JBF Taste America PHX

02/01/2024

The Marques de Casa Noble Añejo Tequila is an impressive blend of 12 Extra Añejo and nine Añejo aged one to five years in hand-selected new French oak barrels custom-made. The result is an ultra-premium añejo tequila with balanced cooked-agave sweetness complemented by notes of vanilla, peach and other ripe fruits, roasted nuts, and spice accents with lingering flavors of white chocolate, pecans, and almonds. round out the mouthfeel. More than a well-crafted tequila, this smooth-sipping alluringly rich and silky tequila liquor is an art form and an expression of passion. We will enjoy this exquisite beverage with dessert on Monday night at Taste America Phoenix. Visit the link in our bio for more details.

01/29/2024

A few seats are available at our upcoming Taste America Phoenix dinner! Guests will enjoy a 3 course savory meal, hosted by Chef Angelo Sosa of Phoenix’s Tia Carmen, visiting Chef Fatou Ouattara of AXADI in Portland, OR and Rene Andrade and Derek of Bacanora! Grab your tickets now - ticket link is in bio.
Sent from my iPad

01/27/2024

Born and raised in the Sonoran desert, Chef Derek Christensen has spent years traveling the world developing his culinary skills. Upon returning home, Derek was set to mastering fire and utilizing local bounty. He and Rene Andrade of Bacanora fame are bringing it to our Taste America Phoenix dinner on February 5th! Visit the link in our bio for more details.

01/24/2024

Fatou Ouattara, our Taste America Phoenix Visiting Chef, is originally from Bouake, Cote D’Ivoire, where her family taught her a great deal about African cuisine. As a teenager, Chef Fatou learned to cook with clay ovens, wood fire and traditional spices made from scratch. Her ultimate goal with her Portland, Oregon estaurant, Akadi (which means “tasty” in Bambara, a native langue in Cote D’Ivoire) is to authentically represent her West African culture through food, music and ambiance. Let’s welcome Fatou to Phoenix on February 5th! Visit the link in our bio for more details.

01/23/2024

Angelo Sosa is an American born chef of Italian/Dominican descent, and his passion for food and quality is contagious. Angelo is familiar to many from his three seasons competing on Top Chef, as well as appearances on numerous other television shows. We are delighted to have Chef Angelo as Host Chef for the upcoming Taste America Phoenix dinner at his restaurant, Tia Carmen on February 5th! Visit the link in our bio for more details.

01/15/2024

Larry Stone, Master Sommelier and Founder of Lingua Franca Winery, has won numerous awards including the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa title in Paris for Best Sommelier in the World in French Wines, Best Wine Service from the James Beard Foundation (twice), Who’s Who in American Food and Wine since 2000, multiple Grand Awards from the Wine Spectator and he has mentored a host of young sommeliers. We are excited to host Larry and his wines from Lingua Franca at our Taste America Phoenix dinner on February 5th! Visit the link in our bio for more details.

01/08/2024

Chef Rene Andrade was born and raised in Nogales, Sonora and discovered his culinary passion at a young age, which sparked a fire that led Rene to highly competitive and respected culinary programs. His hard work and sense of community has driven him to open his own genuine and revolutionary concept that has been internationally recognized, Bacanora PHX. Rene Andrade will be firing up the grill at Taste America Phoenix! Please visit the link in our bio for tickets.

01/24/2023

Varanya Geyoonsawat is a native of Thailand, who immigrated to Portland, Oregon in 2013. A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu, Varanya began her culinary partnership with Gregory Gourdet at Departure, where they worked alongside during his helm as executive chef. As chef de cuisine at Kann, Varanya brings a passion for cooking as an art form stemming from memories of her grandmother’s kitchen in Thailand and married to cross-cultural techniques honed alongside Gregory. When not cooking, Varanya enjoys life with her husband and keeps active with running, hiking, kayaking, and snowboarding.

We are honored Varanya is joining chefs Cassie Shortino and Christa Chase to create a delicious menu for Taste America Phoenix on February 6. While we have just sold out, please join our wait list and we will contact you ASAP if there’s an opening. For details visit https://www.jamesbeard.org/events/taste-america-phoenix-8

01/20/2023

Cassie Shortino is a fourth-generation chef and Phoenix native. She grew up in home kitchens with her father and started working in the industry on her own when she was 19. Throughout the years she has worked in several establishments around Arizona, including Chris Bianco's Tratto as chef de cuisine. During that time, she received two James Beard Award nominations for "Rising Star Chef” and has traveled to New York to cook at the James Beard House.

Now, she owns her own pop-up business called Shorty's Char-Pit, which pays homage to the food of her father’s native town, Rochester, NY. With a towable smoker trailer, she goes to various bars and venues across the city to smoke various cuts of meat, and sides.

We are honored Cassie is joining chefs Varanya Geyoonsawat and Christa Chase to create a delicious menu for Taste America Phoenix on February 6. For details visit https://www.jamesbeard.org/events/taste-america-phoenix-8

02/24/2022

Congratulations to all of the Semifinalists! There are lots of familiar names on here. We love to see it!

The 2022 James Beard Awards semifinalists include these Arizona chefs from Flagstaff, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson.