2026 BOSW Southwest Chef Series
Meet 41 chefs and culinary leaders shaping the future of dining across the Southwest.
The Southwest’s culinary identity cannot be defined by a single flavor, ingredient or tradition. It’s shaped by family recipes, Indigenous foodways, borderlands influences, global perspectives, local agriculture and the chefs who transform those stories into memorable dining experiences.
The inaugural 2026 BOSW Southwest Chef Series celebrates 41 chefs and culinary leaders working across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas and Southern California. Their restaurants range from intimate neighborhood destinations and independent concepts to acclaimed hotel restaurants and growing national brands.
Throughout the series, The Best of the Southwest will share individual profiles exploring each chef’s background, restaurant concepts, signature dishes, influence and contributions to the region’s evolving dining landscape.
Meet the chefs
Chefs are listed under their primary state of eligibility. Those with restaurant concepts or active culinary businesses in additional Southwest states are also cross-referenced in the applicable state sections. Each chef or culinary leader is counted only once in the series total.
Profiles will be linked below — in no particular order — as they are published throughout October.
Arizona
- Jose Contreras — Amelia’s and Carrizal
- Christopher Curtiss — North Italia
- Drew Anderson — Kai
- Allen Rubio — Ko’sin
- John Marchetti — Carcara
- Sam DeMarco — Weft & Warp Art Bar + Kitchen
- Cory Oppold — COURSE
- Gio Osso — Virtù Honest Craft
- Evon Profitt — Haymaker
- Alex Stratta — Belmont Kitchen & Cocktails
- Dustin Christofolo — Quiessence at The Farm
- Thomas Griese — JING Scottsdale
- Rochelle Daniel — Atria
- Richard Wiggins — Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
- Chad Diamond — Caldwell County BBQ
Additional Arizona connection
- Stephen Ingber — MileHighCook serves Scottsdale, Phoenix and Sedona (primary profile listed under Colorado)
Colorado
- Jessica Biederman — Urban Farmer Denver
- Angel Munoz Jr. — Colletta Vail Valley
- Alex Grenier — Mercantile
- Jesus “Jesusio” Silva — Sushi Sora at The Golden Mill
- Josh Hood — Champagne Tiger
- Troy Guard — TAG Restaurant Group; Guard and Grace in Denver and Houston
- Sean Huggard — Shucking Good Hospitality
- Dana Rodriguez — Carne and Work & Class
- Stephen Ingber — MileHighCook, serving Colorado, Utah and Arizona
- Quincy Cherrett — Madeline
- Darrel Truett — Barolo Grill
- Harrison Porter — BearLeek
- Michael Erickson — Spruce Farm & Fish
New Mexico
- Marc Quiñones — La Plazuela
Nevada
- Kim Canteenwalla — Honey Salt, Las Vegas; Crown Block, Dallas
- Elizabeth Blau — Honey Salt, Las Vegas; Crown Block, Dallas
- Aaron Murphy — Gregory’s Mesquite Grill
Utah
- Nick Zocco — Urban Hill
Additional Utah connection
- Stephen Ingber — MileHighCook serves Park City, Deer Valley, Moab and St. George (primary profile listed under Colorado)
Texas
- David Rule — Millie Leigh’s
- Jacqueline Rojo — Ámbar Restaurante
- Lawrence Acosta — Ámbar Restaurante
- Bryan Caswell — Latuli
Additional Texas connections
- Kim Canteenwalla and Elizabeth Blau — Crown Block, Dallas (primary profiles listed under Nevada)
- Troy Guard — Guard and Grace, Houston (primary profile listed under Colorado)
Southern California
- Linda Garcia — Topside Terrace Kitchen & Bar
- Charbel Hayek — Ladyhawk
- William Eick — Pacific Point
- Leonel De Leon — Trellis & Tide Kitchen & Bar
About the Southwest Chef Series
The BOSW Southwest Chef Series recognizes the chefs and culinary leaders helping define dining throughout the region. Participants represent an array of backgrounds, cuisines, restaurant styles and career paths.
Each chef receives an individual, permanent profile featuring information provided through the submission process. Profiles may include the chef’s background, restaurant concepts, professional accomplishments, regional influence and signature dishes. Profile lengths vary according to the information available and the chef’s individual story.
Editorial transparency
The 2026 Southwest Chef Series is an editorial project produced by The Best of the Southwest. Series profiles are based on submitted materials, independent research and editorial review.
New chef profiles will be published throughout October. Bookmark this page as links are added, and follow The Best of the Southwest on Instagram for new profile announcements and highlights from across the region.
