Arizona’s Culinary Icons Team Up for a Summer of Flavor, Purpose, and Collaboration

By The Tucson Tasty Show

What happens when some of Arizona’s most decorated chefs join forces during the toughest time of year for the restaurant industry? You get a dinner series that’s as heartfelt as it is flavorful. Welcome to The Devour Summer Chef Series — a bold, delicious stand for Arizona’s independent restaurants, coming to life May through September.

Organized by Local First Arizona and the culinary masterminds behind Devour Phoenix, this five-part, five-month dining experience is more than just a seat at the table—it’s an act of solidarity for the restaurants that shape our communities and feed our souls.

Here’s the twist: each month, two powerhouse chefs come together for one night only to create an exclusive, four-course tasting menu using local ingredients and seasonal inspirations. Think collaborative creativity, immersive storytelling, and Arizona pride plated with precision and poured with purpose.

The Lineup:

• May 19: Chefs Stephen Jones & Lori Hashimoto at Larder + Delta

• June 16: Chefs Bernie Kantak & Gio Osso at The Gladly

• July 21: Chefs Justin Beckett & Stephen Jones at Beckett’s Table

• August 18: Chefs Lori Hashimoto & Bernie Kantak at Hana Japanese Eatery

• September 15: Chefs Justin Beckett & Gio Osso at Virtù Honest Craft

Each dinner kicks off at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of the month, offering an intimate, behind-the-pass glimpse into what makes Arizona’s culinary community so electric—and so essential.

“Summer is the most challenging season for independent restaurants in Arizona,” said Kimber Lanning, founder and CEO of Local First Arizona. “The Devour Summer Chef Series is our way of celebrating the chefs, teams and industry that pour their hearts into this work all year long.”

So what’s in it for you? A front-row seat to Arizona’s food culture in motion. A full-series ticket unlocks a season of chef-driven storytelling, hyper-local pairings, and unforgettable bites. And if you can’t attend all five, consider gifting the series—because few gifts say “I care” like five months of world-class food and community connection.

Seats are extremely limited, and with names like Beckett, Hashimoto, Kantak, Osso, and Jones on the roster, they won’t last long.

Ready to eat with purpose?

Visit Devour Phoenix to reserve your seat and join the movement: Celebrate local. Eat local. Support local.