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

Thomas Thompson

I cook from faith, heart, and experience. Feeding people isn't just about the food to me—it's one of the ways I show love.

Currently 2

in their Group

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

The first cut is on Thursday the 11th of June at 7PM PDT

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What is your signature dish?

My signature dish is slow-cooked pulled pork made in a Crock-Pot and topped with my homemade "Don't Play With This Aioli." What started as a simple birthday pot- luck lunch recipe became something friends, family, and church members ask for by name. The pork is tender, smoky, and packed with flavor, while the aioli adds a rich kick that keeps people coming back for more. For me, great food is about bringing people together and creating memories around the table.

Who is your culinary inspiration?

The people I feed inspire me. My cooking journey started over 30 years ago on the midnight shift at Denny's, learning the craft one order at a time on a busy flat top. Since then, I've spent decades serving family, friends, church groups, ministries, and community events—sometimes cooking for hundreds at a time. I believe great food brings people together, creates lasting memories, and shows love in a way words sometimes can't.

What would you do with the $25,000?

Like most people, I'd use part of the money to pay some off bills and help my son get his first reliable beater with a heater lol, seriously though it would be. But I'd also put a big portion toward a dream I've talked about for years: Church Boyz Sauces & Rubs. I'd love to turn my passion for cooking into something bigger and give back to the ministries and people who helped me become the man I am.

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