Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Michelin-trained resort chef blending bold Turkish flavors, fine dining precision, and food that creates lasting memories.
You decide who will appear in Taste of Home magazine, and win $25,000!
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My signature dish is slow-roasted lamb shoulder with smoked eggplant purée, sumac onions, fire-charred vegetables, and warm house-made pita. It represents everything I love about cooking bold Turkish flavors, live-fire techniques, and refined presentation rooted in comfort and hospitality.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My culinary inspiration comes from chefs who combine technical excellence with creativity and emotion. I admire chefs like Massimo Bottura for storytelling through food and Grant Achatz for pushing boundaries, but I’m equally inspired by my Turkish roots and the tradition of cooking over live fire. Growing up around bold spices, grilled meats, and family-style hospitality shaped the way I approach food today creating dishes that connect people and leave lasting memories.
What would you do with the $25,000?I would use the $25,000 to launch the next phase of my culinary vision: developing my Turkish BBQ concept, Mangal Turkish BBQ. The funding would help with equipment, branding, and building a platform to share bold live-fire cooking with a wider audience. I’d also invest in my team, continued culinary education, and creating opportunities to mentor young cooks who are passionate about hospitality and the craft of cooking.
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