Foodist Awards

The quest to find Arizona’s best culinary gurus is underway.
The culinary standard-bearers that embody the pursuit and the achievement of excellence in Arizona’s food scene is underway. The Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) is proud to announce Arizona’s newest industry accolade, the Foodist Awards. Finalists and winners will be recognized Thursday, April 25, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m., during a celebratory ceremony and exquisite dinner at the Ritz Carlton in downtown Phoenix.
The official awards of the ARA, the Foodist Awards showcase the restaurants, companies and talented people that are the very best in the industry. They will be recognized for their superior business acumen, demonstrated leadership and community contributions that help shape the culinary landscape of Arizona.
Finalists in each category are recognized for their passion, leadership and contributions to Arizona’s food community at large.
Foodist award categories include:
•    Food Pioneer
•    Top Chef
•    Good Neighbor
•    Master Mixologist
•    Emerging Restaurant
•    Restaurant Concept
•    Outstanding Food Truck
•    Uniquely Arizona
•    Multiple Location Restaurant
“We feel strongly that pioneers and high achievers of Arizona’s restaurant industry deserve this unique recognition. This industry awards gala is a highly celebrated peer-to-peer dinner in Arizona recognizing worthy and exceptional restaurants and industry partners. It is an opportunity for restaurateurs and chefs to acknowledge their fellow restaurateurs for outstanding business practices, concepts, and achievements across a number of award categories,” said Steve Chucri, President and CEO of the ARA. “It’s also a chance for the ARA to recognize local restaurateurs, purveyors and vendors who have distinguished themselves through superior business practices, demonstrated leadership and dedication to the restaurant community and hospitality industry as a whole.”
This year’s finalists’ quest for growth and knowledge set themselves apart as true leaders to the next generation of foodists. The most unique award of the night is a lifetime achievement award called “Food Pioneer,” and the winner will be subject to a comical roast, or light simmering by the event host.
The following chefs and/or restaurants are finalists for the First Annual Foodist Awards (listed alphabetically, honored in various categories). Winners will be announced at the Award’s Dinner on April 25:

• 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
• St. Francis

OPEN THE FRONT DOOR TO Foodist Awards