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 man with a Beard.
Tastemaker 41: Michael Perry
See also: Fry Bread House Nabs James Beard Award
Michael Perry knows a thing or two about fry bread. He was born and raised in Central Phoenix and has been fortunate enough to visit nearly three-quarters of the United States as well as a couple international destinations. His mother, Cecelia Miller founded the Fry Bread House in 1992 and last year the restaurant received the American's Classics Award from the James Beard Foundation.
"I love working where I work and meeting all our customers," Perry says.
I arrived in Phoenix with... a doctor's hands wrapped around my head :)
If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... Jesus Christ, William Shakespeare, Abraham Lincoln, Sitting Bull, and my mother.
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... Rustler's Rooste in the early evening during monsoon season.
One menu item this city could do without is... domestic draft beer.
My last meal in Phoenix would be... a barbecue with friends and family. It doesn't matter what we eat.
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
