Chef Cory Oppold has worked for some of Arizona’s most acclaimed restaurants and chefs. In May 2023, he opened his own restaurant in Scottsdale called Course. “I’ve been dreaming about having my own restaurant since I was in culinary school,” he said. “It’s everything and more that I hoped for, and it’s been really fun […]

Huss Brewing Co. is partnering with the Phoenix Zoo to support the conservation of endangered species through a series of beers available at the zoo. “We’ve partnered with the Phoenix Zoo for many years on selling some of our top brands, so when they approached us asking for a beer to be a part of […]

Elliott’s Steakhouse opened in downtown Chandler in August 2023, close to its popular sister restaurants, the Brickyard and the Hidden House. “Elliott’s Steakhouse brings an elevated dining experience to downtown Chandler, with a focus on quality food and exceptional service in a beautiful setting,” said Michael Regan, director of operations for the restaurant group that […]

In 2003, chef Marcellino Verzino and his wife Sima opened Marcellino Ristorante in Scottsdale. The couple, who met in Rome, moved from New York City to Scottsdale after visiting friends in the area. Marcellino was born in the Campania region of Italy and started cooking for his family at a young age. He worked in […]

Get a taste of Arizona and connect with local food entrepreneurs, leaders and businesses at Local First Arizona’s Good Food Forum + Expo. Taking place on Aug. 29 at the Mesa Convention Center, the event is the combination of two Local First Arizona signature events — Arizona’s Food and Farm Forum and the Good Food Expo. […]

Arizona native Matt Carter has been a leader in the local culinary scene for more than two decades as executive chef and partner in some of the Valley’s most popular eateries. After high school, Carter spent a summer working at a breakfast restaurant in San Diego, which inspired him to go to Scottsdale Culinary Institute. […]

In 2017, Kimberly Guimarin founded Pop’s Coffee, named for her father. “Coffee brings people together and makes people happy,” she said.  Guimarin was born and raised in Southern Illinois. After college, she lived in Denver and worked as a paralegal and then became a stay-at-home mom. Guimarin and her family moved to Arizona in 2014 […]

Italian native Stefano Fabbri has been bringing authentic Italian cuisine to the Phoenix area for more than a decade as the founder of POMO Restaurant Group. The group includes three POMO Pizzeria locations, two Luna Gelateria locations and Rosso Italian, which opened in downtown Phoenix in February 2023. Fabbri is from the Emilia-Romagna region, which […]

Speakeasies were popular in the U.S. during Prohibition in the 1920s and 1930s, when alcohol was illegal and people had to sneak into secret places to access it. In modern times, speakeasies offer a fun, mysterious environment to enjoy unique and interesting cocktails. “A modern speakeasy should be a hard-to-find place — but not too […]

The Phoenix chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, a philanthropic organization of professional women in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, is launching the “Cook Like a Dame” virtual cooking class series from May through August.  Classes will be taught by award-winning chefs Tamara Stanger and Candy Lesher. A passionate forager, Stanger is the executive chef of Hell’s […]