Kashia Diaz in a contributed photo.
VALLEY – A chef whose mission in life is to feed those in underserved areas is vying to become celebrity chef Carla Hall’s next ‘Favorite Chef.’
Kashia Diaz, 52, a former Seymour resident, and manager of Bridgeport Rescue Mission, is a quarterfinalist in Hall’s ‘Favorite Chef’ competition, an online event where people can cast ballots for their favorite chef.
The contest features chefs from across the globe, competing for a grand prize of $25,000, an appearance on the cover of Taste of Home magazine, and opportunity to cook with Hall, a Food Network regular, known for her work on “The Chew” and “Top Chef.”
Public voting is open through July 11, and the top-ranking quarterfinalists will advance to the next stage of the competition.
You can cast a daily ballot for Diaz by visiting this link.
If she wins, Diaz will use the money to restart and expand her nonprofit, My City Kitchen, a community-focused program aimed at helping young people through culinary education and life skills. The business was based in Meriden and the café associated with it, which was in Shelton, closed during the pandemic.
Winning the competition and getting back to serving young people through her nonprofit would mean everything to Diaz, who is mom to two grown sons.
“If I can win this, I can restart and expand My City Kitchen, and that would make me so happy,” Diaz said. “This would be life changing for me and it would give me a broader audience to tell my story and promote how I can empower people through food education. This program really had an impact on the community, and it changed lives.”
Through her nonprofit, Diaz worked with kids ages 6 – 17 from across Connecticut, many often referred to her via the state’s juvenile detention department. She also worked with UCONN in developing healthier menu options for students, does cooking demonstrations at local farmers’ markets and was named a top chef honoree in 2016 in Aetna’s Flavors of the Community, which honors Black Americans transforming lives through food.
“I teach kids how to be independent in the kitchen, how to eat healthy and how to take care of themselves, it’s a labor of love,” Diaz. “And this is what I’m fighting for.”
Diaz, who resided in Seymour from 2017 to 2023 and now resides in Waterbury, grew up in Trinidad and Tobago. She was always surrounded by fresh fish, fruit and a big family that loved to cook.
“We grew our own food,” Diaz said. “One of my grandfathers was a farmer, the other was a fisherman. I grew up watching my dad, who was an exceptional baker, make bread, pastries and cakes, and my mom was a great cook, too. And if you didn’t have something, or if your neighbors didn’t have something, we shared with each other. Nobody goes without food.”
Diaz moved to the U.S. when she was 22. She studied and trained in Italy to become a chef, and after graduating from Lincoln Culinary Institute and Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners in Costigliole d’Asti, Italy, Diaz opened My City Kitchen in 2009.
Diaz is also owner of KD Gastronomy Consulting LLC, which supports food pantries and food hubs by creating healthy meals to feed underserved populations. She also currently does adult culinary job training in Meriden at the United Way Women and Families Center.
In addition, she’s been working as the manager for Bridgeport Rescue Mission for the last few years, where she helps feed the public daily meals.
Lisa Chester, communications director for Bridgeport Rescue Mission, works with Diaz and knows just how important winning the favorite chef contest would mean to her.
“Winning Carla Hall’s Favorite Chef contest would be a fitting tribute to Chef Kashia’s hard work, talent and dedication,” Chester said. “It would recognize not only her exceptional culinary skills but also her profound impact on our community. Chef Kashia’s impact extends far beyond the kitchen. She mentors aspiring chefs, volunteers her time for community events and actively participates in initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity. Her leadership and commitment to social causes make her a beacon of hope and a role model for others.”
Just over the 4th of July holiday, Diaz and her family were enjoying a cookout in Prospect Park in New York when a man, who Diaz learned hadn’t eaten in a couple days, approached the group.
“When I see people who don’t have anything to eat, it really bothers me, so I gave him a plate of food,” Diaz said.
Not only did Diaz feed the hungry stranger a plate piled high with curry chicken, fried rice and potatoes with chickpeas, she made plates for the man’s friends, who only had chips and water.
“This is my passion; to share with others and feed the community,” Diaz said.
