Best of Our Valley 2019: The Nominees for ‘Most Influential in Valley Food’

Ready, set, vote! Best of Our Valley 2019 is now open for voting. From now through Nov. 30, nominate your favorite local businesses, professionals and individuals across more than 4,000 categories for AZ Foothills annual Best Of Our Valley Web contest.

The very best of each category will ultimately be featured in the coveted AZFoothills April collectors edition issue, a tell-all guide to the coolest people and places in the Valley of the Sun.

Over the coming weeks, we will highlight who’s who in the contest by category so you can get to know your nominees. Whether they’ve been acknowledged for their keen fashion sense or impact on local politics and nonprofits, we always make sure to feature the Valley’s most Influential People. Within the People category, Most Influential in Valley Food nominees include the following contestants.

Don’t forget to head over to the voting page to nominate your choice for Most Influential in Valley Food here!

Bernie Kantak, The Gladly and Citizen Public House

 

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A post shared by The Gladly (@thegladly) on Oct 3, 2018 at 5:46pm PDT

Charleen Badman, FnB

 

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A post shared by local and seasonal love (@fnbrestaurant) on Aug 25, 2018 at 2:17pm PDT

Chef Beau MacMillan, Elements and Food Network Personality

 

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A post shared by Sanctuary Camelback Resort&Spa (@sanctuaryaz_) on Oct 15, 2018 at 9:03am PDT

Chef Christopher Collins, Common Grounds Culinary

Chef Christopher Gross, The Wrigley Mansion

 

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A post shared by Christopher Gross (@chefgross) on Jul 12, 2018 at 8:10am PDT

Chef Cullen Campbell, Crudo and Okra

 

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A post shared by Cullen Campbell (@chef_culley) on Aug 25, 2018 at 5:41pm PDT

Chef Lee Hillson, Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass

 

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A post shared by Sheraton Grand at WHP (@sheratongrandaz) on Sep 11, 2018 at 11:15am PDT

Chef Michael DeMaria, M Restaurants & M Catering

Chris Bianco, Pizzeria Bianco

 

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A post shared by Chris Bianco (@pizzeriabianco) on Oct 8, 2018 at 11:49am PDT

Christina Barrueta, Write on Rubee and award-winning food writer

 

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A post shared by Christina Barrueta (@writeonrubee) on Oct 4, 2018 at 9:54pm PDT

Craig DeMarco, Upwards Projects

Danielle Leoni, The Breadfruit & Rum Bar

 

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A post shared by Danielle Leoni (@chefdanielleleoni) on Aug 20, 2018 at 8:16pm PDT

Dennis Mastro, Ocean Club, Mastro’s Steakhouse, Michael Dominick’s and Steak 44

 

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A post shared by Mastro’s Restaurants (@mastrosofficial) on Oct 16, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

Diana Brandt, AZ Foodie

 

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A post shared by The Original Arizona Foodie ™ (@azfoodie) on Aug 22, 2018 at 5:54pm PDT

Erik Merkow, Founder AZ Food & Wine and AZ Food & Beer

 

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A post shared by Erik Merkow – Az Food & Wine (@emerkow) on Jul 4, 2018 at 8:12pm PDT

Gio Osso, Nico Heirloom Kitchen and Virtu

 

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A post shared by Virtu (@virtuscottsdale) on Apr 23, 2015 at 2:47pm PDT

Jacob Cutino, Homeboy’s Hot Sauce

 

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A post shared by Jacob Cutino (@jacob.cutino) on Aug 25, 2018 at 5:58pm PDT

Joanie Simon, Photographer and chef

 

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A post shared by Joanie Simon (@joanie.simon) on Oct 18, 2018 at 7:29pm PDT

Joe Johnston, Joe’s Farm Grill, Joe’s Real BBQ, Liberty Market and Barnone

 

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A post shared by Joe’s Farm Grill (@joesfarmgrill) on Oct 4, 2018 at 10:59am PDT

Julian Wright, Fork & Dagger Development

 

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A post shared by Julian Wright (@julianjwrght) on May 12, 2018 at 11:19am PDT

Justin Beckett, Beckett’s Table and Southern Rail

 

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A post shared by Chef Justin Beckett (@southernrailaz) on Oct 14, 2018 at 9:13pm PDT

Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s Restaurant and James Beard Winner

 

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A post shared by Chef Kevin Binkley (@chefbinkley) on Jul 26, 2017 at 8:44pm PDT

Lauren Bailey, co-founder Upward Projects

 

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A post shared by Lauren Bailey (@laurenbaileylb) on Aug 27, 2018 at 10:57am PDT

Mark Tarbell, Iron Chef Winner and Owner of Tarbell’s

 

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A post shared by Tarbell’s Restaurant & Tavern (@tarbellsrestaurant) on Feb 8, 2018 at 1:49pm PST

Matt Carter, Chef and Proprietor of Zinc Bistro and Mission

 

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A post shared by Matt carter (@chef_mattcarter) on Aug 1, 2018 at 5:55pm PDT

Nobuo Fukuda’s Nobuo, Teeter House

 

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A post shared by Nobuo At Teeter House (@nobuo_teeterhouse) on May 17, 2017 at 10:15am PDT

Pat Christofolo, Quiessence/Santa Barbara Catering/The Farm at South Mountain

 

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A post shared by Pat Christofolo (@patcsbcc) on May 4, 2017 at 2:53pm PDT

Rod Keeling, President of Arizona Wine Growers Association

Ryan Swanson, Kai

 

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A post shared by Ryan Swanson (@ryan_d_swanson) on Oct 11, 2018 at 1:23am PDT

Sam Fox, Fox Restaurant Concepts

 

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A post shared by Sam Fox (@samfox_official) on Sep 24, 2018 at 5:33pm PDT

Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Cafe and James Beard Award Winner

 

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A post shared by Silvana Salcido Esparza 🇲🇽 (@chefsilvana) on Oct 11, 2018 at 9:12am PDT

Steve Chucri, President and CEO of Arizona Restaurant Association

 

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A post shared by Arizona Restaurant Association (@azrestaurant) on Sep 6, 2017 at 11:37am PDT

Tomaso and Joey Maggiore, The Maggiore Group

 

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A post shared by The Maggiore Group (@themaggioregroup) on Dec 29, 2017 at 10:05am PST

Vincent Guerithault, Vincent on Camelback

 

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A post shared by Vincent’s on Camelback (@vincentsoncamelback) on Sep 29, 2018 at 4:00pm PDT