Francis Mallmann is the reigning star of food television in the Spanish-speaking world and the most famous and popular chef in South America. He is the author of Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way (2009) and Mallmann on Fire (2014), which introduced readers to the secrets and flavors of traditional live-fire cooking. He has nine restaurants: three in Mendoza, Argentina’s wine country; another in the La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires; one in the picturesque village of Garzón, and one in the sierra nearby at Bodega Garzon, Uruguay, a restaurant at Faena Hotel in Miami, FL, and two new restaurants in Viña Montes, Chile and Aix en Provence in the south of France. USA Today and The Times (U.K.) have named his restaurants among the top 10 places to eat in the world. Follow along with Mallmann’s travels on Instagram: @francismallmann

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 Francis Mallmann is South America’s most celebrated and beloved chef. Growing up in Patagonia on a cliff overlooking Lago Moreno, fire played a large role in Francis’ childhood and the memories that help define him and his cooking techniques today. 

When he was just nineteen, Francis opened his first restaurant in Bariloche, Argentina, where he began to gain a loyal following. After a few years, during which time he had achieved great success, he jumped at the opportunity to open a restaurant in Uruguay, where his following continued to build. Francis was able to close his restaurants in the off season and travel to Europe, where he worked in world renowned kitchens in France under the direction of Roger Vergé, Alain Senderens and Raymond Oliver. Francis eventually returned to South America, where he continued to cook French cuisine, but ultimately realized his desire to serve meals that celebrated techniques based on the wood-fire and cast-iron cooking practices for which South America is known.

Today Francis remains drawn to fire and the aromas that can only be achieved in grilling. Harnessing his talents, he creates bold, flavorful dishes that are surprising to the palate while at the same time delicious and seductive.

Francis’ restaurants include 1884, Garzon, Patagonia Sur, Los Fuegos at the Faena Hotel Miami, Francis Mallmann’s Siete Fuegos at The Vines Resort & Spa, Fuegos de Apalta at Viña Montes in Chile, and Restaurant Francis Mallmann at Chateau La Coste, France. He has two cookbooks: Seven Fires: Grilling the Argentine Way, and Mallmann on Fire, as well as a cooking show in Argentina on the gourmet channel. He was also featured in the first season of the Netflix series ‘Chef’s Table.’