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 who's very popular this time of year.
Tastemaker 26: Korina Adkins
Frufrufrau Korina Adkins was born and raised in Florida, and after a long stint in DC, came to Arizona in 2002. Having been an archivist, a firefighter, a graphic designer, and a web developer -- but always an avid home cook -- she jumped into the mobile food movement in 2011, and started frufrupops. You will find her selling her somewhat unusual flavors of ice pops at special events and farmers' markets around the Valley.
I arrived in Phoenix with... a truckload of books, vintage junk, thrift furniture, two cats, a wienerdog, and an open mind.
If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... Alton Brown for the fascinating facts. Anthony Bourdain for the raunchy jokes. Samantha Brown -- as a foil for Tony, and because she is so stinkin' cute and perky! Martha Stewart because, well, she's Martha Stewart. Last but definitely not least, my mom, because she would enjoy the company as much as I.
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... though I hate to say, "ditto", Chef Gwen already nabbed my answers! I have only been to Barrio Cafe, Fry Bread House, and Tacos Atoyac (that one, way too many times). Kai has been on my wish list for a long time, especially since I geek out a little on traditional foods and ethnobotany. OK, a lot. Ask me about mesquite bean pops!
One menu item this city could do without is... cilantro. To me, it tastes like Dawn dish soap diluted with nail polish remover, and they put it in everything.
My last meal in Phoenix would be... I would cook up a huge blowout dinner for my family and friends, where I get to really pull the stops out and show off a bit. The food would not be fancy, just delicious, and served family style. Of course, I would have to come up with some frufru cocktails to go with, and some frozen desserts to finish it off.
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 41: Michael Perry 40: Jeff Kraus 39: Ryan Avery 38: Charleen Badman 37: Damon Brasch 36: Dwayne Allen 35: Jason Asher 34: Pamela Hamilton 33: Victoria Chavez 32: Giovanni Scorzo 31: Tim Wilson 30: Travis Nass 29: Jason Alford 28: Clint Spotleson 27: Daniel Wayne
