Devour Culinary Classic Names 2026 Winners
Contact: Charlotte Shaff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Devour Culinary Classic Names 2026 Winners
Arizona’s Top Chefs and Purveyors Honored for Innovation, Sustainability and Culinary Excellence
PHOENIX (Feb. 23, 2026) – Local First Arizona announces the winners of the 18th annual Devour Culinary Classic, an event showcasing more than 100 of Arizona’s top restaurants and purveyors. The gathering was held Feb. 21–22 at Desert Botanical Garden in partnership with Art State Arizona.
A panel of top writers, culinary professionals and industry experts, including Bahar Anooshahr of The Arizona Republic; Craig Outhier of Phoenix Magazine; Eric Walters of A Taste of AZ; Kim Haasarud of Liquid Architecture; and retired food critic Howard Seftel, evaluated dishes served at the event.
Judges scored entries on taste, presentation, degree of difficulty and creativity to determine Best in Show, Best Use of Heritage Food, Gold Medal, Silver Medal, Bronze Medal honors and the Bob McClendon Locally Sourced Award. Formerly Best Use of Local Ingredients, the award was renamed this year to honor the legacy of Bob McClendon, a pioneering organic farmer and champion of Arizona-grown food. The award recognizes the dish that best showcases locally sourced ingredients, including indigenous, heirloom, low-water or desert-adapted foods that are more sustainable for Arizona..
This year, Devour also presented expanded People’s Choice Awards selected by event attendees, including Most Innovative Dish, Most Sustainable Dish, Best Beverage, Best Dessert and Favorite Packaged Good
Devour volunteers helped divert more than 3,100 pounds of waste from the landfill through recycling and composting efforts.
Devour Culinary Classic 2026 Award Winners:
Devour 2026 Best of Show:
Carcara- Prickly Pear Pork Belly, Jicama and Raspberry Caviar
Chef Dominique St Pierre
Double Gold Medal Winners:
Citizen Public House- Pork Belly Pastrami
Chef Bernie Kantak
Cuisine Privé- Ranchero Brisket with Crispy Root Vegetable Gratin
Chef Sandra Kazouh Ojeh
Gold Medal Winners:
Litchfield’s at the Wigwam- Duroc Heritage Pork Belly Confit on Heirloom Masa Arepa
Marisco Boys- Ceviche Mixto; Oyster Pie Tee Amuse
Westin Kierland - Wagyu Tataki
Uchi- Sake Tom Kha
Dahl Restaurant Group- Pineapple Pork Tostadas; Squash Apple Bisque
Feringhee Modern Indian- Dal Makhani Fondue; Chicken Saag Wala
IndiBar- Papdi Chaat with Mint and Tamarind; Afghani Murgh with Pickled Onions
Shift Kitchen and Bar- Juniper Nixtamalized Squash, Piñon ‘Nduja, Pangrattato
Urban Phoenix Concepts- Carnitas de Pato; Beef Birria Mac+Cheese Bombs
Desert Diamond Casino- Crabcake with Shortrib
Bob McClendon Locally Sourced Award:
George and Gather- Whipped Goat Cheese on Toasted Barrio Sourdough with Balsamic Date Pureé, Local Honey and Toasted Pecans
People's Choice: Amelia's Mexican Kitchen - Vegetarian Enchilada mole madre & vegetables
Heritage/ Indigenous Foods Awards:
Mujer Bonita- Crispy Carnitas Sope
Shift Kitchen and Bar- Juniper Nixtamalized Squash
The Rez: An Urban Eatery- Mesquite Crepe with Navajo Lamb and Prickly Pear
Classic Cooking Academy- Corn Consommé
People's Choice: Mujer Bonita Catering - Gluten Free Crispy carnitas on a blue corn sope with fire-roasted morita-orange sauce, topped with pickled onion relish and roasted garlic crema
Honorable Mention: Chefs Lynn Becker and Lori Hashimoto, Hana Japanese Eatery for their Chef Demonstration: Sip, Learn, and Discover Sake
People's Choice Awards:
Most Innovative Dish
Frites Street X Capital Farms - Tokyo + Sonoran Inspired Cottage Fry Smashburger
Best Beverage
Iconic Cocktail Co. - Strawberry Sage Margarita & Spiced Honey Old Fashioned
Best Dessert
Desert Diamond Casino - Pistachio Bread Pudding
Favorite Packaged Good
Kettle Heroes Popcorn
Silver Medal Winners:
Phoenician Tavern- Kobe Beef Sliders
Scratching the Plate- Mesquite Biscuit with Gravy
Humble Bistro- Cremini Sachetti; Lobster Shrimp Mini
McArthur's at the Arizona Biltmore- Southwest Shrimp Cocktail
Fellow Osteria- Beet Tartare
Clever Koi- Duck Postickers
Frites Street and Capital Farms- Tokyo and Sonoran- Inspired Cottage Fry Smash Burger
The Gladly- Tuna Crudo; Grilled Hereford Beef
JW Marriott Camelback Inn- Blackened Mahi Mahi with 3 Sisters Relish
JW Marriott Kembara- Crab Fried Rice
Latha- Shrimp Aquachiles; Sorrel
Steadfast Diner- Reuben Salad
Aioli Gourmet Burger- PBJ+A Burger with Sriracha Peanut Butter and Apricot Jelly
Arizona Wilderness - Oklazona Slider with Wagyu Beef; Confit Wings
Creations by Sergio- Slow-Braised Pollo Pibil with White Bean Pureé; Vegan Ceviche
Desert Diamond Casino- Surf and Turf
George and Gather-Whipped Goat Cheese on Toasted Barrio Sourdough with Balsamic Date Pureé, Local Honey and Toasted Pecans
Mujer Bonita Catering- Crispy Carnitas on Blue Corn Sope
Bronze Medal Winners:
Oliver’s Modern American- Ceviche Cups
The Rez: An Urban Eatery- Navajo Blue Corn Papusas; Mesquite Crepe with Lamb
Merkin Vineyards- Local Lamb Meatball; Shoyu Ramen with Garden Vegetables
Tryst Cafe- Rock Shrimp Salad
Kneller’s Deli- Corned Beef; Smoked Whitefish Salad
Phoenix Culinary Collective- Achiote Roaster Pork; Vegan Chorizo
The Herb Box- Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp
Salt + Sol at the Hilton- Salt Cured Bacon-wrapped Dates with Crow’s Dairy; Solano BLT
AC Lounge at Nortera- Harissa Chicken Tostada
Amelia’s Mexican Kitchen- Birria Enchilada Mole Madre
Classic Cooking Academy- Corn Consommé; Tepary Bean Hummus
Hearsay- Beet and Horseradish-cured Gravlax with Watermelon Radish Butter
Prado- Prime Ribeye Pincho with Butternut and Coconut Pureé
Gertrude’s by Tarbells- Crispy Duck Confit Tacos; XVOO-Poached Rock Shrimp
Renatta’s Hearth at the Arizona Biltmore- Smoked Brisket Tostones Rellenos
The 2026 Devour Culinary Classic was supported by Sprouts Farmers Market and the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, Bar & Restaurant Insurance, Edible Phoenix, Hensley Beer, Hustl Financial, Lyft, One Stop Mail, OneAZ Credit Union, Pomegranate Press, Q’d UP Print & Design, Refresh Glass, Southwest Event Rental, SRP, a taste of az, Tempe Tourism, Visit Tucson, Wholesum Family Farms and Wolf Cutlery.
Photos are available here.
About Local First Arizona
Established in 2003, Local First Arizona is a non-profit organization fiercely dedicated to driving inclusive community and economic development throughout Arizona. We have created a movement that champions a thriving and diverse economy, fostering community support and an unwavering sense of local pride and purpose in every Arizonan. Our work shapes the future of Arizona by advocating that every individual and community deserves the opportunity to thrive, and that entrepreneurship is at the core of any lasting economy. In rural, Tribal, suburban and urban communities across our great state, Local First is delivering resources to ensure a future focused on economic opportunity for all. Because our state is our story. Follow Local First Arizona on Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook or subscribe to the newsletter to receive regular updates on programs.
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