Kelly Lewis

I started cooking during Covid. My mom used to tell me, “You need to be in this kitchen watching me cook as a child,” but I didn’t really listen until it was too late. She was on hospice when I finally got serious about it, and she passed before Chef Lew ever became Chef Lew. So now, I cook with her in mind. Every dish is a piece of her I carry with me.

My favorite dish to make is chicken wings. I don’t fry them—I bake them, and I love playing around with different flavors and seasonings. I could say something fancy, but honestly, I like to keep it simple. Wings are versatile, easy to love, and always hit the spot.

With $25,000, I’d invest in both sides of me: the content creator Chef Lew and the self-published author Kelly Lewis. I don’t own a home yet, but I’d get better equipment, maybe rent a space to cook and create more content. I’d also put money into publishing and promoting my books. I’ve got stories to tell and flavors to share, and this would help me bring both to life—one page and one plate at a time.