Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Louisville roots. Chicago kitchen. Every dish is elevated, every cocktail intentional. I cook because food is home.
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My signature dish is a smash burger built on a blend of chuck, ribeye, and brisket three cuts that each bring something different to the patty. Served with hand-cut fries and a homemade garlic aioli made from scratch. It is the dish that says everything about how I cook. Quality ingredients, elevated execution, and something that feels completely approachable. A great burger should not be complicated it should just be done right.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My culinary inspiration spans generations. James Beard and Julia Child laid the foundation. They taught America that food is culture, not just sustenance. From there, Food Network shaped how I think about cooking, Emeril Lagasse's boldness, The Neelys' soul, Sandra Lee's accessibility, Alton Brown's precision, and Ina Garten's effortless elegance. NYT Cooking and Epicurious round it out daily. Timeless technique meets modern curiosity. That combination is everything.
What would you do with the $25,000?The $25,000 would go directly into Living Tastefully with Jesse, my food, cocktail, and hosting content brand. Better equipment, a dedicated shooting space, and the resources to produce the kind of content that competing with the best requires. I am building something real here, a brand rooted in elevated but effortless entertaining, launched from a Chicago kitchen with Louisville in my DNA. This investment accelerates what is already happening
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