Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
I should be a favorite chef because I cook with passion, creativity, and love in every dish I make.
You decide who will appear in Taste of Home magazine, and win $25,000!
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My signature dish is a plantain-crusted Florida Grouper resting on a silky yuca purée, finished with an ají amarillo citrus butter and fresh micro cilantro. Every element tells my story: the plantain speaks to my Caribbean roots in Puerto Rico, the Grouper celebrates my Miami hometown, and the classical butter technique reflects decades of mastering the craft in the finest kitchens in America. The Caribbean and Florida, united on one plate.
Who is your culinary inspiration?I look up to chefs who move beyond borders — Bourdain, Redzepi, Puck — fearless hands-on explorers who dive into unfamiliar markets, discover indigenous ingredients, and return transformed. Their courage to cross cultural lines and create something entirely new is what drives me every day I step into a kitchen.
What would you do with the $25,000?I’d travel through Asia and the Middle East — exploring spice markets in Morocco, street food in Tokyo, and the bold flavors of Istanbul and Vietnam. I’d cook alongside locals, study ancient techniques, and bring every discovery home to Miami — weaving new flavors into Caribbean soul cooking and to Inspired the next generation.
Vote for Jose Casals 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.
