Isaac Mejia is also known as “Genius” due to the popularity of his culinary show on Spanish-language Radio KIQI (1010AM). He talks about healthy cooking and battles it out in a verbal Iron Chef style segment creating dishes on the fly. A native of Northern Mexico, Mejia’s culinary creativity has served him through the opening of numerous restaurants and his own healthy makeover. He weighed 400 pounds before gastric bypass surgery several years ago, after which he revamped portions and recipes at his restaurant. The result: Don Pico’s California ranch style cooking that doesn’t weigh you down.

Age: 47

City of residence: San Bruno

Family: Wife, one child

Current restaurant: Don Pico’s Mexican Bistro in San Bruno, since 1975

Background and career highlights: Feeding President Clinton and President Obama. Opening Don Pico’s. Becoming a radio personality

First meal ever cooked: Tortilla with scrambled eggs

A kitchen utensil you can’t live without: The rubber spatula

Favorite summer fruit or veggie: Asparagus

Celebrities you’ve cooked for: Diana Kennedy

First restaurant as chef: Herlinda’s Revival Café, San Bruno

Influences, inspirations: My mom, Italian, Asian and Mediterranean cuisines

Favorite health food: Ceviche

Healthy cooking tip: Use lots of garlic and chili

Favorite meal ever & who cooked it: Pozole, a hominy stew, my mother

Your choice for last meal of your life: Don Pico’s chicken enchilada