MEET AMJ

Aaron McCargo Jr. is an award-winning celebrity chef from New Jersey, cookbook author, television personality, former restaurateur, and winner of Season 4 of The Next Food Network Star. His win earned him his own Food Network show, Big Daddy’s House, which ranked as the number one “In the Kitchen” weekend show during its initial six-episode run and was renewed for five more seasons.

On Big Daddy’s House, Aaron shared his passion for big, bold flavors, approachable cooking, barbecue favorites, breakfast dishes, and crowd-pleasing meals. His culinary expertise extends well beyond television. Over the course of his career, Aaron has owned and operated restaurants, worked as a restaurant culinary consultant, and built deep expertise in large-scale food operations and kitchen systems, including leading catering operations for the Jefferson Healthcare System in Philadelphia.

Aaron also has his own line of spices and sauces, is currently developing new culinary projects with his new venture Flavor Frontier Development Group, and formerly served as a product expert on QVC for the Cook’s Essentials brand. One of the most recognizable celebrity chefs from New Jersey, Aaron has appeared on The Today Show, The Talk, Steve Harvey, Rachael Ray, Good Morning America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and Guy’s Grocery Games. He also served as a regular expert on Bar Rescue and Back to the Bar, sharing his culinary and restaurant expertise to help local eateries and restaurateurs strengthen their operations and succeed.

Outside of television, Aaron is the author of the cookbook Simply Done, Well Done, which reflects his approachable philosophy of creating flavorful, satisfying food without overcomplicating the process. Aaron is also the founder of PlayToWin, a charity focused on supporting male youth in single-parent homes who demonstrate at-risk behaviors. A father of three, Aaron proudly calls South Jersey home.