He is the second of three children born to parents Jorge and Magdalena Garces and is of Ecuadorian heritage.

He played varsity football and wrestled as a student at Gordon Technical High School.

[3] After graduating from college, Garces traveled to Spain to gain experience in European-style cooking and cuisine, returning to the United States a few years later to work in New York City.

[6] Following a few years of financial and legal challenges,[7] Garces filed for bankruptcy in 2018[8] and sold his restaurants to IdEATion Hospitality as part of a restructuring.

Garces has been a challenger on Iron Chef America, defeating Bobby Flay on a 2008 episode featuring melon.