Kate Zuccaro

Who or what inspires you to cook?

I’ve loved cooking and baking since I was a child, starting in the kitchen with my mom. My passion grew from watching cooking shows and was inspired by the movie Ratatouille. I even used baking as a metaphor in my personal essay, which helped me gain admission to Chapman University. My love for cooking has only continued to deepen.

What's your all time favorite dish to make?

I don’t have a favorite dish to prepare because what I love most about cooking and baking is the endless possibilities for new combinations to explore. While I do enjoy some dishes on repeat, such as risotto and s’mores cupcakes with homemade marshmallow frosting, I always challenge myself to try new recipes using different ingredients and flavor combinations.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would use the prize money to travel the world and take cooking classes in different countries to fully immerse myself in their culinary cultures. I am particularly interested in visiting some of the Blue Zone countries, such as Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; and Ikaria, Greece. My goal is to deeply engage with these various cultures and bring that knowledge back to experiment with and improve my overall approach to food, benefiting both myself and those around me.