South Carolina contestant to compete on season 3 of national PBS show, “The Great American Recipe”

SCETV to celebrate premiere of the new season with event on June 6

PBS announced the eight home cooks from across America who will showcase their culinary talents in season 3 of The Great American Recipe, the upbeat cooking competition that celebrates the multiculturalism that makes American food so vibrant and delicious. Among the eight talented home cooks is Tim Harris from Fort Mill. To celebrate the premiere of the national PBS show and to cheer on South Carolina’s contestant, South Carolina ETV (SCETV) and the ETV Endowment of South Carolina are hosting a sneak peek screening of the first episode with Harris at ETV Carolinas in Rock Hill on June 6 at 6 p.m.

With a wide-ranging variety of cooking styles influenced by their varied backgrounds — from Alaskan to African, Chinese to Sicilian, Southern, German, Mexican and more, season 3 contestants represent the unique diversity of American home cooking.

Tim Harris grew up living all over the world as a “military brat” until his father retired from a 27-year career in the US Air Force, and the family settled back in the Carolinas when Tim was 12. Influenced by his Dutch mother, as well as his paternal Southern Grandmama’s cooking, Tim developed an appreciation and a taste for many different types of cuisines at an early age. Now married with two children and a career in insurance, Tim uses his cooking to bring people together and spread community and positivity through his dishes. Creative and willing to try anything in the kitchen, he loves to grill, smoke meat and feature fresh seafood from the Carolinas’ coastal waters along with bold flavors.

Viewers can meet Harris and learn more about the upcoming season at a celebratory event scheduled for June 6 at ETV Carolinas. Attendees will even get the chance to taste one of Harris’ culinary creations. More information and registration can be found online.

In addition to Fort Mill’s Harris, Ingrid Portillo is from Charlotte, North Carolina. Portillo was born in El Salvador in the mid-1980s. Her father was a farmer and rancher whose dream was for his children to continue that tradition, but Ingrid and her family were forced to flee to the United States to escape the Salvadoran Civil War. Portillo considers herself a lifelong PBS fan, having learned English and many cooking skills by watching PBS programs. After meeting her husband and having two kids, they relocated to North Carolina, outside of Charlotte. Ingrid credits her grandmother as her cooking inspiration, and she keeps her memory and legacy alive through her own cooking. It is incredibly important for Ingrid that her children embrace their Salvadoran roots and honor the memory of their ancestors, especially those who didn’t survive the war.

This isn’t the first time someone from South Carolina has gotten to show off their Southern culinary skills on The Great American Recipe. Bambi Daniels competed in the first season in 2022.

Hosted by Alejandra Ramos, season 3 of The Great American Recipe features two new judges and a new location. Tim Hollingsworth, award-winning chef and Los Angeles restauranteur, and Francis Lam, host of public radio’s “The Splendid Table,” join returning host Alejandra Ramos and judge Tiffany Derry in Nashville, Tennessee. Each week, after two challenges, the judges will determine which home cook has the winning dish and, in the final week, the top three will compete for a chance to win this year’s competition.

Season 3 of The Great American Recipe was filmed at Green Door Gourmet, a 350-acre farm, on-farm market, and agritourism destination in Nashville, Tennessee. The Great American Recipe is co-produced for PBS by VPM and Objective Media Group America.

The eight-episode series premieres Mondays, June 17 through August 12, 2024, from 9-10 p.m. on ETV-HD and is available to steam online at scetv.org, the PBS App or through SCETV Passport, an ETV Endowment member benefit.

“We are incredibly proud to see Tim Harris represent South Carolina in season 3 of The Great American Recipe. Tim’s diverse culinary background and his passion for bringing people together through food truly embodies the spirit of this competition. We can’t wait for viewers to experience the vibrant flavors and stories that make this season so special.” –SCETV TV Programming & Broadcast Traffic Director Cheryl Nunnley

“I am beyond excited to be part of season 3 of The Great American Recipe and to represent South Carolina. Cooking has always been a way for me to connect with my heritage and bring joy to others. I can’t wait to share my love for Southern cuisine and the diverse flavors that have shaped my culinary journey. Being able to celebrate this experience with my local community at the sneak peek screening is truly special, and I’m excited to introduce everyone to my Lowcountry-inspired style of cooking, featuring unique southern twists on timeless classics.” – The Great American Recipe season 3 Contestant Tim Harris

Fast Facts

PBS announced the eight home cooks from across America who will showcase their culinary talents in season 3 of The Great American Recipe including Tim Harris from Fort Mill, SC,
SCETV and the ETV Endowment of South Carolina are hosting a sneak peek screening of the first episode with Harris at ETV Carolinas in Rock Hill on June 6 at 6 p.m. Attendees will even get the chance to taste one of Harris’ culinary creations. More information and registration can be found online.
The eight-episode series premieres Mondays, June 17 through August 12, 2024, from 9-10 p.m. on ETV-HD and is available to steam online at scetv.org, the PBS App or through SCETV Passport, an ETV Endowment member benefit.

About South Carolina ETV and Public Radio

South Carolina ETV and Public Radio (SCETV) is the state’s public educational broadcasting network. SCETV amplifies South Carolina voices, provides educational experiences and strengthens communities, while working toward creating a stronger, more connected and informed South Carolina. In addition to airing local programs, such as Carolina Classrooms, Making It Grow, and This Week in South Carolina, SCETV also presents multiple programs to regional and national audiences, including By The River, After Action, Reconnecting Roots, Reel South, Somewhere South, Yoga in Practice, Downing of a Flag and How She Rolls. In addition, SC Public Radio produces the national radio production, Chamber Music from Spoleto Festival USA.

About VPM

As Virginia’s home for public media, VPM connects nearly 2 million people across Central Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley to insightful programming in arts and culture, history, science, news, and education. VPM operates public television stations VPM PBS, VPM Plus, VPM PBS KIDS, lifestyle channel VPM Create and international program channel VPM WORLD, as well as Richmond NPR station VPM News (88.9 FM) and VPM Music (107.3 FM, 93.1 FM and 88.9-HD2). In the Northern Neck (89.1 FM) and Southside Virginia (90.1 FM), listeners receive a combination of news and music. Audiences can access VPM online at VPM.org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

About OBJECTIVE MEDIA GROUP AMERICA

Objective Media Group America is the U.S. arm of Objective Media Group. An LA-based All3Media America company, OMG America is led by President Jilly Pearce in creating and producing original entertainment and reality formats, including “Elf on the Shelf: Sweet Showdown (The Food Network) “Lingo” (returning for season 2 on CBS), “The Cube” (TBS), “12 Dates of Christmas” (HBO Max), “Worst Cooks in America” (The Food Network) and more. Objective Media Group, an All3Media company, is headquartered in London and headed up by CEO Layla Smith. 

About PBS

PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 42 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 15 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, and 56 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on X (formerly Twitter).