Food Culture Photographer Debby Wolvos On Her Favorite View in Phoenix

From now until we publish the 2016 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times is naming 100 Tastemakers — members of our local culinary community who help shape the way we eat, drink, and think about food in Phoenix. Some you'll know, and for others, it'll be a first introduction,...

By Lauren Saria

May 18, 2016

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From now until we publish the 2016 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times is naming 100 Tastemakers — members of our local culinary community who help shape the way we eat, drink, and think about food in Phoenix. Some you'll know, and for others, it'll be a first introduction, but each person on our list deserves a nod for helping make our city so delicious. Oh, and while you're here, be sure to check out our list of 100 Creatives.

Today we meet the woman behind one of the most active lenses in Phoenix food photography.

98. Debby Wolvos of DW Photography

Whether it's capturing the perfect shot of a frosty margarita or going into the kitchen with some of Arizona's top chefs, Debby Wolvos can almost always be found surrounded by beautiful food and drink. And as one of the most prolific food culture photographers in the Valley, you're all but guaranteed to have seen her work on restaurant websites, Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, or in local media.

She got her start when her father gave her a Kodak Instamatic camera for her 10th birthday — for which she's still grateful — and has been shooting ever since. Her work has been featured in outlets ranging from Travel + Leisure Online and USA Today to Edible Phoenix, Phoenix Magazine, and Arizona Foothills Magazine. In 2016 and beyond, Wolvos plans to focus on food tourism and food culture, traveling around the world (including to Italy) to explore and document authentic cuisines in small corners of the world. Wolvos is married with two children, a dog, and two cats.

She believes that chocolate should be a food group.

My go-to place for Chinese takeout in Phoenix is Nee House.

The best kept secret in Phoenix is to be right in the middle of Singh Farms.

My favorite view in Phoenix can be found at the Sanctuary on Camelback.

The most memorable meal I've ever had in Phoenix was a crazy good wine-pairing dinner at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn.

My culinary guilty pleasure is the Vita Vamp smoothie at GrabbaGreen.

The 2016 Tastemakers so far:

100. Aaron Chamberlin of St. Francis and Phoenix Public Market Cafe
99. Ross Simon of Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour

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