John Gregory

Connect What is your signature dish?

Mamaw’s chocolate gravy and biscuits. I grew up in Arkansas, and it’s one of those recipes that instantly takes me back to childhood. I’ve cooked plenty of things over the years, but that’s the dish people always ask about. It’s simple, unapologetically Southern, and proof that comfort food doesn’t need a fancy ingredient list to be memorable.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

My grandmother is my culinary inspiration. She gardened, canned, froze, and preserved food because that’s how you fed a family. It wasn’t a hobby; it was a way of life. Looking back, I realize that was how she showed love. Whether it was a jar she’d put up months earlier or biscuits and chocolate gravy on the table, she cared for people through food. That lesson has stayed with me my entire life.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’d invest it in creating experiences that bring people together. My background is in interior design, and I’ve always believed food and design serve the same purpose—they create connection. Whether that’s hosting community dinners, preserving family recipes, or building new opportunities around entertaining, I’d use the prize to keep bringing people to the table.