Phoenix continues to rise as a culinary capital. Two standout chefs from the city have earned finalist spots in the 2025 James Beard Awards, one of the most prestigious honors in the American food world.
Yotaka “Sunny” Martin, co-chef at Lom Wong, is nominated for Best Chef: Southwest, while Crystal Kass, the pastry visionary at Valentine, is a finalist for Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker. Their recognition not only elevates their individual careers but shines a national spotlight on Phoenix’s dynamic dining scene.
🔥 Yotaka Martin of Lom Wong: Best Chef Southwest Finalist
Located in Phoenix’s arts district, Lom Wong serves up authentic regional Thai cuisine rooted in heritage. Chef Yotaka “Sunny” Martin, along with husband and co-chef Alex Martin, created a space where storytelling and food intersect. The menu celebrates rarely-seen Thai dishes—like fermented pork sausage, Chiang Mai-style curry, and grilled river fish—prepared using traditional methods passed down from Sunny’s family.
Martin’s nomination for Best Chef: Southwest (a category covering Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Oklahoma) recognizes her dedication to cultural authenticity and culinary craftsmanship. Since opening in 2022, Lom Wong has become a destination restaurant in Phoenix for those seeking bold, soulful, and regionally faithful Thai cooking.
🍰 Crystal Kass of Valentine: Outstanding Pastry Chef Finalist
Valentine, a modern Sonoran restaurant in midtown Phoenix, has built a reputation for boundary-pushing flavors—and pastry chef Crystal Kass is a major reason why. This marks her second consecutive year as a finalist in the Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker category, a national honor recognizing innovation and excellence in pastry.
Kass incorporates desert-forward ingredients—like mesquite flour, chiltepin pepper, and native fruits—into desserts that are beautiful, balanced, and rooted in Arizona’s ecosystem. From corn custards and date puddings to herbal meringues and rustic cakes, her pastry work reflects both restraint and creativity.
🏆 Arizona’s James Beard Award Legacy
Arizona has a long and growing history of James Beard Award recognition, with chefs, bakers, and restaurateurs paving the way for today’s talent. Notable past winners and finalists include:
- Chris Bianco, Pizzeria Bianco – Best Chef: Southwest (2003), Outstanding Restaurateur (2022)
- Charleen Badman, FnB – Best Chef: Southwest (2019)
- Nobuo Fukuda, Nobuo at Teeter House – Best Chef: Southwest (2007)
- Silvana Salcido Esparza, Barrio Café – Multiple-time nominee
- Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s – Multiple-time nominee
- Sam Fox, Fox Restaurant Concepts – Outstanding Restaurateur finalist
These culinary leaders helped shape the local dining landscape and made Phoenix a destination for thoughtful, chef-driven food.
📅 What’s Next: James Beard Awards Ceremony
The 2025 James Beard Award winners will be announced June 10 at a ceremony in Chicago. Win or not, being named a finalist places Kass and Martin in elite company and further cements Phoenix as a national culinary destination.
Both Lom Wong and Valentine offer unique experiences worth discovering—and revisiting—as Arizona continues to emerge as one of the most exciting food scenes in the country.
