Kristin Bryan

Connect What is your signature dish?

It depends on who you ask. I have a big foodie family, and they consistently request my version of Anthony Bourdain’s Cacio e Pepe, served in a crisp Pecorino Romano cheese cup. But I also love entertaining at home, and my fresh fettuccine with lobster and vanilla bean sauce has become one of the most requested dishes at my dinner table. Both dishes are very different, but they reflect how I love to cook, comforting, a little indulgent, and always meant to bring people together.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

My biggest culinary inspiration is my sister, Karista. She’s been a chef and food writer for more than 20 years, but to me, she’s also been my mentor, confidant, best friend, and my twin. She introduced me to the deeper meaning of food and creativity long before I ever worked professionally in the culinary world. She even recommended me for my first cookbook opportunity, which became one of the most meaningful experiences of my career. In so many ways, she’s the reason I’

What would you do with the $25,000?

Family is everything to me, so I’d use the $25K to take my entire family on a culinary journey through Europe. We’d spend time discovering regional foods, local traditions, and the stories behind them, sharing meals around tables in places we’ve only dreamed about. Food has always been how we connect, celebrate, and learn from one another, so creating those memories together would mean more to me than anything else.