Earlier this summer, the James Beard Foundation's Platform space at Pier 57 hosted something you don't often see in New York: Celebrity chefs Carla Hall, Andrew Zimmern, and Aarón Sánchez cooking shoulder-to-shoulder with three little-known cooks plucked from a field of nearly 92,000 applicants across the country. The event marked the live showcase of Favorite Chef, a national competition that has raised more than $12 million for the Beard Foundation since 2023.
Maldonado expressed, "I love the dish. I love the name. I love the flavors... it's the perfect dish." This facilitates her deep connection to her roots and culinary heritage.