In the weeks leading up to Dish Fest, we’re presenting our readers with exclusive chef interviews so they can learn the stories behind the Best Dishes being served at the third annual food festival.
Fabian Ocampo, chef-owner of Que Sazon with his wife Julia Ocampo, grew up in a family of cooks and restaurateurs in Colombia. When he arrived in St. Louis at the age of 20, he naturally found work in the restaurant industry, eventually buying a food truck and dispensing both tacos and empanadas to a clientele who knew plenty about the former but considerably less about the latter. In 2017, after a move to Scottsdale to be close to family, the couple started another South American-inflected food truck they named Que Sazon. After receiving encouragement from their loyal fan base, they moved from their mobile restaurant to the historic Teeter House in Heritage Square in March of 2023. Here’s what Fabian has to say about Colombia, the food he makes here in Phoenix and what he has in store for Dish Fest.
What is the origin story behind your Best Dish?
We’ll be doing empanadas. We can do most of the prep work beforehand, and they’re ready quickly, which is a good thing, given that we don’t have much help. They’re super-delicious, and they make a great impression.
What makes them the perfect Best Dish?
Every Latin American country has some version of the empanada. We’ll be doing the Colombiana, which is stuffed with potatoes and shredded beef — marinated for 12 hours, then cooked for 12 hours. Our made-from-scratch dough is deep-fried, so it’s crispy and flaky. We’ll top the empanadas with chimichurri, sofrito sauce and cotija cheese.
What is one of your favorite food memories?
My mother’s family was large (12 brothers and sisters), and my favorite thing to do was to go to my grandmother’s farm, where there was fruit hanging from the trees and tomatoes in the garden, everything so fresh and good. There would be meat cooking in a pit, and everyone would be sitting around relaxed — eating, drinking and enjoying being together.
What do most Americans not know about Colombia and Colombian food?
I love my country. It’s such a beautiful place, but people often associate it with drugs and cartels. The only thing many Americans know about our food is Colombian coffee! Many dishes have a sweet, tropical element, and our made-from-scratch arepas are fantastic. If they travel to Colombia, they come back with a completely different idea of it.
What are you most looking forward to about Dish Fest?
It’s a great way to see other restaurants and cuisines, to meet people and see what they’re doing. It’s a diverse city. Bringing people together keeps your mind going and growing.
