Local First Arizona recently announced the winners of the 17th annual Devour Culinary Classic. The event showcasing Arizona’s top chefs was hosted Feb. 22-23 at Desert Botanical Garden in partnership with the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance.
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A taste of culinary mastery
A panel of top food critics and chefs tasted dishes served by 120 participating restaurants and purveyors, scoring on taste, presentation, degree of difficulty and creativity to award the Best in Show, Best Use of Heritage Food, People’s Choice Awards, Gold Medal, Silver Medal and Bronze Medal.
The Best Use of Heritage Food award honors the best dish with ingredients that are indigenous, heirloom, low-water, desert-adapted or locally sourced (within a 100-mile radius of the restaurant) and thus more sustainable for Arizona. “Increasing the growing and eating of climate-smart foods is essential for the future of our state,” says a representative of Local First Arizona. “Devour volunteers helped divert more than two tons of waste from the landfill to recycling or composting, for an impressive 57% diversion rate.”
Devour Culinary Classic 2025 Award Winners:
Best in Show
TPC Scottsdale: Al Pastor Pork Belly Taco, Chef Matthew O’Harris
Runners up:
Chilte: Prawns with Peanut Mole, Chef Lawrence “LT” Smith
The Gladly: Cactus Ham with Chicharron and Nopales, Chef Bernie Kantak
Valentine: Sonoran Hot Dog, Chef Donald Hawk
Best Use Of Heritage Food
Litchfield’s at the Wigwam: Buffalo and Tepary Bean Stew
Runner up:
Nella’s Innovative Kreations: Corn Tortilla with Tepary Bean Hummus, Prickly Pear and Sonora White Wheat Berries
People’s Choice Awards
Best Savory Bite: Tie between Clever Koi’s Pork Chashu Gordita and Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) Chefs’ Sonoran Beef Roulade
Best Sweet Bite: Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) Chefs: Seville Orange and Prickly Pear Verrine
Best Sip: Iconic Cocktail Co.
Gold Medal
The Gladly
Valentine
Chilte
Litchfield’s at the Wigwam
TPC Scottsdale
Silver Medal
Aioli Gourmet Burger
Barrio Bread and Sonoran Pasta Co.
Cafe Lalibela
Clever Koi
Dahl Restaurant Group
Dust Cutter
Fellow Osteria
Feringhee Modern Indian Cuisine
Gertrude’s at the Desert Botanical Garden
Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas Bluefire Grille
JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa
Kembara at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa
Lylo Swim Club
Mujer Bonita Catering
Nella’s Innovative Kreations
Prado at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia
Que Sazon South American Cuisine
Roka Akor
SanTan Brewing Company
Zuzu at the Hotel Valley Ho
Bronze Medal
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
Azlin at the Clarendon
Barley & Smoke
Carcara
Faro & Brag at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Gastronomic Union of Tucson (GUT) Chefs
Herb Box
Humble Bistro
The Joy Bus
Latha Restaurant and Bar
Minnow
Oliver’s Modern American
Phoenix Culinary Collective
PV Pie & Wine
Renata’s Hearth
The REZ an urban eatery
Uchi
Yellowbell