Phoenix Food Nerds Tastemakers Series

[Lunchbox]

Chowbella has been doing something pretty cool for the last couple months. (Until they jumped the shark today.)

They've been introducing us to the "Top 100 Tastemakers -- Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you'll know; for others, it'll be a first introduction (but likely not the last)." Afterall, if it weren't for the CB Tastemakers series, you wouldn't have found out about Ernies.

And so since anyone can be a Tastemaker these days... Let's have our own PFN Tastemaker series. Here's how it works:

Answer these questions:

PHX Food Nerds Tastemaker: <Insert your name>

Introduce yourself.

If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be...

One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is...

One menu item this city could do without is...

My last meal in Phoenix would be...

That's it! You're now a Tastemaker!

[Lunchbox]

I'll start since I started this thread.

PHX Food Nerds Tastemaker: Zach Garcia

From my twitter profile: Eater. Smoker of meats. Wannabe Chef. Maker of bacon. Dad to Lyza Bea and Scooter the Dog. Husband of @lynngarcia.

If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... My Dad (RIP), my Grandpa Elsfelder who died before I was born (he ran a bar in Chicago right after {and probably during} prohibition), Bill Cosby (I think he'd bring pudding pops and he'd be funny), Anthony Bourdain (enough said), Trey Parker/Matt Stone from South Park fame (they count as one), and Marilyn Monroe (enough said).

One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... There are way too many but if you absolutely have to pick one: FnB

One menu item this city could do without is... Shitty Italian food. Bad Pizza in particular.

My last meal in Phoenix would be... At Quiessence doing the farmers feast tasting menu. I literally could die after eating dinner there. Soooo good.

[andrewknoc]

I wanna be a Tastemaker!

PHX Food Nerds Tastemaker: Andrew Knochel

Introduce yourself I'm learning why I enjoy some foods, starting with the basics. I'm a j-school student, and I'm just naive enough to believe I know what I'm doing in j-school.

If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... I'd rather have a one-on-one meal with each of the following: my late grandfather, AKA the strongest man I've ever known (I'd bring my grandmother along, too). Bill Clinton. Washington Post's Ezra Klein. Angela Merkel. NYTimes' David Carr.

One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... Rumbar. Antithetical to Phoenix's image as a sprawling metropolis filled with chains, I think this tiny spot will impress visitors on a number of levels.

One menu item this city could do without is... Cheesecake-flavored frozen yogurt.

That was fun. I'm going to print this out and frame it! (that last bit was sarcasm, in case that wasn't clear)

My last meal in Phoenix would be... Unless I was moving to Italy, it would have to be a Sonny Boy from Pizzeria Bianco.