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