Judges Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry and Graham Elliot Lead a Cross-Country Search for Treasured Recipes from the Nation’s Ten Most Talented Amateur Cooks
Arlington, VA – May 16, 2022 – Arriving this June on the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel is “The Great American Recipe,” the all new inspiring eight-part cooking competition that celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food unique and iconic. Hosted by “TODAY” Food & Style Contributor Alejandra Ramos, the series gives ten talented home cooks from different regions of the country the opportunity to showcase their beloved signature dishes and compete to win the national search for “The Great American Recipe.” Judges Leah Cohen, Tiffany Derry and Graham Elliot bring their professional insights and deep culinary knowledge to encourage and support the contestants along the way.
Left to Right: Tiffany Derry, Alejandra Ramos, Graham Elliot and Leah Cohen
Credit: PBS/VPM
The series blends food, family and fun, highlighting the amazing variety of tastes and traditions found across the U.S., while capturing the roots of America’s diverse cuisine. From family favorites passed down through generations, to internationally influenced recipes that are quickly becoming mainstays of American cuisine, the series mixes camaraderie with competition, revealing rich personal stories and the inspiration behind the contestant’s favorite recipes. The program culminates in a finale that features the finalists preparing an entire meal for the judges to make their ultimate decision. One of the winner’s dishes will grace the cover of The Great American Recipe Cookbook, which will also feature recipes from all of the contestants and the show’s host and judges.
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About the Contestants
IRMA CADIZ (New York, NY) grew up eating Dominican and Puerto Rican food and loves to prepare her mother’s recipes as a tribute to her family’s Caribbean heritage. Her signature dish is a mofongo con camarones, a popular Caribbean comfort food made from mashed plantains and shrimp.
BAMBI DANIELS (Winston-Salem, NC) describes her cooking as Southern “Heart & Soul” food – everything has a hint of her South Carolina roots and lots of love. Her signature dish has been passed down from generation to generation: smoked mac and cheese with bacon.
ROBIN DAUMIT (Annapolis, MD) developed a cooking style that combines Mediterranean and Middle Eastern influences from her mother’s Syrian heritage and the regional cuisine of her home state of Maryland. Robin’s signature dish is salmon in a fig leaf because fig trees represent prosperity, health and well-being.
BRIAN LEIGH (Bowling Green, KY) prides himself on his rustic home cooking infused with his Hungarian and German heritage. His signature dish is a rib eye with blue cheese and BBQ brussels sprouts.
SILVIA MARTINEZ (San Luis Obispo, CA) grew up in Guanajuato in central Mexico cooking authentic dishes she learned from her grandmother, aunts and mother. One of her signature dishes is Sopa Tarasca, a pinto bean-based soup with tomatoes and chile ancho topped with crispy tortilla strips, avocado and queso fresco.
CHRISTINA MCALVEY (Portland, OR) calls her food “Fili-fusion,” a mash-up of Filipino flavors blended with her favorite cuisines. Christina’s signature dish is Chicken Adobo which she learned to make from her dad as a child.
FOO NGUYEN (Orange County, CA) loves to prepare his family’s favorite recipes and considers his Vietnamese heritage his greatest culinary influence. His signature dish is egg rolls stuffed with pork, crab and shrimp, a family tradition started by his mother.
DAN RINALDI (Providence, RI) was raised in a multi-generational Italian family and takes pride in sharing his family recipes and learned to cook in his grandmother’s kitchen. Dan’s signature dish is his grandmother’s meat sauce recipe – Sunday gravy with meatballs.
TONY SCHERBER (Minneapolis, MN) was born in South Korea and raised in Minneapolis. Tony’s signature dish – Korean Gochujang chicken tacos with kimchi – reflects his love of big, bold flavors. NIKKI TMAINO-ALLEMAND (Boise, Idaho) was raised in the Seattle area, but now lives in Boise with her husband and two sons. Nikki’s signature dish is baccala, a salted cod stew that kicks off the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes in Italy, a recipe brought over by her family when they emigrated to the US.
Other titles coming to the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel in June:
For the Love of Rutland – 6/3
Legal Lens – 6/5
Don Quixote in Newark – 6/8
Planet California – 6/22
Ken Burns Presents Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness: A Film by Erik Ewers and Christopher Loren Ewers – 6/27
Zoot Suit Riots (American Experience) – 6/29
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