^ I Support Local Community Journalism Support the independent voice of Phoenix and help keep the future of the New Times clear. It’s International Women’s Day, the peak calendar of Women’s History Month, and we have stories to tell of local chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, and even food seed vendors. Let’s take a look back at some recent articles we’ve published about women in the food and drink world of Phoenix – each one is delivering the message, “Choose to Challenge.” Baker and artist Monir Hosseini, owner of the White Orchid bakery. White Orchid Bakery ‘With White Orchid, the artist Monir Hosseini is channeling her creativity into Persian sweets’We showed up unannounced at the house of Monir Hosseini, the owner of the White Orchid bakery, but she nonetheless invited New Times to smile (and roll in her hair) for a chat. Hosseini is an artist and calligrapher, but her work has not been accepted into the Old Town Scottsdale Galleries. She turned to baking and has been creating popular Persian sweets ever since. Gastronomy Melissa Maggiore Meyer, daughter of Tomaso’s Italian Restaurant founder head chef Tomaso Maggiore. The Maggiore group ‘Melissa Maggiore Meyer will open her own restaurant this spring’ The restaurateur Melissa Maggiore Meyer, daughter of the Italian restaurant founder Tomaso Maggiore von Tomaso, is opening her own restaurant this spring (in April to be precise). The Italian Daughter Cucina + Cocktails is operated from Tomaso’s Italian Kitchen at 23655 North Scottsdale Road, # 120, in Scottsdale, as a kind of piano bar concept with handmade pasta, Neapolitan pizza and even gelato martinis. EXPAND Jennifer Kümmel, founder of The Joy Bus and The Joy Bus Diner. Katherine Davis-Young ‘The Joy Bus’ Jennifer Caraway has a new book and beer,’ Inspired by her close friend Joy, who died of ovarian cancer, Jennifer Caraway started The Joy Bus in 2011 to provide meals to local cancer patients and their families . “We wanted to do something to improve their lives,” says Kümmel. “Good food and good conversation can help some.” She recently spoke to us about winning Food Networks Chopped, her new cookbook, her new Joy Bus beers, and her ongoing charity work. EXPAND Charleen Badman, award-winning chef and co-owner of FnB, has taken on a different challenge. Taylor Jade Photography ‘Arizona’s School Lunches Are Getting A Significant Arizona Boost’Charleen Badman, award-winning chef at FnB, has her eyes set on another challenge: creating recipes with indigenous ingredients for schools across Arizona. Although Badman has risen to the pinnacle of restaurant culture, she thinks this new, seemingly humble task is impressive. Why? She believes it is more difficult to come up with a recipe for a school canteen than it is for FnB. Tamara Stanger, former Cotton & Copper cook, also helps out with lunch for children. EXPAND Cotton & Copper’s Tamara Stanger will travel to Utah but keep some roots in the Valley. Jacob Tyler Dunn’s Cotton & Copper is about to close, with chef Tamara Stanger moving into a restaurant in Utah’propos Chef Stanger. Cotton & Copper, the groundbreaking restaurant in south Tempe, closed in early February. After that, Stanger decided to leave for Utah, where she will cook in a restaurant by a lake. Read about her time as one of the Valley’s most fascinating chefs, her and her business partner Sean Traynor’s decision to close their restaurant, and what she envisions for future dishes to feed these happy Utahns. EXPAND Head Chef Krystal Harris opened her vegan restaurant in South Phoenix in 2021. Krystal Harris ‘Now Open: Krystal Harris’ Early Bird Vegan Eatery in South Phoenix ‘During Chef Krystal Harris’s decade as a personal cook for professional basketball players, she often prepared pre-meals at these athletes’ homes in Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. This year, she opened her new Early Bird Vegan restaurant on 17th Street and Broadway Road near her home in south Phoenix so her community can enjoy the same healthy food as her former customers. EXPAND Danielle Carlock discusses the new plants on Mesa Community College’s Red Mountain campus. Lauren Cusimano ‘The Maricopa Native Seed Library Has Free Food Plant Seeds (And Nice Backstory)’ In the beginning, Scottsdale Community College faculty member Danielle Carlock’s sabbatical project was aimed at tackling food insecurity for college students. But when SCC closed, it instead expanded the other part of the project: the free Maricopa Native Seed Library. Now Carlock is addressing food insecurity for the whole valley … kind of … by offering free food crop (and regular plant) seeds for pickup and mail. EXPAND Little O’s owner and operator Summer Anesin. Summer Anesin ‘First Taste: Little O’s Is a Little Something Special’Located at the food-court-like intersection of Seventh Avenue and McDowell Road in the Willo District, Little O’s is a scaled-down version of the OHSO Brewery – and we recommend it. “The menu will be a little different, the space will be much smaller, but the atmosphere will be the same neighborhood feeling as at OHSO,” says owner and operator Summer Anesin, describing the atmosphere. Anesin started as a server nine years ago when the first OHSO opened in Arcadia. now she runs this joint. And what a joint. EXPAND Rancho Pinot chef and owner Chrysa Robertson was still making waves in 2020. Jackie Mercandetti Photo ‘Trump Trolls, James Beard Award Relief, and More Tales of 2020 From Chef Chrysa Robertson’ Rancho Pinot is open for take away, but owner, chef and overall well-groomed lady Chrysa Robertson says 2020 was an incredibly long trip. Along the way: Trump trolls, relief at the James Beard Awards (Robertson was nominated but the awards were canceled) and the pay of their employees. She looks forward to the day when it is easier to make someone happy with food. EXPAND Dana Dumas, Owner of SugarJam Bake Shop & Bistro. Melissa Fossom ‘Hidden Gem: SugarJam BakeShop & Bistro, where Dana Dumas goes out of his way to know your order. Combination of southern restaurant, pastry shop and bar – all of which are still relevant in her new restaurant. “I want this place to be like Cheers, where you feel seen,” says owner Dana Dumas. “We’ll know you and your order before you sit down.” “Introducing the James Beard Foundation Women of Arizona Alliance and Menu Program” Bonus: This event was in January, but it’s still cool. Read how the James Beard Foundation Women of Arizona, a movement that then involved 15 female cooks, launched its first initiative in the form of a series of tasting menus to take away in the metropolis of Phoenix. Head over to the AZ Women in Food website for their next event with attending chefs including Lori Hashimoto from Hana Japanese Eatery, Danielle Leoni from The Breadfruit & Rum Bar, Lori Hassler from The Farish House and Sasha Raj from 24 Carrots strong. Keep Phoenix New Times Free … Since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we want it to stay that way. We offer our readers free access to concise coverage of local news, food and culture. We produce stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with bold reporting, stylish writing, and staff who have won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Feature Writing Award to the Casey Medal for meritorious journalism. But with the existence of local journalism under siege and the setbacks in advertising revenues having a bigger impact, it is now more important than ever for us to raise funds to fund our local journalism. You can help by joining our “I Support” membership program which allows us to continue to cover Phoenix without paywalls.
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