Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000

Quarter-Finalist

Lolita Sereleas

I am an example that it’s never too late to follow your passion and break the rules!

Quarter-Finalist


Lolita Sereleas is in the Top 1% of all chefs in the competition! Voting to determine this year's Favorite Chef resumes Monday, May 12th.

Voting resumes May 12th at 10AM PDT

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Who or what inspires you to cook?

As with many cooks, my love of food began in the kitchen with my family. My grandmother, father and mother made time in the kitchen special. When my father had a stroke, I took to the kitchen to make some of his favorite childhood foods from Greece, and that opened up a world of discovery of food, history, and family. I lost my father in 2024 and feel a connection with him when I am creating in the kitchen. Food always has and always will be my love language.

What's your all time favorite dish to make?

My favorite dish to make is spanakopita, a savory Greek spinach pie. Learning how to make phyllo dough from scratch is something handed down to me from my father.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I am a graduate of the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and my husband and I own Trogo Kitchen and Market, a collaborative culinary space with private dining, catering, and pop ups. We have hosted several chefs who have brought back favorite dining experiences from restaurants shuttered during the pandemic, and others trying out new concepts. With the $25,000 we would launch a series featuring up and coming chefs who need a venue to develop and showcase their craft.

Make onions cry

Sharpen your knives and show the world why you’re the Favorite Chef.

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