Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Chef behind Best New Restaurant winners (2012, 2020, 2022) and Best Restaurant (2021). Fearless in flavor, relentless in craft. Winning fuel
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Cooking is in my bones. My maternal grandfather sparked the fire, but it’s my wife and kids who keep it burning. They remind me why I push, why I create, why I chase perfection in every dish. Food isn’t just sustenance—it’s a story, a legacy, a love letter. Every plate I serve carries a piece of them, a piece of me.
What's your all time favorite dish to make?Cooking is about instinct, grit, and knowing when to let the ingredients speak for themselves. Seafood is my playground—wild, untamed, and demanding respect. It’s not about a single dish; it’s about the ocean’s raw beauty, the challenge of perfect execution, and the fleeting magic of a meal that disappears as fast as it’s devoured.
What would you do with the $25,000?Food has taken me on a journey, but my family has been the backbone of it all. They’ve sacrificed time, moments, and memories so I could chase this craft. With $25,000, I’d give them something back—a trip of a lifetime, where we’d eat, explore, and finally savor time together. No schedules, no service, just us, great food, and the kind of experiences that remind us why we do what we do.
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