Arizona Official State Travel Guide - Arizona 2024-25
James Beard Foundation Picks
2024-09-05 08:34:53
Culinary creativity comes naturally to Arizona’s chefs, bakers and foodmakers. Take a trip to some of the state’s award-winning spots to taste your way through the top talent.
Fresh off a win for the 2024 James Beard Foundation Best Chef – Southwest Award, chef Rene Andrade has already garnered local acclaim in Phoenix, where he brings big flavors to the wood-fired, Sonoran-style Mexican dishes at Bacanora. His most recent venture, a flamingo-pink taco shop called Huarachis Taqueria, features a selection of loaded-up tacos and generous platters of grilled meats and fish, accompanied by all manner of fresh toppings and salsas.
Don Guerra puts the art in artisan baking in Tucson. At the award-winning Barrio Bread, sample a variety of “ARTisan” breads, from sweet cinnamon raisin to nutty desert durum to the kick of jalapeño-cheddar.
East meets the Southwest in Hai Noon, a ‘60s-era-style Japanese-fusion restaurant tucked inside a retro-style motor lodge in Scottsdale. Helmed by James Beard Award-winner Nobuo Fukuda, look forward to innovative flavor combinations, such as shishito peppers with queso fresco, grapefruit avocado hamachi, and panko-encrusted tofu elevated with green papaya curry dressing.
At Scottsdale’s FnB, you’ll be treated to seasonal menus that pop with bold flavors and locally sourced ingredients. Pair recipes from chef Charleen Badman, 2019’s James Beard Award winner for Best Chef of the Southwest, with a glass from FnB’s award-winning wine program.
Tucson: UNESCO CITY OF GASTRONOMY
DID YOU KNOW? Tucson is one of only two designated UNESCO Cities of Gastronomy in the nation. For 4,000 years, desert flavors and ingredients are combined with American Indian and Mexican recipes and traditions to create a unique culinary heritage. Discover how Tucson’s culinary scene honors that legacy today.
JAMES BEARD FOUNDATION AMERICA’S CLASSICS
Get a taste of America’s Classics: longstanding mainstays that reflect the community’s culinary character.
Red chili beef, tamales, frybread and chumuth flour tortillas are just a sampling of menu items at The Fry Bread House. Dig into traditional recipes of the Tohono O’odham Nation at this Phoenix favorite.
Experience an evening at El Chorro Lodge in Paradise Valley. The lodge’s mountain locale and intimate décor create the perfect setting for a romantic evening or celebration. Expect classic plates like trout amandine, beef stroganoff, pan-seared salmon and prime steaks.
In Tucson, El Güero Canelo offers an array of Sonoran fare, from carne asada tacos and caramelos to tortas and burros. For a real treat, order the Sonoran-style hot dog: a bacon-wrapped frank with tomatoes, onions, beans, mustard, mayo, ketchup and jalapeño sauce.
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