06/22/2026
My winning episode aired last night on Food Network , and I'm still on cloud nine! π₯Ήβ€οΈ
I got to cook a traditional South Indian dish β ven pongal β in front of and . The challenge was "Sunday breakfast," and I knew instantly what to make β Amma used to cook this every weekend, it's my ultimate comfort food. Made it in the Instant Pot, served it on banana leaf, and stayed true to how it's made back home.
7 of us cooked. Only 1 was safe. When called my number and said I won... my mind went blank. Pure raw emotion after that.
Winning on a platform like Food Network, hearing Alex and Nick praise a humble South Indian breakfast dish, getting to showcase Amma and Appa's food on national TV, Terry's constant encouragement, and 99 friends cheering for me β it felt surreal. It still does.
Huge thank you to Terry, Alex, Nick, and the entire family for this opportunity and for celebrating this dish the way you did. π
And to everyone who's been with me through this β you can finally see what I experienced back in LA in January. This one's for Amma and Appa. β€οΈ