Homaro Cantu
Homaro "Omar" Cantu Jr. (September 23, 1976 – April 14, 2015) was an American chef and inventor known for his use of molecular gastronomy. As a child, Cantu was fascinated with science and engineering. While working in a fast food restaurant, he discovered the similarities between science and cooking and decided to become a chef. In 1999, he was hired by his idol, Chicago chef Charlie Trotter. In 2003, Cantu became the first chef of Moto, which he later purchased.
Homaro Cantu | |
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Cantu at the 2008 Cusp Conference | |
| Born | Homaro Cantu Jr. September 23, 1976 Tacoma, Washington, U.S. |
| Died | April 14, 2015 (aged 38) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Other names | Omar |
| Education | Western Culinary Institute |
| Years active | 1997–2015 |
| Spouse |
Katie McGowan (m. 2003–2015) |
| Children | 2 |
| Culinary career | |
| Cooking style | Molecular gastronomy |
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Current restaurant(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
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| Website | www |
Through Moto, Cantu explored his unusual ideas about cooking including edible menus, carbonated fruit, and food cooked with a laser. Initially seen as a novelty only, Moto eventually earned critical praise and, in 2012, a Michelin star. Cantu's second restaurant, iNG, and his coffee house, Berrista, focused on the use of "miracle berries" to make sour food taste sweet. He was working on opening a brewery called Crooked Fork at the time of his suicide in 2015.
In addition to being a chef, Cantu was a media personality, appearing regularly on TV shows, and an inventor. In 2010, he produced and co-hosted a show called Future Food. Through his media appearances, he advocated for an end to world hunger and thought his edible paper creation and the miracle berry could play a significant role in that goal. Cantu volunteered his time and money to a variety of charities and patented several food gadgets.