CHEF AARTHI SAMPATH, CHOPPED CHAMPION, OF MOONLIGHT FLAVOR LLC

Aarthi Sampath, born and raised in Mumbai, began her culinary journey with a rebellious spirit. At IHM Jaipur, her alma mater, she would spend hours in the library reading culinary literature, familiarizing herself with classical French cooking techniques. Among the chosen few, Aarthi forayed into the culinary world of the prestigious Taj Hotels, cooking a diverse array of Indian cuisines at at their restaurants in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Her curiosity and desire to learn and explore global cuisine brought her to America where she studied Food Service Management as well as Baking and Pastry at Johnson & Wales, a leading culinary university in Providence, Rhode Island.

Following her undergraduate program, she had the opportunity to intern at New York City's fabled Michelin-star restaurant, Junoon. Aarthi quickly rose through the ranks to become Chef De Cuisine. A solid foundation in Indian cooking supported by proven practical experience brought Aarthi unique opportunities. At Junoon, Aarthi was honored to work on The "Billionaire's Club Dinner" hosted by Prime Minister Modi at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC. Later, Aarthi was named Executive Chef at American Gymkhana, an upscale Indian restaurant created by the founders of Junoon in Orlando, Florida.

Aarthi Sampath is a renowned New York-based chef, restaurant consultant, food truck expert and TV personality. She is a rising star, now gaining popularity with her stint as judge on MasterChef Tamil. Aarthi has made several US television appearances. She gained critical acclaim by winning Chopped, the famed culinary competition series. She competed on Iron Chef with Bobby Flay defeating the champion with her biryani. She also appeared on on Fire Masters, a Canadian-based open fire competitive cooking show. In addition, Aarthi has been a judge on Worst Cooks in America, as well as Beat Bobby Flay.

As a chef and food and beverage consultant, Aarthi worked at the iconic Breslin under Chef April Bloomfield, who mentored her with a deeper understanding of ingredients and techniques. Later, Aarthi ran 39 Kukree, the Seattle-based fast-casual food truck, where she gained wide popularity with her focus on local produce, seasonality, and healthful eating.

Aarthi has also served as chef at the prestigious Rainbow Room at New York City's Rockefeller Center and as Head Chef at Chinese Tuxedo, a contemporary New York City fine dining restaurant. In addition, she is consulting chef for numerous restaurants, including Sigri NJ LLC, Bombay Curry Co, and Baazi NYC. Aarthi also regularly curates high-end private dining experiences and catered events.