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 woman with a lot up her sleeve.
Tastemaker 57: Robin Trick
Robin Trick has been co-owner and operator of House of Tricks Restaurant in Tempe for the past 25 years. The restaurant opened in 1987 in a 1920s cottage remodeled by the Tricks themselves and soon became an icon of the Tempe community. A passionate supporter of the arts, Robin served on the original steering committee that brought Tempe Art Center to life and was awarded a Downtown Tempe Community MADEE Award and a Business Volunteer for the Arts Award from the Arts and Business Council. House of Tricks Restaurant received the Tempe Chamber's Business Excellence Award in 2010.
Plus, their food is damn good.
I arrived in Phoenix (Tempe) with... my dog Ruby in November 1974 to visit my sister who was attending ASU. I never went back!
My six dream companions would be... my husband, my son Hunter, my mother-in-law, my sister Marcie, my best friend Judy, and George Clooney!
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... House of Tricks! We have become a Tempe icon.
One menu item this city could do without is... corn dogs. There are so many better ways to waste those calories, like on an ice cream cone at Churn!
My last meal in Phoenix would be... Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles. I absolutely love fried chicken, but don't allow myself to eat it very often.
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
