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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with CJ Kahley from Wayward

Marilyn HawkesSeptember 2, 2026

Kahley runs the show at Wayward in Old Town Scottsdale, guiding the gastropub’s lively global cuisine as it rebranded this summer from Liquor Pig due to an ownership shakeup.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Devon McConville of Matilda’s All-Day Café

Marilyn HawkesJuly 1, 2026

After walking away from a finance career in 2015, Devon McConville longed for more fulfilling work.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Zak Hatch of Caldwell County BBQ

Marilyn HawkesMay 5, 2026

Trained by Caldwell owner Travis Taylor, Hatch hopes to pay it forward by mentoring new employees. We recently caught up with Hatch between pulling and wrapping briskets.

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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Rich Hinojosa

Marilyn HawkesMarch 1, 2026

Best known as the chef-owner of CRUjiente Tacos, a Valley favorite that closed after a nine-year run in May 2025, Rich Hinojosa is turning the pag

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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Esther Boado

Marilyn HawkesDecember 26, 2025

Sushi was not on Esther Boado’s brain when she first worked in restaurants to cover expenses in college.

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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Antonia Kane

Marilyn HawkesNovember 5, 2025

When pastry chef Antonia Kane learned that she was nominated for a James Beard Award for her work at COURSE earlier this year, she was genuinely shocked.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&ARenowned Chef Jason Franey Elevates the Phoenix Culinary Scene

Marilyn HawkesSeptember 11, 2025

Franey recently dished on using cookbooks as a source of creative inspiration and Phoenix’s overlooked strengths as an emerging culinary city.

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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with James Piazza

Marilyn HawkesJuly 1, 2025

The owner of Bad Jimmy's sat down with PHOENIX to dish about his crazy good burgers – and the even crazier stories sizzling behind the scenes.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Amber Kovarik of George & Gather

Marilyn HawkesMay 1, 2025

The indoor/outdoor restaurant, which also has a grab-and-go market with specialty coffees and pastries, opened in mid-March.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Scott Holmes of Little Miss BBQ

Marilyn HawkesMarch 5, 2025

Several years before opening Little Miss BBQ in 2014, Scott Holmes learned about the world of Texas barbecue when he and his future wife, Bekke, went to visit her parents in Austin.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Tony Chilingaryan of Kabob Grill N’ Go

Marilyn HawkesJanuary 7, 2025

In 2022, The New York Times named Kabob Grill N’ Go one of the 50 best restaurants in America, and in 2024, Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives stopped by for a visit.

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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Chef Jason Alford

Marilyn HawkesNovember 3, 2024

We recently sat down with the kitchen vet to see what’s in store this season.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Chef Doug Robson

Marilyn HawkesSeptember 7, 2024

Along with chef Jared Porter, Robson has created a diverse menu with everything from crudo dishes to pastas to steaks. We took a peek behind the curtain.

CONTINUE READING
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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Cory Oppold

Marilyn HawkesAugust 5, 2024

Chef Cory Oppold has spent time in some of the Valley’s best kitchens, including Binkley’s, Tarbell’s and Atlas Bistro, before opening COURSE. We caught up with Oppold just after COURSE celebrated its first anniversary.

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Q&AEat Beat Interrogation with Crystal Kass of Valentine

Marilyn HawkesJanuary 5, 2024

Eater recognized her as one of five pastry chefs nationally who are defining restaurant desserts.

CONTINUE READING

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Charles Lohrmann

As managing editor and associate publisher of Texas Parks and Wildlife magazine, Charles Lohrmann experienced astounding natural wonders, from canoeing in Deep East Texas to trekking into the remote canyonlands west of Del Rio to view Archaic rock art. From TPWD, Lohrmann moved to Texas Highways, the award-winning Official Travel Magazine of Texas, where he was editor and publisher, and directed coverage of destinations in every corner of Texas. As editor of Texas Co-op Power magazine, he guided content development — including travel, history and culture — for the largest circulation publication in the state of Texas, reaching more than 3.5 million readers. Now residing in Santa Fe, N.M., Lohrmann has also traveled throughout Arizona many times, in particular to the Hopi and Navaho tribal lands, as well as to the Tohono O’odham nation.

Jenna Watters

Jenna Watters was born and raised in Sedona, Arizona, which is where her love of music began. She started singing in church as a young girl, joined a traveling choir that toured all over Arizona, and even helped teach the choir her senior year at Sedona Red Rock High School. In 2005, she graduated high school and spent a couple years at Arizona State University before she decided to travel around Europe, and it was during her travels that she decided that a career in music was calling her name. She linked up with her friend, Daniel Watters and they began writing songs via e-mail and would meet up during holiday breaks back home to Sedona to play small coffee shop shows for their friends and family. Fast forward to 15 years later; Jenna now lives in Austin with her husband Daniel and their son Johnny and has achieved her dream of becoming a full time musician with their band, The Watters. She also sings in various other side projects in town and teaches yoga on the side. Both Jenna and Daniel’s families still live in Arizona and they often travel back home for holidays and shows.

Jennifer Baluch

Jenn is a celebrated food influencer and a stand out in Arizona’s culinary scene. Honored as Best Food Influencer and recognized for her TikTok and Instagram accounts by PHOENIX magazine’s Best of the Valley, Jenn has become a trusted voice for food lovers across the state.

Her journey began during the challenging days of the Covid-19 pandemic, when she started spotlighting local restaurants to support struggling businesses.

Since then, Jenn has earned a reputation for her expertise in authentic Mexican cuisine, her passion for mom-and-pop eateries, and her love of dive bars and hidden gems.

Her genuine love for food shines through in her videos, where her expressions while tasting each dish say it all-no words needed.

Known for her honest yet thoughtful reviews, Jenn has built a loyal audience that appreciates her down-to-earth personality and approachability.

When she’s not discovering Arizona’s best bites, you might find her snapping selfies with fans or sharing her latest food finds.

Brian Goddard

Brian Goddard is a Scottsdale/Phoenix based Photographer, Videographer and Designer with a focus on Architecture, Food, Travel, Adventure, Garden and Lifestyle Content Creation.

Brian began his career as a Graphic Designer, Art Director and Photographer for Organic Gardening magazine and Organic Style magazine at Rodale, in Pennsylvania, Disney Adventures magazine in New York City, before relocating to Arizona to Design and Art Direct Phoenix Home & Garden magazine and PHOENIX magazine.

Brian has a lifelong interest in Adventure, Culture, Travel, Cuisine, Plants and Lifestyle, which makes Arizona a perfect place to Live, Work and Play.