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

Quarter-Finalist

Tara Layman

I want to inspire people to eat more veggies, create community through sharing a meal, stories and the experiences that shape who we are.

Currently 2

in the Quarter-Finals

Vote

LIMITED-TIME: 2X VOTES

You decide who will appear in Taste of Home magazine, and win $25,000!

Voting for Semi-Finalists ends Thursday the 22nd of May at 7PM PDT

Want to learn more about our competition?

Learn More
Connect
Who or what inspires you to cook?

I started cooking as a kid! I was diagnosed with type one diabetes at 8 years old so I had to learn about food and build a relationship with it from early on. It's a big part of who I am. Cooking connects people to the earth, other humans worldwide, and our histories. I am inspired to learn about those origins by cooking for others. I am a teacher and photographer by training, which require consistent adaptation and learning. I love cooking because I am a constant student to the practice.

What's your all time favorite dish to make?

If I’m cooking for my wife, it’s Armenian lamb chops and blistered haricots-verts with whipped preserved lemon feta purée. If I am cooking vegetarian homemade falafel, muhamura, pickled red onion cucumber salad and traditional lemon chickpea hummus.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest in the rental space, cookware and tableware to start growing the pop up dinners I host to continue to practice and save for my dream of opening a cafe!

James Beard Foundation

Help Tara Layman become the next Favorite Chef with a tax-deductible donation. Your support helps create a more equitable and sustainable future in the restaurant industry.

Limited-time: 2X donation votes ends on Wed 5/14 at 9PM PDT


1 Vote
20 Votes
50 Votes
100 Votes
200 Votes
500 Votes
Other Amount

Enter donation - $1 per 2 votes

Make onions cry

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

Learn More