Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
I bring more than technique—I bring God-given skill, heart, purpose, and intention, with sprinkles of all the best kinds of kitchen chaos
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My signature dish features a perfectly seared steak and succulent lobster paired with creamy crawfish mashed potatoes, rich mushroom gravy, and seasoned grilled asparagus finished with fresh lemon.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My culinary inspiration feels like something I was born with. My mother, both grandmothers (maternal and paternal), and my uncle each shaped different parts of my foundation in the kitchen. Watching them built my creativity and deep respect for food. After school, tuning into Gordon Ramsay’s “Hell’s Kitchen” and Carla Hall on “The Chew” pushed me to stay sharp, driven, and never settle.
What would you do with the $25,000?I would use the funds to strengthen my foundation, expand my perspective, and continue to grow as a chef by completing my college culinary education, further develop and build my personal chef brand as Chef Nya, and travel to study and experience more global cuisines.
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