Eric Betancur

Connect What is your signature dish?

If there is one dish that shaped my approach to cooking, it’s our family’s Pork Asado. There is a deep history of cooking in my family, but this dish a slow-simmered pork shoulder in New Mexico red chile is the one I first set my heart on mastering. It’s a holiday staple that holds immense meaning, and it was the first time I pushed myself to get every detail exactly right.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

My culinary roots run deep, anchored by my grandmothers and my father, three people who viewed the kitchen as the heart of the home. They taught me that cooking is as much about caring for others as it is about the craft itself. I think often of my father, who, even after the longest shifts, would arrive home and pour his energy into a meal specifically to make our family feel loved and nourished.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Winning $25,000 would be a life-changing opportunity to invest in what matters most: my family. Beyond the relief of paying down debt, the true gift would be the time itself. I would love to step away from the kitchen to travel and explore a new part of the world with my wife, finally trading the fast pace of service for the chance to slow down and create lasting memories together.