Doylestown Chef Vying To Become Nation's Next "Favorite Chef"

DOYLESTOWN, PA — A Doylestown chef is looking for the community’s help as she competes to become the nation’s next “Favorite Chef.”

Chef Kelly Unger is one of 16 finalists in the online “Favorite Chef” competition, which brings together seasoned chefs, passionate home cooks, and creative foodies from around the nation for an unforgettable summer showdown of skill, creativity, and heart benefiting the James Beard Foundation,

The grand prize winner will be determined by a public online vote taking place from now through Thursday at 10 p.m.

Everyone gets one free vote every 24 hours. Additional votes can be cast by donating $1 a vote to the James Beard Foundation and its mission and advocacy toward excellence in the independent restaurant industry and leading the country toward a more equitable and sustainable food system.

The grand prize winner will be featured in an article appearing in “Taste of Home” magazine, will have the opportunity to cook with Carla Hall on her show, “Chewed Up,” and will win $25,000.

Story continues below the photos

Chef Kelly teaches how to make meatballs in a lemon broth during a Greek cooking class. (Photo courtesy of Chef Kelly Unger)

Chef Kelly slices into a Burgundy Epoisse Tart. (Photo courtesy of Chef Kelly Unger)

Chef Kelly whips up batter for her nonnettes. (Photo courtesy of Chef Kelly Unger)

Chef Kelly, who is well known locally as the director of the Doylestown Farmers Market, was one of more than 20,000 chefs who entered the contest at the beginning of the summer.

“I couldn’t have made it this far without the community’s help. Now I need their help once again to push it over the finish line,” she said. “Make Doylestown proud, vote for the hometown girl, and call attention to this beautiful community that I love so much."

Click Here To Vote For Chef Kelly Unger.

If she wins, Chef Kelly will use her prize money to publish a new cookbook about families cooking together. The funds would pay for expenses not covered by a publisher, including public relations, food photography, and other publishing expenses.

Chef Kelly has also entered a parallel competition - the Critic's Pick - which is open to all competitors who make it to the quarterfinals of the Favorite Chef competition.

The contestants were invited to submit an hors d'oeuvre or appetizer recipe to the James Beard Foundation. The winner will serve their winning recipe at the prestigious James Beard House to 300 guests at its "Gala for Good" on Nov. 6.

For her critic's pick entry, Chef Kelly took a traditional sweet Italian pastry - a Sardinian Pardula - and turned it into a savory hors d'oeuvre. To make it savory, she mixed in roasted mashed sweet potato with the traditional ricotta cheese and saffron filling, added some Rosemary and a touch of orange zest.

"The reason I made those flavor choices is that, if I win, I'll be cooking at the Gala For Good on Nov. 6, so I wanted to bring a little bit of Thanksgiving vibe to the dish," said Chef Kelly.

Chef Kelly with a batch of her savory Sardinia Pardulas. (Photo courtesy of Chef Kelly Unger)

In addition to directing the Doylestown Farmers Market and authoring its newsletter, Chef Kelly serves on the Board of Directors of the Bucks County Foodshed Alliance. She also teaches cooking to 50 three-, four-, and five-year-olds at Maria's House Montessori School in Doylestown.

For the past 12 years, Chef Kelly has also taught French, Italian, Greek, and Slovak cooking classes at her studio, The Rooster and The Carrot. And she leads culinary group trips to France, Italy, Greece, and Spain. This fall she's headed to Greece with visits planned to Athens and Crete.

Her favorite thing to do in the kitchen is to work with dough, and that includes anything from fresh pasta and pierogies to cream biscuits and a sweet orange and chocolate focaccia. She particularly likes cooking anything from her Slovak heritage, including one of her favorites, stuffed cabbage.

“I love our Doylestown community, and it is my privilege to serve it in various ways, especially with my work at the Doylestown Farmers Market. I need help now to make us all proud and call nationwide attention to our amazing, beautiful community,” she said.

The winners of both competitions will be announced on September 3.