Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000
Self-taught, story-driven, and unapologetically bold—every dish I create carries my journey, my roots, and a reason to remember it.
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Coffee & cocoa-rubbed prime filet topped with jumbo lump Maryland crab and a charred rosemary brown butter drizzle. Served over smoked gouda whipped potatoes with blistered local heirloom vegetables and a roasted garlic demi-glace. Finished with crispy shallots and micro herbs, this dish embodies my style—elevated comfort rooted in bold flavor, soulful technique, and locally inspired ingredients.
Who is your culinary inspiration?My culinary inspiration comes from two of the most meaningful people in my life—my late grandmother and my heavenly special needs son. My grandmother taught me to cook with soul, bold flavor, and heart, inspiring my love for elevated comfort classics. My son taught me creativity, innovation, and that food is medicine. Together, they shaped not only the way I cook, but the deeper purpose behind why I do it.
What would you do with the $25,000?With $25,000, we would invest in opening a second location focused on growth, not expansion for the sake of size. Currently operating in just 668 square feet with a 181 square foot kitchen, a larger space would allow us to improve workflow, enhance the guest experience with more elbow room, and continue elevating our scratch-made concept. Most importantly, it would create additional jobs and opportunities within our local community.
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