Best Sweet & Savory Cooking Classes
Tracy Dempsey Originals
Dessert diva Tracy Dempsey offers a diverse assortment of hands-on and demo classes year-round that range from crafting summer appetizers and gnocchi to making ice cream and cake decorating. If you’ve never tasted Dempsey’s sweet and/or savory fare, you’ll want to reserve your spot pronto. 1325 W. University Dr., Tempe, 602-376-9021, tracydempseyoriginals.com
Most Creative Packaging
Postino Wine Cult
The member perks of Postino’s wine club are nice, but for our money, it’s the thoughtfully executed deliverable itself. Each quarterly shipment is themed with on-topic playlists, cool art, fold-out posters and retro souvenirs like keychains and luggage tags. What can we say? We’re suckers for crafty marketing. postinowinecult.com
Best Reboot
Mama Lupita’s
It was a sad day when West Valley staple Mama Lupita’s Mexican restaurant burned down two years ago – so when it reopened in a new location on the main strip of downtown Glendale this May, it was time for a fiesta. With a slick rebrand and new bar concept, Mexology, its return packs a spicy punch. Try the eye-popping Dragon Fruit Sneaky Leak or the refreshing Kiwi Kiss. No te preocupes – the 25-year-old Mama Lupita’s family recipes from Michoacán remain the same. 5704 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, 623-200-4253, facebook.com/mamalupitas
Best Reason to Meet Two Guys Named Chris
Sweets and Charcuterie Boards at Dos Chris’
This 16th street food shop is owned by Chris Jeremy Barbara and Chris Joseph Barbara. The couple brings their creative brilliance to cakes, cookies and pastries, but the real draw is the charcuterie-board program – decadent sprawls of fruits, cheeses, meats, nuts, veggies, pickled goodies, even edible flowers. 6007 N. 16th St., Phoenix, 602-837-8899, doschrisaz.com
Best Pop-Up Chef
Erick Pineda
Remember the days of tracking your favorite food truck on Twitter to find where they parked? These days, we’re stalking pop-ups, and the No. 1 object of our obsession is chef Erick Pineda. His soulful Mexican concept, Requinto, has popped up at Central Records, Gracie’s Tax Bar and Pita Jungle, to name a few, and he has a regular brunch residency at Linger Longer Lounge. One bite of Requinto’s green chilaquiles will have you pursuing Pineda, too. @requinto_phx
Best Restaurant Collab
Hai Noon
Nobuo Fukuda is a legendary James Beard Award-winning chef. Sloane McFarland is the guy behind Welcome Diner and one of the most creative people in town. Together they’ve created a must-visit South Scottsdale spot with artfully crafted cocktails and Michelin-level cuisine. Sit at the bar and nibble on small Japanese bites or go for the gusto with Fukuda’s Sundays-only omakase. Don’t miss the bag of mushrooms. (Trust us.) Papago Motor Hotel, 7017 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale, 480-306-4023, hainoonaz.com
