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EXCLUSIVE: The story of Aarón Sánchez, one of the judges of Fox’s _MasterChef_ and _MasterChef Junior,_ is set for the small screen after Endemol Shine North America optioned his memoir. The

Banijay-backed production company is developing potential scripted projects with Sánchez, whose memoir _Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef_ was released in 2019. Endemol

Shine North America Chief Content Officer, Sharon Levy is leading development efforts alongside Flavio Morales and Lisa Fahrenholt. In his memoir, Sánchez shares his personal journey, as

well as the story of his mother, Zarela Martinez, who took him and his twin brother from El Paso, Texas to New York City at a young age, while she chased her dream of owning a restaurant in

the Big Apple. After overcoming many obstacles, Martinez rose to success in the NYC restaurant scene and is now credited with bringing sophisticated Mexican cuisine to America. After losing

his father at a young age, he was sent to work with renowned chef Paul Prudhomme in New Orleans at the age of 16. He is now the chef and owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans. WATCH ON

DEADLINE He joined _MasterChef_, which is produced by Endemol Shine North America, in season 8, and also joined _MasterChef Jr._ as a judge in season 7. He is also creative director of Latin

lifestyle online platform Cocina and has starred in series such as _Chopped_ and _Taco Trip_ and written two cookbooks and launched the Cooking in Mexican from A to Z podcast with his

mother and is also a partner in tattoo shop and museum Daredevil Tattoo in NYC. Endemol Shine North America is currently in production on Showtime’s _Ripley_ and previously co-produced

_Utopia_ for Amazon “It’s more important than ever to tell genuine stories of what it’s like growing up bicultural in America. We want to share the nuances that are unique to

Mexican-American culture and honor those roots, while also hoping audiences from different backgrounds connect to the similarities we share – the struggles, the celebrations, the food, the

comedy, the survival instincts… the relentless pursuit of happiness,” said Sánchez. “I came up at a time when food was making its way into pop-culture and cooking in restaurants was our

primary form of creative expression, so having this opportunity to develop in the scripted space is something I’m really looking forward to. And I couldn’t be more excited to do it with my

Endemol Shine family.” “America knows and loves Aarón from ‘MasterChef’ and his myriad culinary accomplishments, but most people don’t know the amazing journey and the obstacles that he and

his mother overcame to become pioneers of Mexican-American cuisine in this country,” added Levy. “He has truly lived the American dream and we are excited to now be developing his unique

story into a dramatic TV series and exploring additional opportunities with Aarón.”