When Aarti Sequeira moved from Los Angeles to Raleigh, NC, last year with her family, her new kitchen had to be camera-ready. “I didn’t want people to scroll past my cooking videos on Instagram,” says the Guy’s Grocery Games judge. She found just the thing to grab everyone’s attention: an emerald tile backsplash. “The color just totally captured my heart.” She designed the rest of the space with filming in mind: She installed a wall oven plus a KitchenAid range in the island so she never disappears from the camera’s view. She also picked stain-proof quartz counters (she cooks with a lot of turmeric) and filled shelves with objects that inspire her, like a photo of her mom, Rose. Aarti’s favorite thing about the kitchen, though, is that it sits in the middle of the house so she can hang out with her husband Brendan and daughters Eliyah, 7, and Moses, 5, while she cooks. “The kitchen is the center of our lives,” she says.
Spices on Hand: Aarti’s masala dabba contains some of her most used spices like turmeric, paprika, cumin seeds, cumin powder, black mustard seeds and garam masala. She turns to it often when she’s making dishes like kheema and roasted vegetables.
Extra-Wide Fridge: This KitchenAid double fridge is wider than it is deep, so Aarti can easily grab what she needs. “I’m very aware of where everything is at all times,” she says.
Floating Shelves: Aarti picked open shelving to showcase more of the tile backsplash. She displays some of her prized possessions here, like her milk-glass vase collection.
A Good Sign: Aarti’s friends Ashley and Ross Steeves created this sign for the launch party of her cookbook Aarti Paarti in 2014. The letters light up!
She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband, actor Brendan McNamara and daughters Eliyah and Moses.
Spices on Hand: Aarti’s masala dabba contains some of her most used spices like turmeric, paprika, cumin seeds, cumin powder, black mustard seeds and garam masala. She turns to it often when she’s making dishes like kheema and roasted vegetables.
A Good Sign: Aarti’s friends Ashley and Ross Steeves created this sign for the launch party of her cookbook Aarti Paarti in 2014. The letters light up!
Floating Shelves: Aarti picked open shelving to showcase more of the tile backsplash. She displays some of her prized possessions here, like her milk-glass vase collection.
Extra-Wide Fridge: This KitchenAid double fridge is wider than it is deep, so Aarti can easily grab what she needs. “I’m very aware of where everything is at all times,” she says.
When Aarti Sequeira moved from Los Angeles to Raleigh, NC, last year with her family, her new kitchen had to be camera-ready. “I didn’t want people to scroll past my cooking videos on Instagram,” says the Guy’s Grocery Games judge. She found just the thing to grab everyone’s attention: an emerald tile backsplash. “The color just totally captured my heart.” She designed the rest of the space with filming in mind: She installed a wall oven plus a KitchenAid range in the island so she never disappears from the camera’s view. She also picked stain-proof quartz counters (she cooks with a lot of turmeric) and filled shelves with objects that inspire her, like a photo of her mom, Rose. Aarti’s favorite thing about the kitchen, though, is that it sits in the middle of the house so she can hang out with her husband Brendan and daughters Eliyah, 7, and Moses, 5, while she cooks. “The kitchen is the center of our lives,” she says.
“Social media used to be the cherry on top for putting your name out there, but now it’s the cake that you have to invest in, because it’s a big part of brand-building, messaging and profits,” Sequeira says of the importance of social media as it relates to one’s personal brand management. She does, however, advise aspiring—and established—influencers to take occasional breaks. “It’s imperative for your mental health to recharge,” she says.
In the social media sphere, Sequeira has a broad fanbase with international followers. Producing top-notch content comes naturally for her—she trained as a reporter and started her career in 2000 by producing and editing her own segments for CNN. Facebook was just beginning to skyrocket when Sequeira won “The Next Food Network Star.”
Their first book, “Meals She Eats: Empowering Advice, Relatable Stories, and 25+ Recipes to Take Control of your PCOS,” was released in April. It quickly rose to the top of the Amazon.com and New York Times bestseller charts. “It’s all mind-blowing,” Tom says. “Here I was, just wanting to keep track of recipes and pictures of the meals as a way to document what foods worked for her symptoms, as well as what she liked or didn’t like, and now we’re authors,” he muses.
PICTURED ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Aarti Sequeira of the Food Network. Photo by Bruce DeBoer | Jenna Cooper Hudson. Photo by Glynnis Christensen Photography | Joy Caracciolo of Joy Eats World. Photo by New Depth Creations | Tom and Rachael Sullivan, authors of “Meals She Eats.” Photo by Kelley Jordan Schuyle | Cheyenne Levinson of Triangle Families Explore and Little Oak Creative. Photo by Glynnis Christensen Photography
We sat down with some of the region’s most prominent influencers to chat about their favorite brands, foods and hotspots. Needless to say, we quickly fell under their spell.
Aarti Sequeira: Building Community With Cooking | Kirk Cameron on TBN
FAQ
Where does Aarti Sequeira live in NC?
What are some fun facts about Aarti Sequeira?
Where did Aarti Sequeira go to culinary school?
Where is Artie from Food Network?
Who is Aarti Sequeira?
In season 6 of Food Network Star, Aarti Sequeira blew the judges away with her energetic personality and delicious dishes. The former CNN producer won the competition and landed her own Food Network show, Aarti Party. Now a world-renowned chef and host, Aarti is always crafting up the perfect recipes in her stunning North Carolina home.
Does Aarti Sequeira’s home match her personality?
All of the decor in Aarti’s home definitely matches her fun personality. The velvet couches and chairs in the living room are different shades of emerald green and yellow. Food Network host Aarti Sequeira made the move from Los Angeles to North Carolina. Tour the chef’s new home she shares with her family.
Who is Aarti Sequeira married to?
Aarti Sequeira has been married to actor Brendan “Bren” McNamara since 2003, The two met when they were both attending Northwestern University, where McNamara majored in theater studies. They lived in Mid City, Los Angeles as of 2013, and the family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 2020.
Who is Food Network host Aarti Sequeira?
Food Network Host Aarti Sequeira’s Home Is Colorful! Take a Tour of Her Cozy North Carolina House In season 6 of Food Network Star, Aarti Sequeira blew the judges away with her energetic personality and delicious dishes. The former CNN producer won the competition and landed her own Food Network show, Aarti Party.