Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Cooking is therapy for me. I lost my taste in 2021, so it’s about mouthfeel and precision in executing a dish. If it feels right it’s good!
Want to learn more about our competition?
Learn MoreWant to be notified if their position changes?
Receive Text UpdatesChicken Parm prepared with homemade marinara sauce. I use seasoned panko bread crumbs to make it extra crunchy. Fresh mozzarella and sauce on top, baked til melted. Garlic heavy sauce. Serve with side pasta, preferably linguine. Avocado toast with old bay bacon. Season bacon and bake in oven til crispy. Toasted multigrain bread. Sliced shallots, baby heirloom tomatoes, sliced and fanned avocado, feta cheese, balsamic glaze, old bay bacon crumbles.
Who is your culinary inspiration?Rachael Ray inspires the home cook, no fuss style. Alex Guarnaschelli inspires me when I want to make a fuss in the kitchen and get fancy.
What would you do with the $25,000?I would invest in myself. Travel to Ireland and learn from chefs there how to make good pub food. Put together a business plan to make my restaurant dream happen. Open a sandwich shop and be happy making food and having a place people know will be good food and good vibes!
Vote for Colleen Sears 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.