From now 'til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 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). While you're here, check out our 100 Creatives on Jackalope Ranch.
Today: A lady who likes it hot.
Tastemaker 33: Victoria Chavez
Victoria Chavez opened a restaurant in Springerville, AZ more than thirty years ago. On display she had two old chili grinders, or "molinos," one belonging to her husband's great grandmother and the other given to her by her grandmother. The family heirlooms were used at her husband's ranch in St. Johns and her family's ranch in New Mexico - from that history came the recipes Chavez would turn into Los Dos Molinos, or "the two grinders." The restaurant is family owned and operated proud to serve some of Arizona's favorite Southwestern Mexican food, prepared with chiles from New Mexico.
I arrived in Phoenix... when I was 18 with my husband from my hometown Springerville, Arizona.
If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... to have all of my family members there. I always had my five children with me.
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... definitely Los Dos Molinos. I always said if I ever found food like I make at home I would eat out every day.
One menu item this city could do without is... I can't even think of one. I love to travel and have a great appreciation for all kinds of food!
My last meal in Phoenix would be... a blue corn enchilada dinner with a fried egg on top - blue corn masa is so rare and hard to find!
The Tastemakers so far: 100: Tracy Dempsey 99: Craig DeMarco 98: Lara Mulchay 97: M.J. Coe 96: Betty Alatorre de Hong 95: Eric Schaefer 94: Hanna Gabrielsson 93: Shinji Kurita 92: Silvana Salcido Esparza 91: Mike Pitt 90: Christina Barrueta 89: Christopher Gross 88: Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung 87: DJ Fernandes 86: Cullen Campbell 85: Chris Lee 84. Gwen Ashley Walters 83: Tony Morales 82: Lylah Ledner 81: Andrea White 80: Lori Hashimoto 79. Mrs. White 78: Eugenia Theodosopolous 77: Lou & Lovey Borenstein 76: Anthony Patafio 75: Carl Seacat 74: Sacha Levine 73: Sharon Salomon 72: Johnny Chu 71: Susie Timm 70: Jason Silberschlag 69: Gina Miller 68: Cindy Gentry 67: Amy Binkley 66: Dave Anderson 65: Mark Tarbell 64: Marianne Belardi 63: Audrey Lasalle 62: Brandon Gauthier 61: Brad and Kat Moore 60: Denise Clayton 59: Nobuo Fukuda 58: Richie Moe 57: Robin Trick 56: Alberto Della Casa and Letizia de Lucia 55: Farah Khalid 54: Dave Andrea 53: Vincent Guerithault 52: Danielle Leoni 51: Stan Zawatski 50: Maya Dailey 49: Duc Liao 48: Lisa Reinhardt 47: Isam Saed 46: Greg Peterson 45: Marco Bianco 44: Mark Fratu 43: Wendell Crow 42. Barb Harris 41: Michael Perry 40: Jeff Kraus 39: Ryan Avery 38: Charleen Badman 37: Damon Brasch 36: Dwayne Allen 35: Jason Asher 34: Pamela Hamilton
