Chef Dustin Christofolo: 2026 Southwest Chef Series
At Quiessence at The Farm at South Mountain, Chef Dustin Christofolo starts with what is growing nearby. As executive chef and co-owner, he works closely with Soil & Seed Garden and Arizona farmers to create a dining experience connected to its Phoenix setting.
Having experienced Christofolo’s culinary expertise firsthand, we couldn’t be more excited to feature what makes him a standout leader in Arizona’s dining scene.
2026 BOSW Southwest Chef Series Hub
Chef Dustin Christofolo at a glance
Restaurant: Quiessence at The Farm
Additional concept: Morning Glory Café
Location: Phoenix, Arizona
Role: Executive chef and co-owner of Quiessence
Cuisine: Seasonal farm-to-table dining with Italian influences
Website: qatthefarm.com
Instagram: @QattheFarm
An education in Italian cooking and wine
Christofolo studied at the Italian Culinary Academy in New York City and La Scuola Internazionale di Cucina Italiana in Parma, Italy. His education provided a foundation for the handcrafted pastas and other preparations that have become central to his work.
He also completed the Wine Immersion Program at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley, expanding his understanding of how food and wine contribute to a complete meal.
At Quiessence, that combination supports both the kitchen and a wine program. His career has also included an invitation to cook at the James Beard House in 2016 and participation in the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America: Phoenix event in 2017.
Recipe for success
Christofolo’s approach depends on close relationships with the people growing his ingredients. Soil & Seed Garden helps shape the direction of the menu, allowing the kitchen to respond to what is ready to harvest.
Handmade components, including house-cured meats, allow him to carry that attention through the preparation process. Rather than relying on a fixed collection of dishes, he builds meals around the products available and the techniques best suited to them.
The result is a tasting-menu experience that changes with the farm and rewards guests with something particular to their visit.
Chef Dustin Christofolo’s impact on Arizona’s dining scene
Christofolo’s work offers diners a direct connection to Arizona agriculture. At Quiessence, local produce is central to the experience, giving guests a chance to discover what the region can grow and how it can be used.
His partnerships with farmers and purveyors also support the food community beyond the restaurant. Those relationships bring regional products to the table while making the work of growers part of the dining story.
Through this approach, Christofolo contributes to a broader understanding of Phoenix dining: a city where agricultural spaces and destination restaurants can exist together.
Signature dish: Handcrafted seasonal pasta
Christofolo’s signature is a category of cooking rather than one unchanging recipe: handcrafted pasta featuring ingredients harvested from Soil & Seed Garden.
The preparation connects his Italian training with his daily work at The Farm. Making pasta by hand gives him a foundation he can adapt to different harvests, allowing the ingredients to determine the dish’s direction.
Explore the 2026 Southwest Chef Series
This profile is part of The Best of the Southwest’s 2026 Southwest Chef Series, celebrating the chefs and culinary leaders shaping dining across Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Texas and Southern California.
