Brevard and Palm Bay native Chris Johnson, the only contestant from our area, is vying for the title of “Favorite Chef” in a competition presented by Carla Hall. Chris, inspired by family traditions, showcases his culinary talent with a signature steak dish featuring mushrooms, peppers, caramelized onions, broccoli, and a loaded baked potato.

Who or what inspires you to cook?
My inspiration to cook stems back to when I was a child, continuously watching my aunt Evelyn and my cousin Phyllis who were always in the kitchen. I’d watch them create meals and never really look at a recipe because it seemed they knew the ingredients, and the right amount for everything. To witness that was truly amazing to me, especially when you’re young. I told myself, “I wanna to learn how to do that!” They taught me the basics and I just took off from there… I do this for the