Barlow High says ‘bon appetit’ with Michelin-trained celebrity chef
Published 12:16 pm Thursday, April 30, 2026
Barlow students got to taste culture and learn about traditional foods and cooking methods as a celebrity chef visited the school.
On Wednesday, April 22, Chef Jonathan Zaragoza gave a cooking demonstration and made a special lunch for the Bruins. Alongside the school’s foodservice provider, Chartwells K12, Chef Zaragoza taught kids about the Global Eats program by serving Mexican-style street food for lunch. On the menu were Sonoran hot dogs, esquites, and spiced mango.
The chef also met with students to teach about new cultural cuisines. He shared his techniques, favorite ingredients, and the influences behind his recipes. The students gained insight into culinary skills through real-world learning.
Chef Zaragoza grew up on the south side of Chicago, where his family opened a Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized restaurant that specialized in traditional birria. From there his culinary path had him train in some of Chicago’s most respected kitchens, eventually becoming the executive chef of Masa Azul at 22 years old. His work has been featured on Netflix shows, in cooking magazines, and his family’s restaurant got an on-screen nod in FX’s “The Bear.”