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 guy with a kick ass dog.
Tastemaker 54: Dave Andrea
Dave Andrea has been in the Valley since 1984 when he started the 80's Old Town Scottsdale hotspot: a nightclub called Amnesia. A few nightclubs and a few restaurants later, he got out of the business to spend time with his kids and focus on selling restaurants to others at The Restaurant Brokers. A "restaur-aholic" who has recently fallen off the wagon, he just opened his newest venture, Brat Haus, in Old Town. He has "two beautiful kids, an amazing wife and a kick ass dog."
I arrived in Phoenix with... absolutely no idea what I was going to do with my life and knowing absolutely no one. I just knew I had to get out of Eugene, Oregon and find some sun.
If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... my wife, Troy, Mikala, the Dalai Lama and Richard Branson.
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... Beckett's Table, to taste honest food being made by someone who cares.
One menu item this city can do without is... bottomless bowls of pasta.
My last meal in Phoenix would be... at home.
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