DeKalb Baker With Autism Advances to 1/4 finals of Nat'l Chef Contest

Adrianna Cauthen, who owns and operates Cauthen Confections, a state-licensed, homebased metro Atlanta bakery, was announced as a quarterfinalist in the Chef Carla Hall’s Favorite Chef competition on June 28, 2024.

The contest, which began in May, started with over 50,000 contestants from the US and Canada. After several elimination rounds, approximately 500 contestants have advanced to the quarterfinals.

In addition to running her own business, Adrianna is an online student at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, which is based out of Boulder, CO. She is currently enrolled in the school’s Hospitality Operations and Restaurant Management program. She has also worked as a line cook and baker for various establishments in metro Atlanta.

According to her mother, Deanna Cauthen, Adrianna showed a passion for cooking and baking at an early age.

“As a little girl, she would put on an apron and stand on a footstool next to me and watch and help me cook,” said Deanna. “When she was older, she would get on the computer and find different recipes and discover new ways of making a dish.”

“Every Saturday, I would binge-watch the cooking shows on the Public Broadcasting Service, and then pick some recipes to recreate in the kitchen. I was pretty obsessed with cooking,” Adrianna said.

The one thing that neither of them knew was that Adrianna was on the spectrum for autism, and that her “obsession” with baking and cooking was considered a “special interest,” a very common trait of people who have Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Through her research, Adrianna discovered that girls—especially girls of color—are often overlooked when it comes to autism. “I knew I was different, but didn’t know why. I talked to my parents again about getting evaluated and after lots of testing, in the spring of 2023 at age 21, I was diagnosed with ASD,” said Adrianna.

Adrianna shared that working in a commercial kitchen as a person with ASD is not without its challenges.

“I have a lot of sensory issues so that can be hard, but my love for my work helps me to stay focused and engaged even when there are overwhelming situations,” said Adrianna.
The winner of the Chef Carla Hall’s Favorite Chef competition will receive a $25,000 grand prize, a television show appearance, and will be featured on the cover of the “Taste of Home” magazine.

The contest is a collaboration between Chef Carla Hall, the former cohost of the ABC award-winning show, “The Chew,” The James Beard Foundation, and the Taste of Home Magazine.

Voting for contestants in Chef Carla Hall’s Favorite Chef competition resumes on Monday, July 1, 2024. For more information and to vote, visit https://favchef.com/2024/adrianna-cauthen.