PHOENIX, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Colossal, the leading nationally registered professional fundraiser for purpose-driven online competitions, has named Tucson’s Joseph Sotomayor the 2026 Favorite Chef®. After joining talented culinary creators from across the country in the annual competition, Sotomayor will receive $25,000, appear in Taste of Home magazine, and join celebrated chef Carla Hall for a cooking experience on Chewed Up.
Inspired by his family’s Southwest and Mexican catering business, Sotomayor has spent the past 13 years operating a popular food truck in Tucson, Arizona, where he brings bold, memorable flavors to neighborhood gathering places and the local VA hospital.
The 2026 Favorite Chef competition raised more than $1.6 million, bringing its total since 2023 to $14,606,950 in support of the James Beard Foundation® and its work to help independent restaurants thrive while advancing a more equitable and sustainable food system. Funds generated through the competitions are granted by Colossal’s grantmaking partner, DTCare.
“We are incredibly grateful to Colossal, DTCare, and everyone who took part in Favorite Chef,” said Erica Helms, Chief Growth Officer, James Beard Foundation. “This support is critical to our Good Food for Good® mission, helping us champion a thriving future for American food culture and independent restaurants nationwide. Congratulations to Joseph Sotomayor, and thank you to Colossal for a partnership that fuels our work all year long.”
Beyond its celebrated James Beard Awards®, the Foundation provides education, training, and resources that help chefs and restaurant operators strengthen their businesses and become leaders in their communities. Through the James Beard Foundation Institute, programs focus on business management, leadership development, and advocacy. Initiatives include Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership, which helps food and beverage business owners plan for growth, and Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change, which equips chefs to advocate for policies affecting their industry and the broader food system.
Carla Hall, known for her appearances on Top Chef and The Chew, returned as the competition’s ambassador. Hall has built a celebrated career around her joyful approach to cooking and her belief in food’s power to unite people.
This year’s competition also featured a Critic’s Pick honor presented by the James Beard Foundation. Chef Dhanapol was selected for his Thai Phla Beef on Crispy Rice Cracker, which blends charcoal-grilled beef with local herbs, Thai eggplant, roasted chili, crispy kaffir lime leaf, and other flavors inspired by his mother’s cooking. The dish will be featured at the Foundation’s 2026 annual gala.
Favorite Chef was sponsored by John Boos & Co., a trusted maker of cutting boards, butcher blocks, and professional work surfaces since 1887; Shun Cutlery, a premier brand of handcrafted Japanese kitchen knives; and King’s Hawaiian, the family-owned company known for its Hawaii-inspired breads and foods.
Since 2023, Favorite Chef has brought together professional chefs, home cooks, and culinary creators in a nationwide competition celebrating skill, creativity, and heart. Public voting determines who advances through each round, giving competitors an opportunity to build support and exposure for their culinary ambitions while contributing to a larger charitable mission.
To learn more about Favorite Chef, visit favchef.com. Additional information about the competition’s history and charitable impact is available at colossal.org/favoritechef.
About Colossal
Colossal is a professional fundraiser redefining modern philanthropy through purpose-driven online competitions that raise money for charity. With a mission to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need, Colossal empowers individuals to pursue their passions, rally their communities, and compete for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities—all while driving meaningful charitable impact where giving wins. Colossal competitions, including Baby of the Year, The People’s Artist, and America’s Favorite Pet, serve as fundraising campaigns for DTCare and Action Initiative Team (AIT), United States 501(c)(3) public charity organizations, which grant donation funds to specified charities at the completion of the competitions.
About the James Beard Foundation
The James Beard Foundation® (JBF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to leading chefs and the broader culinary industry toward a new standard of excellence. Our guiding principle, Good Food for Good®, informs our vision of a vibrant, equitable, and sustainable independent restaurant industry that stands as a cornerstone of American culture, community, and economy, and drives toward a better food system. For 40 years, JBF has been instrumental in recognizing, amplifying, educating, and training the individuals who shape American food culture. Today, our mission comes to life through the prestigious James Beard Awards, industry and community-focused programming, advocacy and policy initiatives, and culinary events and partnerships nationwide—including at Platform by JBF® and the James Beard House in New York City. Learn more at jamesbeard.org, sign up for our emails, and follow @beardfoundation on social media.
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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eddd8d82-2f61-4be2-891d-e83c9f86e802
