James Beard-nominated Valentine chef Donald Hawk to retire June 1

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👨‍🍳 Valentine chef Donald Hawk, a 2025 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef Southwest, is retiring from the restaurant industry after 23 years.

‘‘It’s with an overwhelming and heavy heart that we share that our executive chef, Donald Hawk, is retiring from the industry and heading to Las Vegas to join his partner in the world of wildlife biology,’’ the Phoenix restaurant announced on social media.

‘‘Over the past 4.5 years, Donald has been one of the biggest creative forces behind Valentine, and a pivotal part of where we started, and where we’ve ended up.

‘‘These next two weeks are his last with us, and we’d love for our regulars, friends, and extended family to come by, share a meal or a memory, and help us send him off.’’

Hawk will be working mornings and afternoons through Sunday this week and evenings his final week leading up to his last day on June 1.

Eddie’s Philly in Chandler

>> The former Fresh Croissants space on the northwest corner of Dobson and Elliot in Chandler now is home to Eddie’s Philly, a sandwich shop specializing in cheesesteaks and hoagies. The menu also offers other sandwiches, including Italian beef (pictured), corned beef, pastrami, meatball, and more. Open 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday.

Joe’s Italian Restaurant in Mesa

>> Florentine pizzas, baked ziti, and chicken parmesan subs are the menu highlights at Joe’s Italian Restaurant, which has opened in the former Tao Yuan Chinese space on the southeast corner of Greenfield and Main in east Mesa. Open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.

What’s replacing Full Speed Chicken & Ribs?

🥩 A popular Scottsdale restaurant is moving into the downtown Phoenix space formerly home to Full Speed Chicken & Ribs, a short-lived fast-casual sibling of Little Miss BBQ. MXSW Insiders can read more here.

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