Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
I won 2nd place in one contest then 1st place in the next. Cooking for people is how I show/share my love
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“My favorite dish to make is a steak jibarito — a Puerto Rican-style sandwich made with crispy fried plantains instead of bread. I fill it with savory seasoned steak and classic sandwich toppings, and it’s one of the dishes I make best because it’s flavorful, unique, and comforting with Puerto Rican inspired flavors.
Who is your culinary inspiration?Cooking con Omi
What would you do with the $25,000?Winning the Favorite Chef $25,000 prize would help me take the next step toward my dream of opening a food truck or ghost kitchen. Cooking is more than just food to me — it’s how I express love, creativity, and connection. I want to use my passion to bring people together and share comforting, memorable meals with a wider community.
Vote for Vanessa Martinez to be the next Favorite Chef while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote below, or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting the James Beard Foundation and their mission to lead chefs and the broader culinary industry toward a new standard of excellence.
