Tyler

Connect What is your signature dish?

As a good Italian girl I have to say homemade pasta. If its summer in the PNW I absolutely have to toss my hand-cut pappardelle with cherry tomatoes from my garden, fresh basil, sweet corn and decadent dungeness crab meat. Sue me but I'm topping it with Pecorino Romano. If we're creeping towards fall I'll be swapping those summer flavors for chanterelle mushrooms, garlic and heavy cream. Either way I'm finishing with dessert- strawberry basil pavlova or blackberry pie with perfectly salty crust!

Who is your culinary inspiration?

At the end of the day I'm just a millennial girl whose after school shows were Food Network over cartoons! I've spent decades looking up to the OGs- Ina Garten (I may or may not have a Barefoot Contessa tattoo), Giada, Rachael Ray and Bobby Flay. I also can't forget Michael Simon and Carla Hall- RIP The Chew, one of my favorite shows of all time! In a world of restaurant chefs, it's these TV chefs who inspired me to start my business and literally taught me how to cook through the screen.

What would you do with the $25,000?

With $25,000 I will save my community kitchen space where I currently teach cooking classes. The owners are retiring summer 2027 and I intend to take over their lease! In addition to hosting community cooking classes, I'll tweak the space to be suitable for plated dinners, wine pairings and workshops. I also see it as the perfect food media space where I can film recipes and content for my 250K social media following!