Aaron Chambers took his first job at 14, preparing soups, salads, and desserts as a commis at the Beverley Arms Hotel in his hometown. He then enrolled in a two-year culinary program at a local school before moving to the decidedly more bustling city of Birmingham and the kitchen of The Edgbaston Golf Club (where Chambers met Chef Julian Tolbert, a valuable mentor). Chambers got his first taste of a disciplined, formally organized kitchen at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxford, going from commis to garde manger under Chef Raymond Blanc. An urge to travel brought the chef to Al Mahara in Dubai and its global pantry of ingredients.

Chambers only made landfall in the States in 2005, as sous chef at the French-Indian fusion Indebleu. Next came Café du Parc, where Chambers embraced rustic French cuisine and his first exposure to in-house charcuterie production. Already a far cry from his idyllic English beginnings, Chambers delved deeper into the cosmopolitan world of cuisine, making a decisive move to New York to work at Café Boulud under 2009 StarChefs.com Rising Star Chef Gavin Kaysen. Kaysen’s youth and enthusiasm inspired Chambers in his own leadership role in Daniel Boulud’s organization.  With a long history working at Michelin-starred restaurants across the UK, Dubai, and US, Chef Aaron introduced a simple and approachable Mediterranean menu to Salem’s culinary scene by opening Settler Restaurant. From the small family-run farm’s produce to the halibut off Marblehead docks, Chef’s food represents the North Shore community, building connection across farmers, fishers, cooks, and locals through food.