Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame
Save the date for the 25th annual Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame on Monday, March 28th. Presented by Scottsdale League for the Arts, this year’s star-studded soiree is going to be the biggest and best year yet with five newly added award categories! Local TV news personality, Jamie Cerreta, will emcee the evening’s ceremony bringing an upbeat elegance to the festivities.
The Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame promises to be a fun, food-filled cocktail party and award ceremony celebrating the best and brightest in the Valley’s food and beverage industry. Tickets to the 25th annual Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame are $25 and include small bites and one cocktail. A cash bar will be available. The event will take place from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Livewire. Nominees for the 2016 Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame include:
Chef of the Year
Mel Mecinas, Talavera at the Four Seasons Troon North
Joshua Hebert, POSH “Improvisational Cuisine”
Bernie Kantak, Citizen Public House and The Gladly
Christopher Nicosia, Sassi
Best Upcoming Chef
Garrison Whiting, Counter Intuitive
Taylor Sorenson, Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge
Dushyant Singh, Artizen at The Camby
Sacha Levine, Ocotillo
Restaurateur of the Year
Cakewalk Management
Fork and Dagger Development
Osio Culinary Group
Jim Riley and Tucker Woodbury
Mixologist of the Year
Ross Simon, Bitter and Twisted Cocktail Parlour
Luke Detraz, Director of Mixology, Southern Wine and Spirits
Robert Porter, Jade Bar at the Sanctuary Resort on Camelback Mountain
Brandon Casey, The Ostrich
Brewer of the Year
Anthony Canecchia, SanTan Brewery
Adam Schmeichel, Fate Brewing Company
Eric Greene, Dragoon Brewery
Preston Thoeny, Wren House Brewing
Winemaker of the Year
John McLoughlin, Cellar 433
Kent Callaghan, Callaghan Vineyards
Eric Glomski, Page Springs Cellars
Karyl Wilhem, Wilhem Family Vineyards
Food Truck of the Year
Aioli Gourmet Burger
Short Leash Hot Dogs
The Grilled Cheese Truck Phoenix
Satay Hut
Food Writer of the Year
Lauren Saria, Phoenix New Times
Christina Barrueta, Write on Rubee
Diana Brandt, Arizona Foodie
Joanie Simon, JoanieSimon.com
Lifetime Achievement Award
Christopher Gross
For the next couple of weeks, the voting period will be open to a select group of chefs, mixologists, media, farmers, organization leaders and board members who will vote for this year’s inductees. The voting body includes the Scottsdale League for the Arts membership, the food and beverage community, the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau and all past recipients of the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame awards.
All winners will be announced live at the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame on Monday, March 28, 2016. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.scottsdalefest.org.
All net proceeds raised will support the non-profit Scottsdale League for the Arts in its effort to promote arts and arts education organizations in the Phoenix metropolitan area, via annual fundraisers such as the Scottsdale Culinary Festival and The Friends of James Beard Benefit Dinner. Since 2002, the League has contributed more than $4 million to numerous organizations such as Ballet Arizona, Childsplay and Free Arts of Arizona.
