Cathalena E. Burch Barrio Bread owner/baker Don Guerra is heading to Chicago in June to possibly pick up the highest honor in the foodiverse — the coveted James Beard Award.
Guerra is the first James Beard nominee to make the final cut since Daniel Contreras won a James Beard America's Classics Award in 2018 with his popular El Guero Canelo Sonoran hot dog restaurant.Guerra was one of three 2022 James Beard Tucson semifinalists alongside Tito & Pep chef-owner John Martinez and Boca Tacos y Tequila chef-owner Maria Mazon.
Other Arizona James Beard finalists are previous winner Chris Bianco, owner of Pizzeria Bianco and Tratto, who is up for outstanding restaurateur; Phoenix Mexican restaurant Bacanora for best new restaurant; and Giovanni Scorzo of Scottsdale's Andreoli Italian Grocer, Best Chef: Southwest — the category that Tucson's Martinez and Mazon were knocked out of the running for.
New restaurant Bata, from the owners of Reilly Pizza, brings a fire-kissed menu to downtown Guadalajara Grille 5955 W. Arizona Pavilions DriveThis Mexican restaurant at 5955 W. Arizona Pavilions Drive is the third location for chef-owner Seth Holzman, which include Guadalajara Grill Mexican, 4901 E. Broadway, and Guadalajara Grill Fiesta, 750 N. Kolb Road. It has the same menu of classic Mexican food.
Tucsonans might recognize The Parish as a restaurant that transforms an Oro Valley strip mall into a shot of New Orleans. The Delta will feature the same Southern Hospitality it will be a bar with a grill menu instead of the Parish's gumbo.