made you look hot out of the oven
å
Kitchen Kicks
Chef Aarón Sanchez (seated, center) designs his shoe with the Mozo team.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson
Chef Chris Cosentino 64
PROTECTIVE, CUSHY FOOTWEAR is a non-negotiable for acclaimed chefs Marcus Samuelsson, Chris Cosentino and Aarón Sanchez, all of whom spend 14-plus hours on their feet on any given day. Between the three, they have appeared on “Iron Chef America,” “Top Chef Masters” and as judges on the Food Network in addition to holding executive chef positions in renowned restaurants in San Francisco and New York. The chefs, who formerly wore Converse, Keen and Birkenstock footwear in the kitchen, will now don their very own line of shoes: the Sharkz from Mozo, a brand within the Deckers Outdoor portfolio, makers of Ugg, Teva and Simple. Set to hit stores this spring, the Sharkz weigh in at a mere eight ounces in women’s (10 ounces in men’s)— incredibly light for a kitchen shoe. The collection also features superior ventilation, one of the most important aspects of kitchen footwear. “I was blown away. The hood catches air and pushes it into the shoe, providing just enough ventilation,” Cosentino explains. “It’s great to put on a shoe with a footbed that’s not curling up [from so much moisture].” Made of full-grain leather, the Sharkz feature a TripleFit System, which allows the size of the volume inside the shoe to be customized by up to a half size. The foot beds are also removable so they can air out after a long shift. But the Sharkz go beyond just comfort—they’re stylish and affordable, too. “The entire shoe, from sole to top, is a palette that we can paint, decorate, color or sew,” says Mozo president Stuart Jenkins. “This shoe lets chefs express their personality and sense of style.” For now, the designing chefs are cooking in plain white or black Mozos, but soon they’ll receive their custom designs. Jenkins says Cosentino’s creation is all about “sneakers, surf and California;” Samuelsson’s appear urbane, sophisticated and “very New York;” while Sánchez’s convey his Latin heritage. “We couldn’t be more thrilled about their sense of style,” Jenkins says. The Sharkz are set to retail at $59.95 for a plain white or black pair and $69.95 for the Signature Chef-designed versions. —Meagan Walker