Last summer, chef Ken Foy of Dante’s Fire was crowned as champion of Iron Chef Tucson 2022. Ever since then, he’s been going about his business at the restaurant — dishin’ out meals left and right — and wondering who he’ll be challenging at this year’s Iron Chef Tucson.
Well, after a heated battle this past weekend at “Meet the Chefs,” chef Devon Sanner came out on top, securing his spot at the big competition in July.
“I’m thrilled about the win at Meet the Chefs and tremendously proud of my crew,” said Sanner, co-owner and chef at Zio Peppe. “In my heart of hearts, I’m a collaborative cook more so than a competitive cook, but events, like Meet the Chefs, give me the opportunity for both. It was also very gratifying to see that our food really resonated with so many folks at Meet the Chefs — folks who haven’t yet discovered us. And of course, it’s always a blast to see my sistren and brethren of the Tucson restaurant scene and share the love and support. I’m stoked to have the chance to square off with chef Ken and Dante’s Fire crew at Iron Chef Tucson finals in July. Ken always brings bold flavors and creativity to his dishes, so I’ll be running the gauntlet with my team over the next several weeks to prepare.”
“I’m delighted and honored to have a great team that executed well and put us in a position to win, and I’m grateful to the rest of my crew who were busy making everything run smoothly at the restaurant while we were competing.”
Speaking of the restaurant, Zio Peppe is now an official Tucson Foodie Restaurant Partner, meaning all Foodie 500 members can snag delicious deals.
Regarding the upcoming Iron Chef Competition, chef Foy commented, “I am honored and humbled to represent Tucson again at this year’s Iron Chef Competition. As my team and I prepare for the upcoming challenge of the elusive repeat, our goal is to defend the title. Devon and his team have our utmost respect and I’m sure we will both strive to give Tucson an exciting competition.”
Iron Chef Tucson is expected to take place on Saturday, July 22 at Casino Del Sol, 5655 W. Valencia Rd. Ticket sales will be available soon. For more information, visit ironcheftucson.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
