Audio By Carbonatix
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 sauce(y) guy.
Tastemaker 72: Johnny Chu
Johnny Chu, a Hong Kong native who grew up in Phoenix, earned his culinary education while dining around the world, and accumulated a devoted following of hungry people who support him whenever he has a new idea/concept — which is often. Among his restaurants so far, the following are no more: Lucky Dragon, Tempe; Fate, Phoenix; and Sens Asian Tapas and Sake Bar, downtown Phoenix. His current restaurants include Tien Wong Hot Pot, Chandler; Sochu House Neo Asian and Martini Bar, Central Phoenix (opening July 2012); and Lantern Restaurant and Bar, Peoria (opening July 2012). By introducing his concepts to the Valley, Chu says he hopes to inject a unique take on global Asian flavor to the Phoenix dining scene.
I arrived in Phoenix with… empty pockets, zero English in my vocabulary, a horrible haircut, but with a hunger for success.
If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be… Anthony Bourdain, Martin Yan, Nobu Matsuhisa, Stephen Chow (Hong Kong actor/director), and my father.
One thing everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is… a Sonoran hot dog!
One menu item this city could do without is… pork belly; it’s very overdone.
My last meal in Phoenix would be… Binkley’s.
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
