Christina McAlvey (Portland, OR) calls her food “Fili-fusion,” a mash-up of Filipino flavors blended with her favorite cuisines. She was born in Michigan shortly after her parents emigrated to the United States from the Philippines in the late 1970s. From an early age, she helped her parents in the kitchen, making Filipino dishes and taking home-cooked meals to school for lunch. Christina’s signature dish is Chicken Adobo which she learned to make from her dad as a child.
Now living in Portland, Christina finds that the area’s outdoor lifestyle encourages her to cook healthy, environmentally sustainable meals using locally sourced organic and gluten-free ingredients. As a small business banker with a busy professional and personal life, she doesn’t always have time to tackle complicated recipes and has learned to make simple yet delicious dishes using whatever she has on hand. With a lifelong interest in fitness, she loves to create healthier versions of her family’s favorite Filipino recipes.
Watch a Sneak Peek
Meet the Contestants
Bambi
Brian
Dan
Foo
Irma
Nikki
Robin
Silvia
TonyMeet the Host and Judges
Alejandra Ramos
Alejandra Ramos is the host of The Great American Recipe. She is a television host, TODAY Show food & lifestyle contributor, trained chef, and food writer known for creative recipes and entertaining ideas that are playful, improvisational, and always just a little bit extra. READ MORE
Tiffany Derry
Tiffany Derry is a judge on The Great American Recipe. The Texas native is the founder of Tiffany Derry Concepts and co-founder of T2D Concepts, the Texas-based purpose-driven hospitality group behind Roots Chicken Shak, Roots Southern Table and ‘Shef Tiffany spice and apparel line. READ MORE
Leah Cohen
Leah Cohen is a judge on The Great American Recipe. Leah is the chef and owner of acclaimed New York City restaurant Pig & Khao on the Lower East Side. A 2013 StarChefs Rising Stars Award recipient, Leah’s Filipino upbringing and annual expeditions to the region are reflected in her cooking philosophy, which stays true to authentic Southeast Asian flavors while incorporating classical western techniques. READ MORE
Graham Elliot
Graham Elliot is a judge on The Great American Recipe. He is a self-described “navy brat,” has traveled the world and all 50 states, sparking an intense interest in food which led him to attend Johnson & Wales University. READ MORE