3. Julia Peixoto of Peixoto Coffee
Born and raised in a coffee-growing family in Brazil, with at least four generations of coffee growers prior to hers, Julia Peixoto started Peixoto Coffee in 2015 with her husband, Jeff Peters. The coffee shop, roaster, and wholesale distributor uses beans that come directly from Peixoto's family farm in the highlands of Brazil, and has become known locally for elevating the way coffee is served and consumed in the East Valley.
Today, Peixoto dishes on why coffee should be traded directly and why she's excited about the Arizona food scene.
My go-to place for pizza in Phoenix is Bella Gusto in our own Chandler! Of course, I absolutely love places like Bianco, Cibo, et cetera, in downtown Phoenix, but I am a Chandler resident and small-business owner, so I try whenever possible to support local. At Bella Gusto, they make their own burrata, mozzarella, pastas, and Neapolitan pizza dough topped with fresh ingredients, while keeping it simple and unfussy. This place is still relatively new and understated, but they’ve earned my support.
The best-kept secret in Phoenix is American Way at Merchant Square. I feel so lucky to have a place like American Way just down the street from Peixoto Coffee and where I live. They take some American basics to the next level, with their own artisan breads by Proof Bread and smoking their own meats. It does not hurt, either, that they are located inside an antique/vintage market, which I love, and is an attraction to see in itself!
Coffee should always be roasted, served, and drank with integrity and respect for the farmers who produced it. You are probably regretting having asked me this question right about now, but this is an area that is near and dear to my heart. Coffee should not only be traded directly and fairly, but importers/buyers should ensure that farmers are compensated based on the quality of the coffee beans. Growing coffee is such an arduous and risky job, and most farmers are at the mercy of buyers to determine the price for their product. Farmers are battling plant diseases, climatic, geographical, and political instability, theft, et cetera — not buyers — so they should be compensated commensurately to the risks they undertake. Other than that, drinking coffee is a ritual, a soul-nourishing experience to be enjoyed simply and with loved ones!
If I could have dinner with any five people, I'd choose the President and my family (husband and two kids to keep things light and fun!). I would share my personal story with the President about how I came to this country 15 years ago with a suitcase full of clothes and a heart full of dreams and that today, I am living my dreams. We would eat traditional food from my region in Brazil (“comida mineira”) which is made with simple, wholesome, and farm-grown ingredients that are prepared on a wood-fired stove (if we can find one here). Of course, we would finish off the meal with a cup of freshly poured Peixoto Coffee!
Right now I'm really excited about the direction that the Arizona food/beverage scene is going. When I moved here 15 years ago, I had a hard time understanding why most restaurants did not cook their own ingredients. There were a lot of cans and jars being opened in the kitchen, a lot of powdered seasoning, a lot of premade sauces, et cetera. Now, the food/beverage industry is going back to basics to use wholesome ingredients, which undoubtedly is better for everyone. I am excited to see Arizona consumers come to demand and expect this level of craftsmanship and local enthusiasm in their food and beverages. I feel so proud to be a small part in this transformation taking place in Arizona!
The 2016 Tastemakers so far:
100. Aaron Chamberlin of St. Francis and Phoenix Public Market Cafe
99. Ross Simon of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour
98. Debby Wolvos of DW Photography
97. Anibal and Salem Beyene of Café Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
96. Bo Mostow of Uptown Farmers Market
95. Julian Wright of Pedal Haus Brewery
94. Stephen Jones of The Larder + The Delta
93. Eric Glomski of Page Spring Cellars
92. Richard Bock of Giuseppe's on 28th
91. Walter Sterling of Ocotillo
90. Daniel Sevilla of Angry Crab Shack
89. Doug Robson of Gallo Blanco and Otro Cafe
88. LaDawn Driscoll of Liberty Market
87. Jason Calhoon of The Shop Beer Co. and Side Kick Cold Brew
86. Tim and Kim Cobb of United Lunchadores Street Gourmet
85. Micah Olson of Bar Crudo and Okra Cookhouse and Cocktails
84. Paola Embry of Christopher's + Crush and The Wrigley Mansion
83. Jared Porter of The Clever Koi
82. Diane Corieri of Evening Entertainment Group
81. Erich Schultz of Steadfast Farm
80. Jeff and Leah Huss of Huss Brewing Company
79. Aaron Pool of Gadzooks Enchiladas and Soup
78. Diana Santospago of The Maine Lobster Lady food truck
77. Gio Osso of Virtu Honest Craft and Nico Heirloom Kitchen
76. Lauren Bailey of Upward Projects
75. Rodney Hu of Arizona Distilling Company and Yucca Tap Room
74. Jacob Cutino of Homeboy's Hot Sauce
73. Country and Sergio Velador of Super Chunk Sweets and Treats
72. Dean Thomas of Cornish Pasty Co.
71. Jennifer Caraway of The Joy Bus
70. Scott Holmes of Little Miss BBQ
69. Jared Allen of Proof Artisan Breads
68. Steve McFate of McFate Brewing Company
67. Mel Mecinas of Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
66. Jessa and Dan Koppenhofer of Gilbert Farmers Market
65. Todd and Kelly Bostock of Dos Cabezas WineWorks
64. Ryan Probst of Odelay Bagel Co.
63. Diana Brandt of AZFoodie
62. Benjamin Butler of Hayden Flour Mills
61. Jim and Maureen Elitzak of Zak's Chocolate
60. Michael Babcock of Welcome Diner and Welcome Chicken + Donuts
59. Nick Ambeliotis of Mediterra Bakehouse
58. Peter Kasperski of Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz World Wine Bar
57. Kimber Stonehouse of LGO Hospitality
56. David Tyda of EATERAZ and Arizona Taco Festival
55. Pavle Milic of FnB
54. Pat Christofolo of Santa Barbara Catering Company and The Farm at South Mountain
53. Brandon Casey of The Ostrich
52. Jonathan Buford of Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
51. Sasha Raj of 24 Carrots
50. Rob Fullmer of Arizona Craft Brewers Guild
49. Bill and Lillian Buitenhuys of AZ Bitters Lab
48. Ramona Button of Ramona Farms
47. Justin Piazza of La Piazza Al Forno and La Piazza PHX
46. Andrew Gooi of Food Talkies
45. Jason Raducha of Noble Bread and Noble Eatery
44. Ty Largo of Awe Collective
43. Christopher Gross of Christopher's and Crush Lounge
42. Heidi Lee of Into The Soup
41. ET Rivera of Tres Leches Cafe
40. Monika Woolsey of Hip Veggies
39. Bobby Kramer of The Brickyard
38. Jenna Reeves of Press Coffee Roasters
37. Sarah Chisholm of Phoenix Public Market Cafe
36. Bill Kennedy of Futuro
35. Jan Bracamonte of J. Lauren PR & Marketing
34. Erin Romanoff of the uprooted kitchen
33. Baker Mandy Bublitz
32. Tony Chanthavong of Snoh Ice Shavery
31. Donald Hawk of Welcome Chicken + Donuts
30. Krystal Bittner of Arizona Society of Homebrewers
29. Garrison Whiting of Counter Intuitive and Cowboy Ciao
28. Michelle Jacoby and Mark Lipczynski of Bite Magazine
27. Chris Osborn of Western Retail Advisors
26. Yasu Hashino of Yasu Sushi Bistro
25. Jennifer Russo of The Market Restaurant + Bar by Jennifer's
24. Bret Pont of Hobe Meats
23. Josh Hebert of Posh Improvisational Cuisine
22. Tracy Dempsey of Tracy Dempsey Originals
21. Andrew Fritz of In Good Spirits
20. Eddie Hantas of Hummus Xpress
19. Matt Taylor of Gertrude's at the Desert Botanical Garden
18. Sam Pillsbury of Pillsbury Wine Company
17. Tom D'Ambrosio of Aioli Gourmet Burgers
16. Randy Walters of Wimpy's Paradise
15. Urian Torres of FrinGo's Kitchen
14. Armando Hernandez of Tacos Chiwas
13. Lindsey Magee of Ollie Vaughn's
12. Travis Nass of CaskWerks Distilling
11. Nino McCurley of Nomadic Ice Cream Rolls
10. Kevin Binkley of Cafe Bink
9. Anthony Canecchia of SanTan Brewing Company
8. Chrysa Robertson of Rancho Pinot
7. Dee Logan of Arizona Community Farmers Market Group
6. Kazuto Kishino of Hana Japanese Eatery
5. Rob Berkner of North Mountain Brewing Company
4. Richie Moe of Square One Concepts
