=Carla|title=Meet James Tahhan, Miami's Hottest Chef|url=http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|website=The Latin Kitchen|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811080220/http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|url-status=dead}}</ref> He responded to an open-call audition for Telemundo's morning show Levantate (now known as Un Nuevo Día). He was named the official chef co-host of the show and the network.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Torres|first1=Carla|title=Meet James Tahhan, Miami's Hottest Chef|url=http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|website=The Latin Kitchen|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811080220/http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Telemundo=== Tahhan was a co-host of the morning show, Un Nuevo Día, which has earned him three national Emmy Awards.<ref name=":2" />
Tahhan has crossed-over to the English market. During an initiative named "Healthy Week" by the network NBC Universal, he spoke to American viewers, promoting healthy meals that could be made at home.<ref name=":2" />
Tahhan has been featured on the Today Show, where he shared his take on Latin American Cuisine.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|title=Talent Bios|url=https://www.nbcumv.com/talent/james-tahhan/bios_read_more|website=NBC Universal Media Village|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814183043/https://www.nbcumv.com/talent/james-tahhan/bios_read_more|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Utilísima=== In March 2012, Tahhan was selected by Utilísima to be one of their newest faces on their hit T.V. show, "Puro Chef". He has subsequently participated on the 4th and 5th season of the show, and has conducted the special Thanksgiving edition.<ref>{{cite web|title=James Tahhan Sabores by Chef James|url=http://2016.sobefest.com/personality_detail.php?id=513|website=SOBEfest}}</ref>
=== BELatina === Tahhan is the host of ''BeLatina'', a show dedicated to women's empowerment and cultural diversity. The show airs on the Lifetime network and features inspiring stories and interviews with influential women from all walks of life.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Watch BELatina Full Episodes, Video & More |url=https://www.mylifetime.com/shows/belatina |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=Lifetime |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=TV |first=BELatina |date=2023-02-07 |title=Time for Amor Propio: Love Your Heart Through These Delicious Meals |url=https://belatina.com/amor-propio-love-heart-delicious-meals-ach-mazola-belatina-tv/ |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=BELatina |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Author == In 2016, Tahhan released a cookbook, ''The Homemade Chef: Ordinary Ingredients for Extraordinary Food''. The cookbook become a best-seller both regionally and internationally on Amazon.com.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cocina en casa con chef James: Ingredientes simples para una cocina extraordinaria (Spanish Edition)|url=https://www.amazon.com/Cocina-casa-chef-James-extraordinaria/dp/1101990422/ref=pd_sim_sbs_14_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=51xXl5prO7L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL480_SR387%2C480_&psc=1&refRID=KCXAKCCFK43EPVXZTC9T|website=Amazon}}</ref> Tahhan is also a food columnist and has written for "Venue Magazine", where he gives readers recipes, cooking advice, and his thoughts on healthy living.
==Restaurateur==
In 2014, Tahhan opened his first restaurant, Sabores, together with his friend and television personality, Raúl González. "People think it's rice and beans and shredded meat, and really it's this hidden treasure that nobody has pushed. We wanted to change that," he said. He first traveled to Latin America to better understand Latin American cuisine.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Torres|first1=Carla|title=Meet James Tahhan, Miami's Hottest Chef|url=http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|website=The Latin Kitchen|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811080220/http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2016, he partnered up in ''Perfecto Gastrobar'', a Spanish inspired restaurant based in Miami, Florida, showcased modern Spanish cuisine. Perfecto Gastrobar was then sold to a Mexican investment group that switched its name to ''Valentia''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-03 |title=James Tahhan, estrella de los fogones |url=https://www.tendencia.com/2016/james-tahhan/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Tendencia |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-11-18 |title=FAMILIA: Chef James Tahhan, sazón latino este Día de Acción de Gracias |url=https://www.excelsiorcalifornia.com/2015/11/18/familia-chef-james-tahhan-sazn-latino-este-da-de-accin-de-gracias/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Excelsior California |language=es-MX}}</ref>
==Public image==
Tahhan has been named one of the leading Latin chefs in the U.S,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Natalia|title=10 Leading Latin Chefs in the U.S.|url=http://www.quericavida.com/whats-rico/tasty-trends/10-leading-latin-chefs-in-the-u-s|website=Que Rica Vida}}</ref> and "Miami's Hottest Chef". Once source commented, "Not many chefs have their own restaurant, host an Emmy-award winning television morning show…but James Tahhan isn’t like many chefs."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Torres|first1=Carla|title=Meet James Tahhan, Miami's Hottest Chef|url=http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|website=The Latin Kitchen|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160811080220/http://thelatinkitchen.com/people/chefs/a/meet-james-tahhan-miamis-hottest-chef|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013 and 2014, Chef James was recognized by Latin Gourmet as the Chef of the Year.<ref name=":3" />
Tahhan has been awarded the "Social Media Chef" of the year.<ref name=":3">{{cite web|title=James Tahhan Sabores by Chef James|url=http://2016.sobefest.com/personality_detail.php?id=513|website=SOBEfest}}</ref> He was selected for the "50 Most Beautiful People" edition of People en Español magazine.<ref>{{cite web|title=Talent Bios|url=https://www.nbcumv.com/talent/james-tahhan/bios_read_more|website=NBC Universal Media Village|access-date=June 17, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814183043/https://www.nbcumv.com/talent/james-tahhan/bios_read_more|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== The Power of Food == Tahhan is the founder of the initiative, The Power of Food (in Spanish: El Poder De La Comida), a program where he and his team come together to prepare meals and distribute people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hansen |first=Por Lena |title=Chef James dona comida a personas sin hogar. Mira lo que nos contó. |url=https://peopleenespanol.com/recetas/chef-james-dona-comida-desamparados-ayuda-noticias/ |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=People en Español |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tahhan, James}} Category:1988 births Category:People from Los Teques Category:Venezuelan people of Syrian descent Category:Venezuelan chefs Category:Venezuelan television chefs Category:Living people Category:21st-century chefs