Although I’m currently a food, beverage, and travel writer and member of the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association, I was a picky eater, as my parents like to remind me. My love affair with food began in my teens with joining mom in the kitchen, discovering PBS cooking shows and a gift subscription to Gourmet magazine. Traveling was the next step in expanding my culinary horizons. When I was 22, I spent three months in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. Memorable dishes included Moreton Bay Bugs (slipper lobsters) in Sydney, kokoda and kava in Fiji, poisson cru in Tahiti, meat pies and pavlova in New Zealand and kalua pua’a and lomi lomi in Hawaii. Since then, I’ve also traveled to Mexico, France, England, Ireland and Greece, learning about culture and culinary traditions along the way (if anyone can steer me to a Thessaloniki-style bougatsa in Arizona, I’d be forever grateful!).
Christina’s Recent Articles
meet chef russell lacasce & hear his favorite places to eat & drink
When Russell LaCasce took the reins as executive chef of Hotel Valley Ho in 2017, he knew he was stepping into something special. Following Chuck Wiley and the culinary team who had built the hotel’s
vincent on camelback | french dining
While the newest or glitziest restaurants tend to dominate today’s social media feeds, some places have fed a city long enough to become a part of its culinary identity. Vincent on Camelback in Phoenix is
indibar | indian restaurant in phoenix
When Managing Partner Jonathan Rodriguez and his longtime friend, Executive Chef Nigel Lobo, opened Indibar in March, their vision was clear. “We wanted to show the complexity of Indian food and how the cuisine can
toscana | italian in scottsdale
Angelo Mazzei of Toscana Wood Fired Italian in Scottsdale is as much a storyteller as he is a restaurateur. He moves from table to table, sharing the details of his dishes with diners who are
dimaggio’s italian restaurant in scottsdale
A slice of the Big Apple found its way to the desert when New York transplants Brandon and Michele Gioffre couldn’t track down the East Coast Italian flavors they craved. Rather than lamenting what they
modern american & craft cocktails | liquor pig
It’s Friends & Family preview weekend at Liquor Pig, and the room is buzzing. I greet Cory Oppold of Course Restaurant with a hug, then chat with Matt Carter of The Mission, Zinc Bistro, and
Christina’s Recent Podcasts
Highball | Podcast #103
Highball is a neighborhood cocktail destination that has become recognized for top notch drinks and atmosphere. Since their recent open, they have already won awards for their creations. Join us on this episode as Eric
Creekside Inn Sedona | Podcast #101
Creekside Inn Sedona is a luxurious bed & breakfast that will make you never want to leave. Just a few minutes walk from shopping, dining, and hiking, this destination is one of our new favorite
Celebration Episode | Podcast #100 Part 1
A little over two years ago, we launched A Taste of AZ Podcast. It was May of 2020 and we launched the show as a way to spread news & info about what was going
Lom Wong | Podcast #76
Lom Wong is at the top of the list for PHX’s most popular new restaurants. This restaurant is becoming renowned for not only their delicious Thai food, but also a long list of spectacular cocktails.
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho | Podcast #73
Chef Russell LaCasce and his crew at ZuZu make food as tasty is it is diverse. Not only can you dine at this iconic spot for brunch, lunch, and dinner, but they also have an
Matt Carter at Fat Ox | Episode #68
Matt Carter is an undeniable legend of Arizona food and beverage. He is not only a driving force behind several local restaurants, but Chef Carter has also championed many up-and-coming chefs, including former podcast guest