Aarti Sequeira

Aarti Sequeira, cooking show host, cookbook author, journalist, television producer and tv personality is a mainstay on Food Network after winning season six of Food Network Star. With her unique signature style of recipes and her great knowledge of spices, she has inevitably been dubbed “Spice Queen” and has become a sought-after television host, guest, influencer, commentator, and judge. In addition to hosting her own show, Aarti Party, she also serves as judge on hit shows like Halloween Wars, Candy Land (hosted by Kristen Chenoweth), Luda Can’t Cook (featuring Ludacris), Guy’s Grocery Games, Supermarket Stakeout and Christmas Cookie Challenge, not to mention cooking alongside the country’s best chefs on Guy’s Ranch Kitchen. Off-network appearances include her recent role on Selena Gomez’s “Selena + Chef” (HBO Max). You may also recognize her voice while watching the animated character of Chef Shobha in Disney Jr.’s, Mira, The Royal Detective. Her nationally syndicated column for the Associated Press entitled “World’s Fare” taught readers how to use ingredients from the international aisle in simple, weeknight dishes. A gifted writer, Aarti published her first cookbook, Aarti Paarti: An American Kitchen with an Indian Soul in 2014 (Grand Central). Born in India, brought up in Dubai, and educated in a British school, Aarti grew up against a varied tapestry of food cultures. After graduating from Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism, she began a career at CNN, covering everything from economic reports to the plight of firefighters after 9/11. She also produced Sand and Sorrow, the HBO documentary about the genocide in Darfur, narrated by George Clooney and directed by Peabody Award winner Paul Freedman. Aarti is an ardent advocate for women battling postpartum depression having experienced it herself following the births of each of her two daughters. A passionate Christian, she also speaks to women of faith about overcoming fear and the sacred nature of breaking bread. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband, actor Brendan McNamara and daughters Eliyah and Moses.