Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000

Daniel Florence

In 2012 I reached my stress limit as a Special Operations pilot—cooking kept me fit to fly. Now I run a Private Chef Services business.

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Voting for the TOP 15 ends Thursday the 18th of June at 7PM PDT

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What is your signature dish?

As a private chef I have to remain versatile across a wide spectrum of foods. My menus are not set and I like to cook whatever the clients ask for. If I don’t know it, I’ll learn it. That said, my go-to dishes include Grilled Peruvian Chicken with Ají Verde, Churrasco Steak & Chimichurri, Grouper Cakes, Breakfast Skillets, Lomo Saltado, Pizza, Salmon Rice with Fried Egg, Avocado, & Pickled Radish to name a few!

Who is your culinary inspiration?

Francis Mallmann of Argentina. He is classically trained but found his calling back in Argentina. He uses fire and char and has a signature of fresh vibrancy along with his love affair of potatoes. He is probably the Chef I resemble most often. Thomas Keller (due to Michelin respect, Master Class, and classic French techniques) and Gordon Ramsay (because of his Master Class. I was also an Audition finalist for Seasons 5/6 of Next Level Chef) are also inspirations.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I would invest it into a high growth account and strategically use it piecemeal to invest in my Private Chef Services business. From a commissary kitchen to equipment to marketing, I would not spend it all at once on one thing. I’d also consider using some of it for a culinary immersion trip to Japan.

James Beard Foundation

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