Tara O’Donnell is a high-school junior from Frisco, Texas. She lives at home with her parents and her two dogs, JT and Helga. Tara’s love for cuisine began at an early age, mixing spices for her mom, and making stews alongside her dad. Tara started her solo career making simple cakes and pasta dishes, then expanded to creating multi-course meals.
Today, Tara regularly caters large parties, and loves to cook for her friends and family. In 2016, Tara was a winner of Chopped Junior on the Food Network. She wowed the judges with her boar strip steak arepa tacos and cheesy bacon beans, her seared branzino with escarole pesto, and her shortbread cookies, berry compote and avocado ice cream. If you would like to watch the episode, check out our PRESS page.
Since Chopped Junior, Tara has created her very own catering company, Tara’s Tasty Table. She caters three-course dinner parties and large events such as birthday parties, book signings, and grand openings. Everything is 100% home-made and individual. If you would like to host a party catered by Tara’s Tasty Table, see our CATERING page for menus and information.
Tara is also a resident contributor to her neighborhood magazine, where she writes a regular column of her very own recipes. Since her first feature in September 2014, Tara has published an array of recipes for home cooks of all ages.
In 2017, Tara cooked and served 500 portions of her signature mushroom risotto to students at UTD, the University of Texas at Dallas. And during UTD's Comet Fest event in 2018, Tara competed in a live cooking contest against inspiring chef and mentor, Jennifer Bajsel. Find more information about this event on our PRESS page.
In 2017, Tara featured on NBC’s Noon Show, talking about her love for food and her wonderful experience on Chopped Junior. Find the link to watch this segment on our PRESS page.
Tara routinely donates her dinner parties for auction, generating thousands of dollars for very worthy causes such as the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Frisco Family Services, and others.
Tara has also been a guest judge in several cooking competitions: the Texas Young Chefs Competition, the Newman Village Kids Bake-Off, and the Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen Kids-Fit Menu Challenge. Find more information about the Kids Fit Menu Challenge on our PRESS page.
Tara has been fortunate to work alongside some well-known chefs in the Dallas area: Chef Dean Fearing of Fearing’s Restaurant at the Ritz Carlton; Chef Jennifer Bajsel of Getting Saucy; Chef Gene Christiano, head chef at UTD and president of the Dallas Chefs' Association; and the wonderful team at The Grape Restaurant.
Tara’s approach to food is to take fresh ingredients and treat them simply and beautifully. She loves to cook all cuisines, but particularly enjoys creating French, Asian and Mediterranean dishes, as those are her favorite to eat. Her favorite dish to make is featured on the dinner party catering menu: seared scallops with beetroot puree and popped cherry tomatoes.
Tara plans to pursue a career in the culinary industry, as this is her true passion. She is currently reviewing colleges' culinary art courses and hospitality degrees. Then, a promising future of cooking, creating, and possibilities.
Tara’s Tips
Taste everything, and don’t be afraid to go big with flavors and seasonings.
Keep your station well-organized. It will help you to be more in control and produce tastier food.
Always keep a positive outlook.
Be bold, and step out of your comfort zone.
Remain calm, and have fun.
