The Arizona Restaurant Association has announced its own set of awards for the state’s food and beverage industry. The Foodist Awards will cover a wide range of categories, including Top Chef, Master Mixologist, Restaurant Concept, Emerging Restaurant, and Outstanding Food Truck.
The first-year finalists – in alphabetical order, categories not revealed – are Louis Basile (Wildflower Bread Company), Justin Beckett (Beckett’s Table), Kevin Binkley (Binkley’s), America Corrales-Brotin (America’s Taco Shop), Cullen Campbell (Crudo), Erin Defeo (Casino del Sol), Craig DeMarco (Postino Wine Café), El Charro, Loren Emerson (Emerson Fry Bread), Silvana Salcido Esparza (Barrio Cafe), Rita French (Province), Sam Fox (The Yard), Sharisse Johnson (Macayo’s Mexican Restaurants), Razz Kamnitzer (Razz’s), Brian Malarkey (Searsucker Scottsdale), Brad and Kat Moore (Short Leash Hot Dogs), Richie Moe (Citizen Public House), Oregano’s, Jeremy Pacheco (Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn), Pablo Perez (Nogales Hot Dogs), Playground, Jeff Smestad (Elote Café), Clint Spotleson (Mabel’s on Main), and St. Francis.
Finalists will be recognized and winners announced April 25 during a ceremony and dinner at the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix. (Pictured above: Oregano’s)
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