Chef: Arizona made itself a great restaurant state

PHOENIX — Arizona is getting more national and international recognition for its restaurants, but its not because we are just known for having great eateries.

Chef Eddie Matney told News/Talk 92.3 KTAR’s Mac & Gaydos Friday that, unlike San Francisco and New York, Phoenix had to work to establish itself as a food town.

“I think Arizona, over the last 20, 25 years, has turned around what people used to think of as a taco place, or a Mexican restaurant place,” he said.

Matney said chefs like himself paved the way for the up-and-comers, but any chef in Arizona could take on another from a city like New York.

“I’d stack any of our chefs — whether it’s us old-timers or the young bucks — against anybody, against any of those guys because you know what? We have passion.”

And Matney wasn’t shy about giving Arizona credit for turning itself into a food destination.

“There’s nothing easy about the restaurant business,” he said. “I don’t care what anybody says.”