The latest episode of the AZ Big Podcast with Michael & Amy has officially dropped. Episode 55’s guest is Mark Tarbell, chef and owner of Tarbell’s, owner of The Wine Store and Emmy-winning TV host of Check, Please! Arizona. He talks to Kyle Backer, staff writer at AZ Big Media, and Amy about the Valley’s red-hot culinary scene and how the industry is recovering post-pandemic.

The AZ Big Podcast is sponsored by Burch & Cracchiolo, who have been proving for more than 50 years that a successful business or legal case of any kind starts when you hire the right lawyer. Let them prove it to you. Learn more at bcattorneys.com.

READ ALSO: Blue Clover Distillery and Tarbell’s collaborate on Arizona-made spirit

READ ALSO: AZ BIG Podcast Ep. 53: Angela Hughey talks LGBTQ endeavors of ONE Community


Chef Mark Tarbell studied in Paris at the Ecole du Cuisine La Varenne, where he earned a Grande Diplôme d Etude Culinaire. He also studied at Steven Spurrier’s Academie du Vin. At 23, Tarbell moved to Arizona and joined The Boulders Resort in Carefree, becoming the youngest food and beverage director of any Five Diamond property in the world. In 1994, he opened Tarbell’s Restaurant, followed by Barmouche in 1999 and The Oven (in Colorado) in 2004. Tarbell opened The Wine Store in 2013 and The Tavern in 2014.

About AZ BIG Podcast with Michael & Amy

Hosted by AZ Big Media Editor in Chief Michael Gossie and Publisher Amy Lindsey, we take you behind-the-scenes of some of the most compelling storylines in the Grand Canyon State. The AZ Big Podcast will feature guests from a variety of industries, including legal, real estate, hospitality, athletics and more. Each episode will be about 15 minutes long to provide quick and concise information about each topic. In other words, it’s an easy listen that’s perfect for your morning or afternoon commute. Episodes will post weekly on Wednesdays and are available wherever you listen to your podcasts.