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 sees the writing on the walls -- of her own restaurant, in the form of an ultra-casual but super crave worthy menu.
Tastemaker 79: Mrs. White
There aren't many people left in this world who still make their own butter. But Mrs. Elizabeth White does. Since she arrived in Phoenix from Texas to help her brother run a church and café, she's turned her name, her homestyle soul food and her observance of the golden rule into Valley legend. Fifty years later and you can still find Mrs. White at her original restaurant, Mrs. White's Golden Rule Café, where she bakes a mean peach cobbler and perfect pies. You'll be hard up to find a Valley resident who hasn't had her one-of-a-kind recipe for fried chicken either at Golden Rule or Lo-Lo's (he's her nephew) Chicken and Waffles.
I arrived in Phoenix... with my four children in 1963.
If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... my family.
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... Mrs. White's Golden Rule Café.
One menu item this city could do without is... overcooked green beans.
My last meal in Phoenix would be... fried chicken, yams and cabbage at Mrs. White'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
