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.

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.

Early life

Cantu was born in Tacoma, Washington, on September 23, 1976, to Laurie Ann Roberts, later of Portland, Oregon, and Homaro Cantu, later of Salem, Oregon.

A self-described problem child, Cantu grew up in Portland, Oregon. From the age of six to nine, he was homeless. He would later credit the homelessness for his inspiration to make food and become a social entrepreneur. At the age of twelve, Cantu was nearly jailed for starting a large fire near his fathers house (later a Le Cordon Bleu School) and spent the next two years staging on the West Coast. Despite initially rebuffing Cantu as rude, Trotter agreed to an interview the following day and hired him. and fish and bread cooked from the inside out using a class IV laser. The restaurant lost money and was closed in the Spring of 2014.

thumb|A [[rotary evaporator at the Moto prep station]]

Cantu was also a prolific inventor, filing more than 100 patent applications, and signing deals with NASA and Whirlpool for use of his inventions.

Media personality

In 2007, Cantu appeared on Iron Chef America, defeating Masaharu Morimoto.

In 2010, Cantu produced and co-hosted a TV show called Future Food on Discovery's Planet Green.

Advocacy

Cantu said his mission was "changing the way humans perceive food." On Future Food, Cantu demonstrated this idea by spending a week on a diet of miracle berries and common weeds, grass, and leaves he found in his backyard. investor Alexander Espalin of Regal Restaurants, LLC<!-- https://www.tonetoatl.com/2016/10/earl-of-sandwich-invades-atlanta-market.html --> sued Cantu. After an autopsy on April 15, the Cook County medical examiner's office said the cause of death was asphyxiation by hanging and ruled it a suicide. Cantu did not leave a note and had no history of depression or mental illness. He had two daughters and two sisters Angela Cantu and Felicia Cantu.

Reputation and legacy

thumb|right|Moto's "Forest Foraging" dish

Cantu was described as a "celebrity chef" and his restaurants as "internationally renowned". In the 2013 guide, Fodor's described him as "a cult figure". He was considered more experimental than even other molecular gastronomers, challenging preconceived notions of what could be considered "food." Although he still plans to leave Moto to start his own restaurant, Farina said he would continue to help out at Moto beyond his planned last day. Moto returned to its regular menu on April 21. directed and produced a feature-length documentary film called Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story (2016). Insatiable had its world premiere at SXSW in March 2016. The film includes many scenes shot inside Moto and iNG.

In January 2016, Cantu's widow Katie McGowan announced the sale of Moto to the Alinea Group. McGowan, who inherited Moto after her husband's death, said that the sale was a "bittersweet decision" that came "after deep reflection of the lasting impact" her late husband Cantu had made with his innovative restaurant.

References

  • Moto official website
  • official website
  • Future Food television series on Discovery
  • FLYP Media multimedia article: "A Menu with Meaning"
  • "Homaro Cantu on The Interview Show"