From Alaska to Massachusetts, Meet the Home Cooks Competing in Season 3 of “The Great American Recipe”

Today, PBS announced the eight home cooks from across America who will showcase their culinary talents in Season 3 of THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE, the upbeat cooking competition that celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food so vibrant and delicious. With a wide-ranging variety of cooking styles influenced by their varied backgrounds – from Alaskan to African, Chinese to Sicilian, Southern, German, Mexican, and more, Season 3’s contestants represent the unique diversity of American home cooking.

Hosted by Alejandra Ramos, Season 3 of THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE features two new judges and a new location. Tim Hollingsworth, award-winning chef and Los Angeles restaurateur, and Francis Lam, host of public radio’s “The Splendid Table,” join returning host Alejandra Ramos and judge Tiffany Derry in Nashville, Tennessee. Each week, after two challenges, the judges will determine which home cook has the winning dish and, in the final week, the top three will compete for a chance to win this year’s competition. The eight-episode series premieres Mondays, June 17 through August 12, 2024, 9:00-10:00PM ET (check local listings) on PBS, PBS.org and the PBS App.

Meet the Contestants

Mae Chandran (Malibu, California) was born in Guangzhou (Canton) in Southern China. At the age of three, she and her mother left China for Hong Kong. When she was eight, Mae left Hong Kong for Fall River, Massachusetts, to join her family, who lived above the Chinese-American restaurant they operated. Although Mae was immersed in the world of cooking (specifically Cantonese cuisine) from a young age, it wasn’t until she met and married her Sri Lankan husband that she began exploring the use of more spices and more “heat” in her recipes. Now with two grown children, Mae and her husband are enjoying retirement while she keeps busy working on their garden, which has been featured in The Malibu Times, making her international award-winning marmalade, and working on her memoirs. Mae’s signature dish is her Cantonese BBQ Chicken made with chicken thighs, Chinese brown bean sauce, hoisin sauce, and sriracha sauce.

Marcella DiChiara (Franklin, Massachusetts) is a first-generation American whose passion for her Sicilian roots comes through in every dish she prepares. Her mother came to the United States with her family at age ten, and her dad immigrated to the United States in his late twenties. Growing up in Connecticut, Marcella spent every summer with her family, including her three siblings, back in Sicily. These experiences informed how she viewed cooking and the importance of family and community gathering around the table. Marcella works as an E-Commerce executive but never misses an opportunity to get in the kitchen and prepare a meal for her husband and two children. She prides herself on cooking traditional Sicilian dishes based on her mother’s recipes while using fresh, Mediterranean-inspired local produce. Marcella’s signature dish is Arancini al Ragu (Risotto Balls with Meat Sauce).

Tim Harris (Fort Mill, South Carolina) grew up living all over the world as a “military brat” until his father retired from a 27-year career in the US Air Force, and the family settled back in the Carolinas when Tim was 12. Influenced by his Dutch mother, as well as his paternal Southern Grandmama’s cooking, Tim developed an appreciation and a taste for many different types of cuisines at an early age. Now married with two children and a career in insurance, Tim uses his cooking to bring people together and spread community and positivity through his dishes. Creative and willing to try anything in the kitchen, he loves to grill, smoke meat, and feature fresh seafood from the Carolinas’ coastal waters along with bold flavors. Tim’s signature dish is his Lowcountry-Style Shrimp and Cheesy Grits.

Doug Heilman (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a training consultant who grew up on a farm in western Pennsylvania. With German roots from both of his grandfathers, Doug fondly remembers his maternal grandmother cooking what she referred to as “peasant food,” taking their traditional German recipes and making them with the produce and other ingredients they farmed. In his cooking, Doug draws inspiration from his German heritage (often utilizing his family’s handwritten recipe cards), the thriving and eclectic Pittsburgh food scene, and his husband’s Italian roots. He’s a frequent guest on local news, where he does monthly cooking segments and loves to host delectable dinner parties with his husband for friends and family. Doug’s signature recipe is Pickle-Brined Chicken Schnitzel.

Jon Hinojosa (San Antonio, Texas) was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, to proud Mexican parents. Tragically, both of Jon’s parents passed away when he was young, so learning to cook began out of necessity. It quickly blossomed into a passion as he worked in local restaurants – starting as a dishwasher and eventually serving as manager. Now with a family of his own and a proud dad of three adult daughters, he feels it’s more important than ever to celebrate their roots and fully embrace what it means to be Mexican-American. He extended his nurturing role to the work he did as Founding Director of a San Antonio-based youth organization that advocates for marginalized communities through a series of arts and culture programs. As he looks forward to his next adventures, his focus and work will always center on the arts, culture, and community. Jon’s signature dish is Green Chicken Enchiladas served with Spanish Rice.

Adjo Honsou (St. Louis, Missouri), originally from Togo, West Africa, combines her heritage with her passion for food. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 14 and, introduced to the art of cooking traditional West African dishes by her grandmother, Adjo’s culinary skills flourished. However, sourcing authentic African ingredients in Missouri proved to be a formidable task. Undeterred, she embarked on a journey of exploration and experimentation, tirelessly researching and discovering local substitutes to recreate the flavors of her homeland. Today, Adjo proudly shares her love for West African cuisine with the St. Louis community and beyond. A scientist and single mother of two, she balances her professional responsibilities and familial duties while nurturing her entrepreneurial spirit. Two years ago, she started her food truck showcasing Togolese specialties at local events and festivals. Among her signature dishes is Oxtail Palm Nut Stew, a tantalizing fusion of oxtail, aromatic curry sauce, palm nut puree, and fiery habanero peppers.

Ingrid Portillo (Charlotte, North Carolina) was born in El Salvador in the mid-1980s. Her father was a farmer and rancher whose dream was for his children to continue that tradition, but Ingrid and her family were forced to flee to the United States to escape the Salvadoran Civil War. Ingrid credits her grandmother as her cooking inspiration, and she keeps her memory and legacy alive through her own cooking. Ingrid considers herself a lifelong PBS fan, having learned English and many cooking skills by watching PBS programs. After meeting her husband and having two kids, they relocated to North Carolina, outside of Charlotte. It is incredibly important for Ingrid that her children embrace their Salvadoran roots and honor the memory of their ancestors, especially those who didn’t survive the war. Ingrid’s signature dish is Pupusas with Curtido and Salsa Maíz – corn tortillas stuffed with braised meat and served with pickled cabbage and salsa.

Kim Sherry (Anchorage, Alaska) is an artist who grew up in the small town of King Salmon as a fourth-generation Alaskan. Coming from a family of subsistence hunters and fishers, Kim is an avid gardener who has always had an appreciation for the outdoors and a reverence for the wildlife that sustained their community. Kim has two teen daughters and credits her husband, Bruce, for expanding her culinary repertoire and introducing her to the global flavors that influence much of her cooking. While comfort food is her go-to, Kim is also a skilled baker and frequently uses a sourdough starter that’s been in her family for more than one hundred years! Kim’s signature dish is a Salmon Banh Mi.

Season 3 of THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE was filmed at GREEN DOOR GOURMET, a 350-acre farm, on-farm market, and agritourism destination in Nashville, Tennessee. THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE is co-produced for PBS by VPM and Objective Media Group America. Steve Humble is the Executive in Charge for VPM. Zara Frankel is the Executive in Charge for PBS. At Objective Media Group America, an All3Media company, Alyssa Hastrich is Showrunner, Layla Smith and Jilly Pearce are Executive Producers and Erin Flynn is Senior Vice President of Current Series.