Co-Founder & Executive Chef, Beauty & Essex, Stanton Social Prime, Partner TAO Group Hospitality

Chef Chris Santos has more than thirty years of experience as an Executive Chef in New York City’s hottest restaurants as well as his expansions on the West Coast. He is the Co-Founder and Executive Chef of Beauty & Essex with current and former locations on the Lower East Side of New York City, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, at Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Connecticut and formerly of Hollywood, CA. Chef Santos oversees the menu development and culinary operations of all properties with several more locations in the works across North America.

In addition, Chef Santos is the Co-Founder, Creator, and Chef of the groundbreaking New York City restaurant, The Stanton Social, pioneering the shared dining experience and small plates movement and currently of Stanton Social Italian at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Additionally, Santos also created the iconic 400 seat VANDAL Restaurant on New York City’s Bowery.

Santos’ Early career, after graduating with honors from Johnson & Wales University and traveling extensively through Europe, saw him honing his craft, palate, and style in various restaurants around New York City including the cult classic Wyanoka, the famed Time Café, and award-winning Latin restaurant, Suba. In 2005, Chef Santos introduced the world to his unique brand of communal dining with the debut of his smash restaurant, The Stanton Social. The New York Times praised his innovative talent in which he tweaks traditional classics with an “infectious playfulness.” In 2007, he was named Star Chefs Rising Star Chef and began developing a sister restaurant to his first smash hit. In December 2010, Santos welcomed Beauty & Essex to the Lower East Side. With an operational pawnshop entrance, the breathtaking design transforms the turn-of-the-century townhouse into a seductive, bi-level restaurant and lounge. In 2016, Santos introduced Beauty & Essex to the West Coast in Las Vegas, and again at Mohegan Sun in 2025. In 2023, Chris debuted Stanton Social in Las Vegas, a spin-off of his famed New York Stanton Social with a focus on whimsical Italian Inspired Cuisine.

Santos released his first cookbook in 2017 to critical acclaim: “SHARE – Delicious and Surprising Recipes to Pass Around Your Table.” He is currently working on a follow up book “Dark Lunch”, as well as several exciting new upscale restaurant projects, fast-casual concepts, live music venues and continued expansion of his current brands.. Additionally Chef Santos is exploring opportunities including, but not limited to, premier concessions and curated VIP experiences at multiple stadiums nationwide as well as an exclusive retail line of premier quality sauces, marinades, signature dry rubs, cocktail mixers and frozen foods featuring and inspired by Santos’ classic greatest hits..

As music is a true passion for him, Chef Santos is the founder and CEO of Blacklight Media Records and is the Culinary Curator for the National Music Festival Company Danny Wimmer Presents, creating pop-up concepts and experiential experiences at several festivals annually hosting 300,000 people per festival weekend, including the iconic & culinary driven Bourbon & Beyond Festival in Louisville, KY.

Chef Santos has been a series regular and sitting legacy judge on Food Network’s hit series “Chopped” since its debut in 2008 and is a two-time “Chopped” champion himself. He has also appeared on Beat Bobby Flay, The Greatest Thing I Ever Ate, and has been featured on NBC’s The TODAY Show, CBS’s Early Show, The Martha Stewart Show, and The Rachael Ray Show, among many others.

After nearly thirty years residing in New York City, Chef Santos now lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife, Actress and Opera Singer Natalie Makenna, and their two Frenchies Frankie & Gigi.

Relevant Experience

• Celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality known for creating high-energy, shared-plate dining experiences.
• Associated with Beauty & Essex, Stanton Social, Vandal and Stanton Social Prime.
• Culinary philosophy combines globally inspired comfort food, communal dining and venue atmospheres built for repeat
• traffic.
• Author of SHARE, providing additional brand and culinary credibility.