Aarón Sanchez Explains House Of Blues' New Menu
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About a year ago, celebrity chef Aarón Sanchez (Chopped, Heat Seekers) was charged with reinventing the menu for the entire House of Blues chain. His new menu was launched first here in Las Vegas, but has since been rolled out to House of Blues locations across the country. He’s also renamed the chains restaurants Crossroads, because he feels they’re where all of the H.O.B. values – music, art and spirituality – come together. Last week, he was in Las Vegas to see Santana, and he took the time to meet with the press and discuss the new menu. Here’s some of what he had to say.
On The Menu’s New Direction
There was some talk of it being sort of a southern-inspired menu in times past. Really what it is [now] is a new American classics redefined. So we have signature flatbreads, signature burgers. We have meatball sliders. We have wonderful roast chicken, and things that I think appeal to a large audience. Because house of blues is unique in that way in that it caters to so many different people. Families come in with their kids that want to watch a show, or go to Gospel Brunch. At night we have more of an adult, hip crowd, so we want things that are accessible, that can be shared easily. So it really posed a very interesting challenge to me to design a menu that had appeal to a large audience.
On The Unique Challenges He Faced At House Of Blues
House of Blues poses a very interesting challenge as a chef because they’re in such different locations, and have regional specialties and dishes that really embody that community. So do you decide to embrace some of those dishes and make it part of the menu even though that might not be the vibe in, say, Las Vegas? So right now we’re trying to identify those cities and those locations, and starting to put some different things in there.
On Respecting The Past
I kept some items from the other menu, the original menu prior to my arrival, because they were doing some great things. It’s just a matter of approaching it through different eyes. Me, I had a very fortunate, very diverse culinary background, so I thought it was appropriate.
Here are some pics of Sanchez as well as the food House Of Blues is now serving across the country.