Wasn't it just New Year's Eve? Weren't we just shivering in our sweaters and jackets? All of a sudden it's March, and it feels like summer's right around the corner. No complaints from me, buddy. I love this time of year, not only because of the balmy weather, but because there's so much to do -- almost too much to do, except that it's nice to have options.
Two weekends from now, I know what I'm looking forward to: West of Western Culinary Festival, March 14 and 15 at the Phoenix Art Museum. This is one of the top culinary occasions of the whole year, known for its showcase of high-profile local chefs, who dish up mouthwatering morsels from tents set up around the museum's sculpture garden. It's a great setting for trying dishes from some of the best restaurants in town (and it sure beats logging the miles to get to all of them). Here are some of my pics from last year's event.
Anyway, the WOW planners have just released the full list of participating chefs (although I'm told that even more are still being confirmed as we speak). Check it out:
Arcadia Farms, Carolyn Ellis
Atlas Bistro, Brandon Crouser and Joshua Reisner
BLT Steak, Camelback Inn, Marc Hennessy
The Breadfruit, Dwayne Allen
The Clarendon Hotel
Cork, Brian Peterson
Digestif, Peyton Curry
District, Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel, Nathan Crouser
Ganache This!, Judy Palmer
ICON, Wyndham Phoenix, Steven Zimmerman
Il Terrazzo, The Phoenician, Victor Casanova
Kai, Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, Michael O'Dowd
Lisa G Café and Wine Bar, Lisa Giungo
LV Bistro, The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Forest Hamrick
Meritage, JW Marriott Desert Ridge
Mosaic Restaurant, Deborah Knight
Mucho Gusto Mexican Bistro, Chad Withycombe
Olive & Ivy Restaurant and Marketplace, Clint Woods
Peeters Belgian Pastries & Chocolates, Patrick Peeters
The Phoenician, Paul Carter
Pinata's Mexican Restaurant, Carlos Marquez
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort, Anthony DeMuro
Posh, Joshua Hebert
Prado, The Intercontinental Montelucia Resort and Spa, Claudio Urciuoli
Quiessence Restaurant, Greg LaPrad
Simply Bread, Jeffrey Yankellow
Sol y Sombra Spanish Kitchen & Lounge, Aaron May
Taggia, Firesky Resort, James Siao
Talavera, The Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, Mel Mecinas
Tapino Kitchen and Wine Bar, James Porter
Trente-Cinq 35, Lionel Geuskens
True Food Kitchen, Michael Stebner
The Turquoise Room, John Sharpe
Ristorante Tuscany, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Brian Archibald
The Wild Thaiger, Olashawn Hasadinrtana
