Chef Eleni Karamitsos is currently competing in Colossal’s Favorite Chef, a national competition supporting the James Beard Foundation. As a passionate, self-taught home chef with over 27 years as a restaurateur in Southwest Florida and lifelong experience in the culinary world, she uses food as a bridge to memory, culture, and community.
She’s proud to represent the Jacksonville community, bringing flavors and family stories from her Greek, Spanish, and Italian roots to a broader stage.
If selected as the Favorite Chef, she will be featured in Taste of Home Magazine and awarded a $25,000 prize, which she plans to invest in launching her new book—“CHECKPOINTS”, a simple, essential guide to food health and safety basics for schools, homes, churches, and events—plus a grassroots program that teaches cultural cooking, wellness, and safety habits to underserved youth and families.
This story is about more than food—it’s about empowerment, community engagement, and honoring the heritage of all who feed others, especially women in chef roles and hospitality.
Voting for this quarterfinal round ends May 22nd. www.favchef.com/2025/chef-eleni
