MANSFIELD — Mark Kime said his favorite part of cooking is being creative.
“I really enjoy winging it and seeing what I can come up with,” he said. “It’s really fun to make something delicious and make it look good, too.”
Kime is currently gathering votes to advance in a “Favorite Chef” competition for $25,000, a feature in “Taste of Home” magazine and a cooking experience with celebrity chef Carla Hall.
Kime is from Shelby and now lives in Mansfield with his family. He has worked as a traveling chef around the Midwest, including at hospitals, schools and restaurants.
He works for CCL Hospitality Group and is currently based in Norwalk.
“It was actually a former student of mine from a private high school that I worked at who suggested I enter the Favorite Chef competition,” Kime said.
“I don’t know who all has voted for me, but it seems like a lot of former students are, which I really appreciate. I’m honored they even remember me.”
Shelby Farmers Market manager Aileen Stewart also entered the Favorite Chef competition and has advanced to the top five of her voting group. Only one free vote per day is allowed per user even though Stewart and Kime are in different voting groups.
The competition is run by fundraising platform Colossal with proceeds going toward the James Beard Foundation to create an equitable and sustainable future in the restaurant industry.
According to the foundation’s website, its mission is “to honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse and sustainable for everyone.”
Final winners to be announced in August
There are nine voting rounds in the Favorite Chef competition, including the four rounds Kime and Stewart have made it through.
The competition was randomly split into more than 1,500 different voting groups. Kime has advanced to the top 5 of his group, with the voting round for a winner of each group ending at 10 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on June 27.
The top vote-winner in each group will advance to quarterfinals. Runner-ups in group finals will also have a chance to advance in a “wildcard” round. Semifinal and final rounds are scheduled for July.
Quarterfinalists are also able to submit a “plating presentation” photo for Carla Hall to select as the “Carla’s Pick” prize-winner. Hall’s pick and the people’s choice grand prize winner will be announced in early August.
Kime said reactions from his friends and family when he cooks for them makes his day.
“I like to make food that is the best part of their day,” he said. “They are worth it.”
Voters can submit one free vote each 24 hours with a connected Facebook account or have the option for additional votes by donating to the James Beard Foundation.
Voters can visit favchef.com/2024/mark-kime to vote for Kime.