The year 2009 has been a busy one for Aarón Sánchez. The chef, who's known for his contemporary Latin cuisine, runs New York restaurants Paladar and Centrico, while racing against the clock on Food Network's Chefs vs. City. Yet he still finds time to cook at home, and wants you to do the same.

"We're at a time when people are very conscious about how much money they spend on food," said Sánchez, who recently partnered with Walmart to design a budget holiday menu. We sat down to talk, and he shared his thoughts on the show, food trends, and season two of the Next Iron Chef. Hear what he has to say when you read more.