Jeff Mauro started his Food Network career in 2011, when he emerged as the winner of “Food Network Star” Season 7 — pretty impressive for a guy who deliberately confined his craft to delicious sandwiches. Mauros victory netted him a show of his own, the appropriately-titled “Sandwich King,” which he hosted from 2011 to 2014 (per IMDb). And as anyone whos watched Food Network at any point during the last decade can attest, Mauro never really stopped working after that; he went from making appearances on fellow celebrity chefs shows to judging and co-hosting shows from “The Kitchen” to, as it happens, “Food Network Star.” Not bad for a sandwich guy, right?
Mauro has been a constant presence on the food-loving audiences screens for so many years, its easy to forget that theres way more to him than his perma-smiling, affable onscreen presence. Today, well take a look at some details you may not have known about Jeff Mauro.
Before joining Food Network, Jeff used to be an entertainer and comedian in Los Angeles. But the switch in careers hasn’t changed his personality one bit — he’s still just as funny and entertaining when cooking on Sandwich King and while eating his way through various cities on his other show, $24 in 24.
It’s all about the family for Mauro
Mauro has accomplished quite a bit over his career, and in an interview with Chicago Parent, he said that his apparent “overnight” success actually came after years and years of arduous work and setbacks. Luckily, he had quite a bit of backup from his family, who made sure to not only support him, but also to make sure that he doesnt put all his eggs in one basket. “Ultimately, I thank my wife, Sarah, who, it wasnt only, Oh, you can do it, Honey, but thank God she was a realist,” the celebrity chef said. “She said, make sure weve got a backup. If you dont get a TV show, what are we going to do?”
Mauro has kept his family close over the years, and his son and other various family members have actually joined him onscreen several times. “My parents, my siblings, its been great because weve all gone through it together,” Mauro added. “My family has supported me since I was 9 years old, so it was cool.”
Mauro has a surprising blind spot in his sandwich game
Mauros delicious sandwiches have always been a massive part of his charm, but even the Sandwich King himself cant be all-knowing. In a 2021 interview with Misadventures with Andi, Mauro revealed that his TV sandwich skill set lacks a very specific, surprising tool: His onscreen self has been ignoring the classic fried chicken sandwich. “No, I havent done a traditional fried chicken sandwich yet on my show,” he revealed. “I did a waffle sandwich with fried chicken, but I love a traditional hot fried chicken with iceberg lettuce and mayo on a soft bun, it is another one of my favorites and showcases the simplicity of a great sandwich.”
The fact that Mauro has kept his fried chicken sandwich game largely under wraps (so far) doesnt mean that hes completely out of it when it comes to the great chicken sandwich wars — though he does admit he only recently got acquainted with one of its biggest players. “Ill be honest with you, two weeks ago I had my first ever Chick-fil-A,” Mauro continued. “They just started rolling them out here in Chicago and for a bun, chicken and two pickles it was phenomenal and I just love it. Politics aside, I am in it for the food and they executed a great sandwich.”
Jeff Mauro Makes an Italian Beef Sandwich | The Kitchen | Food Network
FAQ
Is Jeff from The Kitchen a trained chef?
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Is Jeff Mauro the Sandwich King on kitchen crash?
Photo of Host Jeff Mauro , as seen on Kitchen Crash, season 1. Photo provided by Food Network Ahead of the Kitchen Crash debut, Jeff Mauro shares why this Food Network show is must watch food TV. While he might be the Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro is ready to take on a new Food Network challenge.
Is Jeff Mauro’s ‘Kitchen crash’ a must watch TV?
Ahead of the Kitchen Crash debut, Jeff Mauro shares why this Food Network show is must watch food TV. While he might be the Sandwich King, Jeff Mauro is ready to take on a new Food Network challenge.
What happened to Mauro on Food Network?
And as anyone who’s watched Food Network at any point during the last decade can attest, Mauro never really stopped working after that; he went from making appearances on fellow celebrity chefs’ shows to judging and co-hosting shows from “The Kitchen” to, as it happens, “Food Network Star.” Not bad for a sandwich guy, right?
Who is Chef Jeff Mauro?
As part of our series about the lessons from influential ‘TasteMakers’, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Chef Jeff Mauro. Emmy-nominated Celebrity Chef Jeff Mauro was born and raised in Chicago where he was determined from an early age to become the funniest chef in the world.