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
mexican seafood in phoenix | marisco boys
Where a Coco’s Bakery once served bottomless coffee to the downtown 7th Street corridor, a modern Mexican seafood restaurant now serves dozens of oysters, bottles of wine, and rounds of tropical cocktails. Over its entrance,
award winning italian & pizza in peoria | fabio on fire
The first thing you notice at Fabio on Fire is the oven. Set between the two dining rooms, the imported Mugnaini wood-fired oven is impossible to miss. It’s the heart of the restaurant, burning ash
authentic japanese in phoenix | hana japanese eatery
A career in food and travel writing comes with great perks, but it means my calendar is packed with assigned restaurants, media event coverage, and stories that take me around the country. It also means
crudos, sushi, & small plates in phoenix | mixela
Valentina Huerta has a gift for making you feel like the most welcome person in the room. It’s my first visit to Mixela (pronounced me-shell-uh), and one by one, she places her husband’s plates before
premium low sodium spice blends | ra seasonings
It’s a busy week for Ryan Alarie. He’s introducing new fans to his award-winning spice blends at three back-to-back festivals, but the founder of RA Seasonings still made time to talk about how it all
natural arizona wine | cactus cru
Cactus Cru founder Timo Geis’ meandering path didn’t follow the line of some traditional winemakers. Born to a French father and an Indian mother who had settled in Sedona, he grew up between Old World
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