Gabe Erales

Erales graduated from Eastwood High School in El Paso, Texas then went on to get a BA and MA in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from University of Oklahoma. He graduated from Austin’s Le Cordon Bleu.{{Cite web|title=Niños de Maíz - Gabe Erales - Culinary Institute of America Scholarships|url=https://ciachef.academicworks.com/donors/nios-de-maz-gabe-erales|access-date=2021-09-29|website=ciachef.academicworks.com}}

Erales began working in restaurants at the age of 15 in El Paso, Texas and continued to do so throughout high school and college at University of Texas at Austin.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-08|title=Gabe Erales|url=https://www.bravotv.com/people/gabe-erales|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Bravo TV Official Site|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Gabe Erales|url=https://austinunder40.org/speakers/gabe-erales/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Austin Under 40 Awards Gala|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2019-11-30|title=Gabe Erales|url=https://tribeza.com/gabe-erales-austin-people-2019/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Tribeza|language=en-US}} After graduating from college, he worked as an engineer in the automotive and semiconductor industry but soon after shifted his focus to his culinary talents.

Erales went on to work in some of Austin's most notable restaurants (Fonda San Miguel, La Condesa, Qui, Odd Duck, Dai Due). After staging at Noma in Copenhagen, he went on to work for Noma during their Mexico pop-up in Tulum, Quintana Roo.{{Cite web|last=Odam|first=Matthew|title=Former Comedor chef Gabe Erales of Austin competing on new season of 'Top Chef'|url=https://www.austin360.com/story/entertainment/dining/restaurant-reviews/2021/02/09/gabe-erales-austin-tx-on-top-chef-bravo-season-18-comedor/4448676001/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=austin360|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Russell|first=Erin|date=2021-02-09|title=Former Comedor Executive Chef Will Appear on 'Top Chef'|url=https://austin.eater.com/2021/2/9/22274558/top-chef-bravo-austin-chef-gabe-erales-season-18|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Eater Austin|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=These are the 9 rising stars of Austin's restaurant scene right now|url=https://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/06-18-21-tastemaker-awards-rising-star-chefs-austin-nominees/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=CultureMap Austin|language=en}}

In 2006, Erales opened Dai Due Taqueria with Jesse Griffiths as the executive chef. The restaurant – focusing on tacos using wild game and fish – was located in Austin’s First Food Hall Fareground on Congress Avenue.{{Cite web|last=Chaudhury|first=Nadia|date=2017-04-25|title=Austin's First Food Hall Fareground Announces An All-Star Lineup|url=https://austin.eater.com/2017/4/25/15295314/fareground-food-dai-due-emmer-rye-contigo-kome|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Eater Austin|language=en}} He then opened the award winning Comedor restaurant, where he made famous the "bone marrow tacos".{{Cite web|date=17 April 1000|title=Bone Marrow Tacos with Gabe Erales and Philip Speer|url=https://www.austinmonthly.com/in-the-kitchen-with-austin-monthly-featuring-gabe-erales-and-philip-speer/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Austin Monthly Magazine|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Chaudhury|first=Nadia|date=2019-04-17|title=Philip Speer's Stunning New Modern Mexican Restaurant Is Now Open|url=https://austin.eater.com/2019/4/17/18411987/comedor-austin-open-modern-mexican-restaurant-philip-speer|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Eater Austin|language=en}}

In 2021, Erales competed in Top Chef: Portland, winning the season and its $250,000 grand prize. After shooting for Top Chef: Portland had ended,{{Cite web|title=Padma Lakshmi calls for investigation following 'Top Chef' winner's past harassment allegations|url=https://ew.com/tv/padma-lakshmi-top-chef-winner-gabe-erales-investigation-harassment/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=EW.com|language=en}} Erales was fired from his position as executive chef at Comedor due to violations of the restaurant's ethics policies.{{Cite web|title=Austin Restaurant Comedor Parts Ways With Executive Chef Over 'Repeated Violations of Policies|url=https://austin.eater.com/2020/12/16/22177215/austin-restaurant-comedor-executive-chef-gabe-erales-departs|access-date=2022-02-05|website=Eater Austin|date=16 December 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Shakeup at Comedor After High-Profile Chef Out|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/food/2020-12-25/shakeup-at-comedor-after-high-profile-chef-out/|access-date=2022-02-05|website=The Austin Chronicle|language=en}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/tom-colicchio-talks-top-chef-houston-and-harassment-allegations-against-winner-gabe-erales|author=Matt Wilstein|date=March 3, 2022|title=Tom Colicchio Talks 'Top Chef' Houston and Harassment Allegations Against Winner Gabe Erales|work=The Daily Beast}} Erales has since issued an apology for his misconduct, which includes sexual harassment.{{Cite web|title='Top Chef' winner Gabe Erales apologizes in wake of sexual misconduct allegations|url=https://ew.com/tv/top-chef-winner-gabe-erales-apologizes-sexual-misconduct-allegations/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=EW.com|language=en}}

He is currently in the process of building a new restaurant called Bacalar Restaurant that is scheduled to open in 2023.{{Cite web|title=Bacalar {{!}} comida milpera|url=https://www.urbanspacerealtors.com/bacalar/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=Urbanspace|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|title=Austin's Top Chef competitor to open Mexican eatery in trendy downtown district|url=https://austin.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/04-30-21-austins-top-chef-competitor-gabe-erales-mexican-restaurant-rainey-street-bacalar/|access-date=2021-11-13|website=CultureMap Austin|language=en}}

Erales was featured in Tribeza’s Magnificent 7 in 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-30|title=Meet 7 Incredible People Who Helped Define 2019|url=https://tribeza.com/austin-people-of-2019/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Tribeza|language=en-US}} While working at Comedor (from April 2019 to December 2020) the restaurant was featured on Esquire’s ‘Best New Restaurants in America, 2019’{{Cite web|last=Gordinier|first=Jeff|date=2019-11-13|title=Esquire's Best New Restaurants in America, 2019|url=https://www.esquire.com/food-drink/restaurants/a29728503/best-new-restaurants-in-america-2019/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Esquire|language=en-US}} and Best Restaurant in Texas by Texas Monthly and Top 10 Best Restaurants in Austin 360 Eats.{{Cite web|title=Best Restaurants in Austin|url=https://apps.statesman.com/austin360/eats/lists/83/2019-best-restaurants-austin/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Austin 360 Eats}} He was crowned the “Prince of Pork” two years in a row after winning the 2018 and 2019 Cochon555 Culinary Competition in Austin.{{Cite web|title=Gabe Erales|url=https://austinunder40.org/speakers/gabe-erales/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Austin Under 40 Awards Gala|language=en-US}}

Erales also created a Culinary Scholarship fund called Niños De Maíz.

Gabe's parents are from Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. He has 6 siblings and is married with four children.{{Cite web|last=Karydes|first=Megy|title=Chef Gabe Erales Dishes On His Mother's Influence And How He Feeds Picky Eaters|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/megykarydes/2019/06/04/chef-gabe-erales-dishes-on-his-mothers-influence-and-how-he-feeds-picky-eaters/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Forbes|language=en}}

{{reflist}}

{{Top Chef}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Erales, Gabriel}}

Category:Top Chef winners

Category:Living people

Category:University of Texas at Austin alumni

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:University of Oklahoma alumni