Last night, Warehouse215 in Phoenix was abuzz with energy in celebration of the Arizona Restaurant Association’s Foodist Awards presented by A-Z Air Duct. This extravagant evening awarded the hospitality industry’s crème de la crème in an array of categories.
The Foodist Awards serves as the Arizona Restaurant Association’s official awards program, recognizing the best of the best including restaurants, bars, companies and individuals who demonstrate exceptional business acumen, leadership and creativity while shaping Arizona’s culinary landscape.
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“It is hard to describe the feeling and vibe of this event, but it’s safe to say that spirits were high last night as we presented our 12th Annual Foodist Awards, which really is Arizona’s biggest night in food,” said Steve Chucri, Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) president and CEO. “Every single nominee and finalist is extremely deserving, but last night shined the light on the places and people that are changing our culinary scene for the better every single day.”
In addition to a variety of categories previously presented, this year six new categories were featured including Best Bread, Top Happy Hour Spot, Best Place to Watch a Game, Immersive Culinary Experience, Favorite Neighborhood Hangout and Hotel Restaurant Hot Spot. The Foodist Awards winners were determined by public votes and contributions from this year’s Foodist Awards panelists.
Winners of each category are as follows:
Food and Beverage
Standout Signature Dish: Veal Parmesan, DiMaggio’s Italian Restaurant
Best Bread: Barrio Bread, Tucson
Arizona Grown Purveyors: Arizona Grass Raised Beef
Favorite Local Craft Beer: Don’t F#%k It Up, Honey Blonde – Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
Most Creative Handcrafted Cocktails: Highball Cocktail Bar
Experiences
Top Happy Hour Spot: Buck & Rider
Outstanding Bar/Nightlife Experience: Drop Dead Gorgeous
Best Place to Watch a Game: Zipps Sports Grill
Exceptional Fine Dining Experience: The Ends
Immersive Culinary Experience: Three Thirty Three
Restaurants
Favorite Neighborhood Hangout: The Vig
Phenomenal Fast Casual Concept: Sushi Friend
Hotel Restaurant Hot Spot: ZuZu, Hotel Valley Ho
Uniquely Arizona: Aunt Chilada’s
Emerging Restaurant of the Year: George & Gather
People
Team Member of the Year: Brandon Minta, Collins Brothers Public House
Manager of the Year: Alex McGregor, Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails
Top Mixologist/Bartender: Sam Olguin, Pour Bastards Hospitality
Top Chef: Dom Ruggiero, Cast Iron Concepts
The Food Pioneer Award, the Foodist Awards’ “lifetime achievement award,” was presented to Gio Osso, Virtu Honest Craft and Pizzería Virtu. This peer-voted award honors a lifetime of outstanding culinary excellence that continues to educate, inspire, entertain and foster a deeper understanding of the culinary culture in Arizona.
For more about the Foodist Awards, visit https://foodistawards.com/.
For more about the Arizona Restaurant Association, visit https://azrestaurant.org/.
