Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
I cook to honor my father’s legacy and give my patrons a place to feel loved, seen, and at home.
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My signature dish is my Shrimp Alfonso. It’s a rich white wine cream sauce layered with garlic, herbs, spinach, onion, tomato, bacon, and tender shrimp over linguine. It’s the perfect balance of comfort and elegance, blending old-school Italian soul with bold coastal flavor. It’s the dish that best represents my style as a chef: hearty, heartfelt, and unforgettable.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My greatest culinary inspiration is my father, Chef Hristo. He built our family restaurant from the ground up and taught me that food is about more than recipes. He taught me it’s about making people feel at home. After losing him to cancer in 2016, I stepped into the kitchen determined to carry on his legacy while adding my own creativity and passion. Every dish I serve is rooted in the lessons, love, and work ethic he passed down to me.
What would you do with the $25,000?I’d invest part of it into the restaurant. My dad built our space with his bare hands but after 10 years without him I’m afraid it’s time for a few updates. I’d do something extra special to show my crew how much they mean to me. Without them none of it would be possible. Some would help to spoil my mom and I’d be able to afford to marry my amazing partner of 5 years. The prize would be an opportunity to give back to everyone who’ve always stood by me
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