Devour: Phoenix, Arizona’s Culinary Classic Event

Imagine a vibrant epicurean festival that engages all of your senses simultaneously. The aroma of delectable food designed by renowned chefs, an abundance of wine, music in the air, eccentric artwork, and a magnificent panorama of desert plants and gardens — this is the Devour, Phoenix’s Culinary Classic Event. The annual event showcases over 70 vendors, including Arizona’s top chefs, wineries, sommeliers, cicerones, and artists.

The beloved event, held at Desert Botanical Garden, is organized by Local First Arizona in conjunction with Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance. Their mission includes arranging an impressive panel of top food critics and journalists nationwide to score food on taste, presentation, and degree of difficulty. Best in Show, Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals are awarded following the event. Moreover, there is a new category, the Heritage Food Medal, that praises the use of indigenous and sustainable ingredients in Arizona.

2024 marks the 15th annual Devour Culinary Classic, and each year, it becomes more prestigious as more celebrated chefs unleash extraordinary flavors of their dishes with a distinctively artistic approach.

There are two ticket options, yet both sell out within days. Early entry tickets get you in at 10 am and offer a more laid-back experience. It is also a great way to move about the gardens comfortably and gives you entrance to the VIP lounge area. General admission opens at 11:30 am, and while those ticket holders bring the buzz of excitement, many more people are coming through the doors at once, so be prepared to wait in lines. Whichever ticket you purchase, I advise you to dress comfortably and bring a tote to hold your waters and any flyers or giveaways you might pick up. Each person will be given a wine glass with a holder strap worn like a necklace to give your hands more freedom to taste food.

Once you are in, you are encouraged to explore Arizona’s food scene with gusto, but take it slow and relish every bite. Whether you consider yourself a foodie or simply appreciate good eats, I recommend taking in the culinary scene created for you. You are at one of the most beautiful gardens, strolling the grounds, gazing at various artists’ intricate paintings and sculptures, and tasting delicious culinary delights and fine wine. Enjoy a day without rushing and embrace the crowd; everyone there is enthusiastic about excellent food, so take it all in together.

The samples are generally small, but you will want to keep tasting, so to avoid getting too full too early, it might be a good idea to split each dish with a friend. You can always come back to your favorites. It’s just a thought. The eyes are always bigger than the stomach. Furthermore, remember the restaurants you like best so you can visit their establishments and try more selections on their menus.

I was just as amazed by the savory goodness as by the remarkable presentation; each dish is masterfully crafted to be as lovely on the eyes as on the palate. The grand attention to detail ensures that your sample looks as good as it tastes. It’s incredible how a topping of pomegranate pickled shallots, red corn salsa, wild strawberries, or Luobo radishes can enhance the entire gastronomic ensemble.

While it is difficult to choose favorites, a few stuck out for me as I devoured my way through the scene. The Phoenix Culinary Collective rustled up blueberry jerk chicken with saffron rice, green chile, pickled onion, and a vegan ceviche tostada with hearts of palm, cucumber, tomatoes, and chili flakes that were delightful. And Fellow Osteria & Pizzeria delivered a to-die-for speck and ricotta ravioli. Another memorable bite was Clever Koi‘s Japanese Short Rib Curry with braised oyster mushrooms and micro celery.

Latha, a restaurant in downtown Phoenix with African-inspired cuisine, created a chocolate brigaderio with coconut, which was lusciously delicious. And, of course, Mingle & Graze had their beautiful artisan cheeses and a leg of lamb creation that spoke a language of love to me. Finally, in the VIP area, I thoroughly reveled in the sensational blue corn jackfruit taco served by The Rez, a pop-up urban eatery.

I had a blast tasting through the best restaurants in Phoenix, and I did my best to take my time and only eat a portion of each serving. Ironically, when I thought I couldn’t eat anymore, I came upon Gertrudes, The Phoenician Tavern, and San Tan Brewing Company, handing out different kinds of hamburger sliders, each with a signature component. Gertrudes had a pink and pineapple sauce, The Phoenician Tavern with its triple bacon, and San Tan brought the chipotle element. A bite of each wouldn’t hurt, so I obliged.

Wine is always a natural complement to food, and there are many harmonious choices for your pairings. (This is where your wine strap holder comes in handy). Plentiful brands and merchants are scattered throughout the gardens, mixed in with the food and art vendors, pouring and educating curious people on their wines and where to find them locally.

I chose to stay local and found some favorites: Laramita Cellars, Los Milics Vineyards, and Carlson Creek Vineyards. The wineries in Arizona are making impeccable wine and are in a class of their own when it comes to wine in this country. I especially enjoy the French Rhone styles and Italian varietals made in Willcox and Sonoita/Elgin in Southern Arizona; the wines exude a special expression of the terrain from these regions. Seeing these folks at Devour sharing their passion for the grape was moving.

In addition to wine, there is a vast selection of cocktails and beer, highlighting their specialties and fan-favorite drinks. Wren House Brewing Co. is a local darling. Furthermore, to spice up all the notable food and beverages, live demonstrations are held in the amphitheater within the gardens throughout the event. This year, Hula’s Modern Tiki made Mai-Tais, SanTan Spirits made a Bourbon Old-Fashioned, and Nella’s Innovative Kreations exhibited foods using local cultural ingredients grown by the Navajo, Hopi, Pima, and O’odham people.

I admire the hard work of planning and running an event with that many vendors and attendees; therefore, kudos to everyone who made the day go on without a hitch. In addition to many duties, Devour volunteers continuously steered wandering foodies to the various trash, recycling, and compost bins distributed throughout the gardens. It was a commendable and successful effort to save our planet and make use of our waste.

Moreover, many thanks to Local First Arizona, which consistently advocates for local businesses, developing entrepreneurship, and strengthening our economy. And a shout out to the Desert Botanical Gardens, a desert conservation pioneer, for being the host venue and allowing us to be with nature and its enchanting landscape during the event. Finally, cheers to Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance for providing opportunities for artists to spotlight their work and your efforts in advancing the Arts.

Devour is an annual event that takes place in February. It is an astounding day for discovering local fare, restauranteurs, wineries, and artists in one central location. Follow Devour on Facebook and Instagram, and get on their mailing list, as tickets for 2025 will be available around November. Cheers to seeing you there!