Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
I am a home Chef who developed a culinary program for students 12-19 to teach them emotional resilience and life valuable skills.
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My signature dish is my Butter Sage Cornbread Dressing during the holidays or my Smokii Joe Tri-Pepper Lamb Chops
Who is your culinary inspiration?My culinary inspiration is my Granny, Mrs. Annie Bell Smith (now deceased). She left a legacy of love and southern charm on our plates and at her table. It was how she demonstrated love and grace to her family. Granny’s recipes had one key ingredient that has been passed on to our family and that ingredient is love. I strongly believe the most delectable dishes are those made with a pinch of imagination and a heaping of love.
What would you do with the $25,000?If selected, I would use the $25,000 to expand Who Cracked My Egg?, a social-emotional learning program that helps youth heal from trauma, violence, and emotional struggles. Funding would support curriculum development, student workbooks, facilitator training, and expansion into schools and community programs. My goal is to equip young people with emotional wellness tools, resilience, and hope so they can rise above their circumstances and “Be Great.”
Vote for Carmen Gray to be the next Favorite Chef while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote below, or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting the James Beard Foundation and their mission to lead chefs and the broader culinary industry toward a new standard of excellence.
