Chicago Chef Rick Bayless: Staying Fresh is Key to Success

Chicago - Chef, author and TV personality Rick Bayless has been spreading the gospel of authentic Mexican cuisine for a quarter of a century, and for many, he is the face of cooking in Chicago.

The Creator of the award-winning Frontera Grill, a winner of multiple National Chef of the Year honors and a best selling author, nobody in America is a bigger authority on Mexican cuisine than Bayless.

And even after 25 years as a chef, Bayless’ passion for food is as strong as ever.

“All I have to do is take a bite of something, and I love sharing it,” Bayless said.

So how does Bayless stay on top of his game? With the TV show, restaurants, cookbooks and the Frontera branded products, he's a non-stop, one-man industry.

"When I want to disengage from that, what I do is Yoga,” Bayless said.

With a slight bit of coaxing, Bayless demonstrated a few poses right on the kitchen counter, which he's been known to do when in need of a jolt of energy. You may have seen Bayless work in any number of kitchens, but never quite like this.

Bayless is as natural in front of the camera as he is in a kitchen, and that ties into part two of how he stays fresh. When not standing on his head, Bayless is developing new projects: The latest is a collaboration with the folks at Lookingglass Theatre.

Bayless is working on a production called Casabel, in which Bayless would not only act but also cook for his audience.

He says he couldn’t be happier to be cooking Chicago and said the best chefs in the country are working in town.