Carlos Anthony, a 36-year-old American chef, has been in the industry for more than 16 years. Carlos is the chef at Herb & Wood in San Diego, and he previously worked at Hillcrest’s artisan sausage cafe Salt and Cleaver for nine years.
The San Diego-based celebrity chef has amassed impressive culinary skills over the years and has learned a great deal from a mentor, seasoned restaurateur, and Top Chef legend Brian Malarkey.
Carlos was born in Tucson, Arizona, and began his culinary career in his grandmother’s kitchen. He finished law school and decided to pursue his passion for cooking. His first job as a chef was at Old Chicago Pizza, a local pizza parlor. He also worked at Searsucker and Taco Asylum Gourmet Tacos in Costa Mesa, where he honed his skills.
In 2013, Carlos opened his own restaurant, Salt and Cleaver, where he also served as executive chef. He later left his restaurant to work at Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Wood in Little Italy. Carlos was extremely grateful to Chef Malarkey and his crew. He worked for Malarkey’s fabric-themed restaurants – Searsucker, Burlap, and Gabardine – for many years after being a member of the opening Searsucker team.
Carlos Anthony made his television debut in Season 7 Episode 2 of Cutthroat Kitchen (February 22, 2015). He eventually won the round, taking home $9,900, and defeated seasoned judge and chef Jet Tila, who is also set to appear in the upcoming Food Network series.
The cook-off between Carlos Anthony and Jet Tila at the Tournament of Champions was dubbed a “David vs. Goliath” battle. Carlos was later cast in the Discovery Channel series Chopped: Next Generation and a food show called Jackfruit Kitchen in 2021.
At Herb & Wood, Carlos’ specialty dish is oxtail gnocchi. Carlos commented on the delicacy to Beyondish:
“Our oxtail gnocchi is a simple recipe that takes four people and three days to make. It’s not the most inventive meal because it’s just oxtail and gnocchi, but it does require time and effort to prepare. The meal’s delectability stems from the meticulous preparation of each item.
He continued, saying:
The roasted oysters and bone marrow are absolute indulgences that epitomize Herb & Wood’s extravagant personality. It’s the kind of cuisine that makes you forget about the rest of the world, with oysters cooked with horseradish butter and finished with bone marrow.
Carlos Anthony currently owns and operates a significant and profitable restaurant franchise with approximately 15 locations across the United States. The San Diego chef is not yet married, but he is now dating Allison O’Neil. Carlos Anthony first revealed his relationship in January 2021 via an Instagram post. His net worth is estimated to be one million dollars.
