Peter Psomas

That’s a tough one because I put 150% into everything I make. But if I had to choose, my signature dishes would be my meatballs and homemade sausage. Both are built on years of experimenting with flavors, techniques, and family recipes. My meatballs in particular stand out because I blend traditional methods with international inspiration, creating variations that are rich, balanced, and deeply comforting. My sausage is all about craftsmanship—carefully seasoned, made from scratch

My dad is my biggest culinary inspiration. I grew up in our family restaurant watching him cook, work the line, and create dishes that brought people together. Seeing his discipline, pride, and creativity in the kitchen left a lasting impression on me. It didn’t just teach me how to cook—it taught me what food means to people. That experience is what pushed me to carry on the family tradition and build my own path in the culinary world

If I were younger, I’d use the $25,000 to bring a long-time dream to life by opening a food truck. I’d call it Papa Pete’s Gourmet Meatball Truck, a mobile kitchen dedicated to showcasing meatballs from around the world. The concept would feature international variations from 17 different countries, highlighting how one simple dish can take on so many cultures, spices, and stories. It would be a way to share both my creativity and my love of global comfort food with a wider com