This year, the stakes are higher, the flavors are bolder, and the mission is bigger than ever.
Professional fundraiser Colossal’s iconic Favorite Chef® competition is back—inviting chefs to compete for the title. From historic wins to high-impact change, here’s why this year is the most important date on your kitchen calendar.
The Legacy Continues: Favorite Chef 2026
Since 2023, Favorite Chef has been a digital showdown where creativity meets heart. This year’s champion won’t just earn bragging rights. They’ll take home $25,000, land a dream feature in Taste of Home magazine, and get to cook alongside the legendary Carla Hall on her hit show Chewed Up.
Critic’s Pick: New for 2026, the James Beard Foundation will select one standout dish from the competition to be featured at their prestigious 2026 Annual Gala.
Meet Your Mentor: Carla Hall
You know her from Top Chef and The Chew, but Carla is more than a TV icon—she’s a champion of “cooking with love.” As the returning Favorite Chef Ambassador and co-host of Chewed Up, she’s all about chefs who bring soul to the table.
Cooking for a Cause: The James Beard Foundation
Every vote-by-donation cast in these competitions does more than help a chef win—it helps the entire industry thrive. To date, Colossal has raised more than $12.9M to support DTCare, which grants money to the James Beard Foundation. With transformative programs that promote inclusivity and sustainability, the James Beard Foundation leads chefs and the broader culinary industry toward a new standard of excellence.
The Tools of the Trade
You can’t build a legacy without the right tools. This year’s competition is proudly supported by industry titans who know a thing or two about quality:
- John Boos & Co.: Since 1887, John Boos has been a trusted provider of high-quality cutting boards, butcher blocks and workspaces that have inspired home cooks, chefs and food service industry workers for generations.
- Shun: The premier brand of authentic Japanese cutlery. Blending tradition, innovation and precision, Shun knives deliver unrivaled sharpness, empowering chefs and home cooks to elevate every meal.
- King’s Hawaiian: Founded more than 70 years ago in Hilo, Hawaii, this family-owned business is dedicated to creating Hawaii-inspired foods made with original recipes and Aloha Spirit.
The Champions
- 2025 Champion Derek Astorino: Derek’s passion for food is rooted in connection. Through his Food Boat, he brings chefs together, blending creativity with respect for heritage to craft dishes that tell a deeper story.
- 2024 Champion Keyana Jadali: Lawyer-turned-chef and first-generation Iranian American, chef Jadali’s path to culinary success is inspiring. She is now a personal chef in the Bay Area.
- 2023 Champion & 2026 Host Karen ‘Chef Kay’ Jenkins: From humble beginnings, Chef Kay built her journey on a simple mission: serving others through food. She returns as a host to inspire the next wave of contenders to chase their culinary dreams.
Ready to make your mark?
Whether you’re voting for your favorite local hero or entering to be the next big name in food, the journey starts here.
Colossal FAQs
Who is Colossal?
Colossal is a professional fundraiser redefining modern philanthropy through purpose-driven online competitions that raise money for charity. With a mission to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need, Colossal empowers individuals to pursue their passions, rally their communities, and compete for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, all while driving meaningful charitable impact where giving wins. Colossal competitions serve as fundraising campaigns for DTCare, a United States 501(c)(3) public charity organization, which grants donation funds to specified charities at the completion of the competitions. Since 2022, Colossal has raised more than $207 million to support DTCare. Annual competitions include Baby of the Year, America’s Favorite Pet, America’s Favorite Teacher, Youth Athlete of the Year and more. Who’s Next?
How do the competitions work?
We partner with a variety of brands, publications, influencers and charities to develop amazing prize packages for our competitions. Interested people sign up and we vet them to make sure they are real humans and good candidates for the competition. People vote for their favorite, and the competitor with the most votes in the final round wins!
How does Colossal protect my information?
When you participate in a Colossal competition—whether you’re competing or voting—your information is protected by multiple layers of security. Donations processed through a Colossal competition are encrypted and handled through a secure, independent payment processor. We also regularly monitor our websites for vulnerabilities, run security scans, and put safeguards in place to help prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized access. Learn more about youth online safety and how we protect your information by reviewing our Privacy Policy.
