Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
I turn simple ingredients into meaningful meals. Winning would help grow Eyanu Catering and bring my dream of owning a restaurant to life.
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I’m known for my Afro-Filipino fusion dish: Ofada rice with rich ayamase sauce, paired with tender pork adobo, garlic stir-fried spinach, and sweet plantains, finished with a hibiscus blackberry melon drink. It represents my style: blending cultures, bold flavors, and comfort into one unforgettable plate that tells a story.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My culinary inspiration comes from Graham Elliot, whose creativity and calm, thoughtful approach to cooking taught me to take risks while staying intentional. Watching him on MasterChef shaped how I experiment with flavors. I’m also inspired by Guy Fieri’s celebration of diverse cultures, which pushed me to blend unexpected influences something that now defines my Afro-fusion cooking style
What would you do with the $25,000?My journey with food began in childhood, cooking with my mother and discovering how meals create comfort and connection. Over the years, that passion grew into Eyanu Catering. Winning 25000 would help me invest in formal training, upgrade equipment, and grow my business. It would bring me closer to opening a restaurant where I can share meaningful, memorable meals that feel like home
Vote for Iyanu Adebara 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.
