Winner will appear in Taste of Home magazine, cook with Carla Hall, and take home $25,000

Quarter-Finalist

Sheila Bright

Real-life cooking with chef-level flavor: comfort food, creativity, and the kind of meals people remember.

Currently 7

in the Quarter-Finals

Vote

You decide who will appear in Taste of Home magazine, and win $25,000!

Voting for Semi-Finalists ends Thursday the 23rd of July at 7PM PDT

Want to learn more about our competition?

Learn More
What is your signature dish?

It’s so hard to choose just one! My family loves my BBQ pulled pork, which I serve with a southern potato salad, and a delicious no-mayo coleslaw (I like mayo, but not in my slaw)!

Who is your culinary inspiration?

My family and very close friends! Cooking runs deep in my family. My dad and I still love cooking together, and I get inspiration from my mother as well! For me, cooking has never been about perfection, it’s about connection. I love blending Southern comfort, bold flavor, creativity, and a little bit of chaos into meals that bring people together. The best dishes tell stories, create memories, and make people linger at the table.

What would you do with the $25,000?

I’d use the money to invest in something I’ve dreamed about for years: creating a space, online and beyond, where approachable, flavor-packed cooking feels fun instead of intimidating. I’d love to develop recipes, share stories, teach others, and build a community around the idea that great food doesn’t require perfection. Some of it would also go toward making memories with my family around the table and in the kitchen, which is where my love of cooking began.

James Beard Foundation

Vote for Sheila Bright 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.


1 Vote
10 Votes
25 Votes
50 Votes
100 Votes
250 Votes
Other Amount

Enter donation - $1 per vote

Make onions cry

Sharpen your knives and show the world why you’re the Favorite Chef.

Learn More