Best Chef Pheonix, AZ

March 21, 2024 CHEFS AZ Phoenix

When you’re going on vacation or looking for a place to move, you’re going to want to check out the food that each locality offers, before you make a decision to move or visit there. If you’re thinking about moving to Phoenix, Arizona—or visiting the city—then you’re in luck, because foodies will love the city. Phoenix, Arizona is full of great spots to eat. With a population of 1.65 million, there are a lot of people that live in the city—and a lot of chefs that live in the city, too. So, if you’re looking for great food, Phoenix is a great place for you to visit, because it’s got top notch chefs. Here are several food spots that are nationally renowned: True Food Kitchen, which sells delicious health food, and Little Miss BBQ, which sells delectable barbecue. These two restaurants are just two of the many stellar restaurants in Phoenix, and no matter what your tastes are, you’re going to find food that you enjoy, in Phoenix, Arizona.

Let’s say that you’re not just interested in eating good food, let’s say that you’re interested in making good food yourself. In this case, you might be thinking: I want to do more than just visit a restaurant, I want to become a chef! Well, the good news is that there are plenty of ways to become a chef in Phoenix. Although it is a competitive industry across the nation, becoming a chef in Phoenix is not an impossible feat. For one, you could work your way up in a kitchen. This means that you could work under a more established chef, until you’re promoted to head chef yourself. However, if you’re interested in more formal training, you could go to culinary school. In Phoenix, there are several schools to choose from. You could go to, Arizona Culinary Institute or Whisked Away, to receive top of the line cooking lessons.

Because there are so many great chefs in Phoenix, we’re going to walk you through a list of the best chefs in the city. The next time that you visit the city, you’re going to want to check out some of these chefs’ food, because they’re extremely talented—so their food is delicious. Let’s get right into it.

People List
1. Silvana Salcido Esparza Name Search / Name Start with S / SI / Name Start with S / SA Location: Barrio Café Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 20 years How They Got into the Industry: Known for her Mexican restaurant, Barrio Café, Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza got her start in the culinary industry, because she was born into an intergenerational family of chefs. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza was awarded a James Beard Award in 2020. She has also been recognized by Esquire Magazine and the Food Network. Links: Website
2. Charleen Badman Name Search / Name Start with C / CH / Name Start with B / BA Location: FnB Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 10 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Charleen Badman is known for being the “veggie whisperer,” and she makes food that comes directly from local farmers. Because she is interested in using fresh, local ingredients, Chef Badman’s menu changes seasonally—and sometimes weekly—because she is committed to using what the local farmers have on hand. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: FnB has been featured in a wide array of media sources, like the New York Times, Travel and Leisure, Forbes Magazine, and more. FnB was also nominated for a James Beard Award, in 2017. Links: Website
3. Kevin Binkley Name Search / Name Start with K / KE / Name Start with B / BI Location: Binkley’s Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 10 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Kevin Binkley’s restaurant, Binkley’s, serves food that is local and made with specialty ingredients. He is passionate about making food that is memorable, and his dining experience is unique because he offers his guests a multicourse ‘feast.’ Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Kevin Binkley was a James Beard Award Finalist in 2015, for the award of “Best Chef: Southwest.” Binkley has been nominate for several other James Beard Awards. Links: Website
4. Christopher Gross Name Search / Name Start with C / CH / Name Start with G / GR Location: Christopher's at the Wrigley Mansion Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 30 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Christopher Gross got into the food industry, at age fourteen, when he was waiting tables at a local restaurant. From there, he worked his way up in local restaurants, and by 1990, he was able to open his first restaurant. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Christopher Gross was awarded the James Beard Award for Best Chef, in 1995. Plus, he was the first chef from Arizona to win the prestigious “Robert Mondavi Culinary Award of Excellence.” He has been honored by Food and Wine Magazine, too. Links: Website
5. Vincent Guerithault Name Search / Name Start with V / VI / Name Start with G / GU Location: Vincent on Camelback Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 35 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Vincent Guerithault is a renowned French chef, who makes upscale French food with a Southwestern twang. Vincent Guerithault’s restaurants are also known for their extensive wine list. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Vincent Guerithault has received raving reviews in Gourmet Magazine, and he also has been featured on the Public Broadcasting Station. Links: Website
6. Tracy Dempsey Name Search / Name Start with T / TR / Name Start with D / DE Location: Tracy Dempsey Originals Profession/Category: Pastry Chef and Owner Experience: 20 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Tracy Dempsey got into the culinary industry in 1999, after she graduated from Scottsdale Community College’s culinary program. She worked in several renowned restaurants, until she opened her own in 2009—which serves deserts, wine, and cheese. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Tracy Dempsey has been recognized by multiple news sources, but most notably, she has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation. Links: Website
7. Jennifer Anderson Name Search / Name Start with J / JE / Name Start with A / AN Location: Fresh Phoenix Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 20 years How They Got into the Industry: Jennifer Anderson got into the culinary industry after she graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, before opening her own restaurant, she worked at the Capital Grille, as an Executive Chef Partner. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Jennifer Anderson has hosted workshops that were sponsored by Phoenix Public Market’s Summer Chef Series. Links: Website
8. Giovanni Scorzo Name Search / Name Start with G / GI / Name Start with S / SC Location: Andreoli Italian Grocer Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 30 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Giovanni Scorzo is inspired by his Italian heritage, and he is interested in making pastries, pasta, and pizza. His entrance into the culinary industry started early, because he was born into a family of chefs. He says that he started cooking around the age of eight, and he started working in a restaurant around the age of eleven. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Giovanni Scorzo was nominated for a prestigious James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest, in 2022. Plus, Andreoli Italian Grocer has been given positive reviews by outlets like, the Phoenix New Times, the Food Network, Azcentral, Edible Phoenix, and Phoenix Magazine. Links: Website
9. Mark Tarbell Name Search / Name Start with M / MA / Name Start with T / TA Location: The Tavern Profession/Category: Professional Category: Experience: 20 years How They Got into the Industry: Chef Mark Tarbell got into the culinary industry after he graduated from the Academie du Vin. Tarbell has been making food in Arizona, since he was 23, and he is also a wine connoisseur. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Mark Tarbell has won the Iron Chef cooking show. Plus, Tarbell has been nominated for the “Best Chef Southwest” Award, from the James Beard Foundation. He has also been recognized by Esquire magazine, Food and Wine magazine, and Conde Nast Traveler. Links: Website
10. Robert McGrath Name Search / Name Start with R / RO / Name Start with M / MC Location: Market Street at DC Ranch Profession/Category: Chef and Owner Experience: 30 years How They Got into the Industry: Robert McGrath was born in Kentucky, but he was raised in Texas, and although he was first a pre-medical student, one of his professors suggested that he change careers—and McGrath got into food. He began his formal culinary training in France and at the Four Seasons Hotel, in Austin, Texas. Interesting Stats/ Accomplishments: Chef Robert McGrath has been awarded a plethora of awards, including the James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest. Along with being a prestigious chef, Chef Robert McGrath also hosts the television show, Check Please! Arizona, and this television show has been awarded an Emmy. Links: Website