The Arizona Restaurant Association (ARA) hosted its 2024 Foodist Awards on Monday, June 3 at Warehouse 215, 215 E. Grant St. in Phoenix.
Folks in the restaurant industry came together and raised a toast to businesses all throughout the state of Arizona. Now celebrating its 10th year, the Foodist Awards “recognize the best of the best in a variety of categories that represent culinary excellence in the Arizona food and beverage industry.”
Each year, the nomination process is open to the public. Finalists and winners are then chosen by a panel of industry experts, organized by The Arizona Restaurant Association.
Representing Tucson, Barrio Brewing Company came out on top and its Barrio Blonde won the award for “Favorite Local Craft Beer.”
“We are so grateful for all of you,” the Barrio Brewing team shared.
The other two breweries in the running for this year’s award were Cider Corps’ Mango Foxtrot and Pedal Haus Brewery’s Day Drinker.
Tucson’s Oldest
By opening Barrio Brewing, the Arnolds were able to increase their product output in order to meet the continuously rising demand for their beers around Arizona.
The Barrio Blonde is known to be Tucson’s longest brewed beer.
Check out Jake O’Rourke’s 2019 article “Producer of Tucson’s Longest Brewed Beer.”
Barrio Brewing’s North of Tucson
Barrio Brewing extended its Arizona reach by opening a location inside the Mesa-Gateway Airport at 5803 S. Sossaman Rd. #212 and another at 702 E. Deer Valley Rd. in Phoenix.
The spot in Deery Valley is also at an airport and is the newest location, making its debut in January of this year.
Barrio Brewing Co. is located at 1600 E.16th St. For more information, visit barriobrewing.com.
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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.
