Taste America Phoenix
CHEFS COLLABORATE FOR GOURMET CULINARY EXPERIENCE
Royal Palms hosts James Beard Foundation's Taste America Phoenix
All Star Chef Sherry Yard, Helms Bakery in LA Sous Chef Award winner Jon Hulburd Mike Muncal, Young's Market
Three renowned chefs kicked off Phoenix’s Taste America weekend Fri., Sept. 12, at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Dubbed “A Night of Culinary Stars," the exclusive dining event benefited the James Beard Foundation.
The JBF Taste America evening began with a reception filled with bites and libations from local chefs, including Charleen Badman (FnB), Cullen Campbell (Crudo), Silvana Salcido Esparza (Barrio Café), Joshua Hebert (Posh) and Gio Osso (Virtu). Afterward, guests were seated for a dinner prepared by All Star Sherry Yard of Helms Bakery in Los Angeles, Chef Kevin Binkley of Binkley’s Restaurant, and Paul McCabe of Royal Palms Resort and Spa. Community members who served as sous chefs contributed substantially to the evening, with the top prize going to Jon Hulburd.
On Sat., Sept. 13, a series of free, in-store consumer events was held at Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Sur La Table. The day included book signings, tastings from local producers and artisans, plus cooking demonstrations by James Beard Award winders Sherry Yard and Chris Bianco (Pizzeria Bianco).
The James Besrd Foundation’s Taste America: “Local Flavor from Coast to Coast” is a national epicurean tour celebrating America’s culinary diversity. From Sept. 12 through Oct. 25, the program will stop in 9 cities in addition to Phoenix over five weekends, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington D.C.
Taste America is presented by Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa Signature credit card. Additional sponsors include Sur La Table, Barcardi 8, Breville and Delta Air Lines.
MORE PHOTOS
Abbey Glover represented Chase at the event Elizabeth and Mike Muncal of Young's Market
Left: Community members Amy Thurston, Marci Symington, Rich Rector, Pamela Mathis and Jon Hulburd served as sous chefs. Right: Previous Southwest Best Chef honorees Chris Bianco, Nobuo Fukuda and Robert McGrath with Greg Miller, Taste America local sponsor and regional vice president of Destination Hotels & Resorts (center) and Izabela Wojcik, JBF director of house programming
All Star Sherry Yard with Chef Adam Stone of the Royal Palms Sherry Yard's first course
Left: Sous Chef Marci Symington with Chef Charleen Badman, FnB Restaurant. Right: Kevin Binkley's first course:
Duck Breast with Horseradish Rillettes Popover, Consomme,
Mustard Greens, Butternut Squash and Huckleberries
John and Rhoda Couvaras, Anita and Chuck Theisen, and Naomi Berry
Billie Jo and Judd Herberger sponsored the fireworks that lit the sky during the Desert Extravaganza
preesented by Sherry Yard
PHOTOS BY DEBBY WOLVOS
