Five local chefs have been chosen for the inaugural Ripe awards, an honor started by The Phoenix Art Museum’s Men’s Arts Council to celebrate chefs who create cuisine worthy of national recognition, exhibit passion for Phoenix’s growing culinary scene, and draw a national spotlight to the area.
On the winning ticket: Josh Herbert, chef and owner of Posh (Scottsdale); Charleen Badman, chef and co-owner of FnB and Bodega (Scottsdale); Bernie Kantak, chef and co-owner of Citizen Public House (Scottsdale); Greg La Prad, chef and owner of Quiessence and Morning Glory Cafe (Phoenix); and Silvana Salcido Esparza, chef and owner of Barrio Cafe (Phoenix) and Barrio Queen (Scottsdale).
The chefs will be honored at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at Phoenix Art Museum. There, the chefs will serve tastes of their signature cuisines while guests sip wines from Arizona growers and take in an art show from local artist Lalo Cota. Tickets are $65 and are available for purchase at RipePhx.com.

