Audio By Carbonatix
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check out our 100 Creatives on Jackalope Ranch. Today, a woman with a truly unique restaurant — beginning with the name.
There are few things in life that make us smile the way uttering the words Beaver Choice do — and no, we’re not smiling because of the unusual name, we’re smiling because of the utterly delicious Swedish/Polish/Canadian food Hanna Gabrielsson serves up from tiny this Tempe spot. Born and raised in Poland, Gabrielsson discovered her love for food while living in Sweden where she worked as a waitress in Stadshuset — Stockholm’s City Hall. In 2001, she moved from Sweden to Canada, and by 2010 had decided to open a restaurant in Phoenix. And the rest is (delicious) history.
I arrived in Phoenix with… two dogs, my family and the American Dream in mind.
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If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be… President Obama, Bill Maher, Hillary Clinton, Shirin Ebadi [Nobel Peace Prize winner of 2003], and George Clooney.
One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is… Venezia’s Pizza.
One menu item this city could do without is… hot-and-sour soup (tom yum) at Thai Basil — it’s a disaster.
My last meal in Phoenix would be… Yupha’s Thai Kitchen — the best Thai food in the Valley.
The Tastemakers so far: 100: Tracy Dempsey 99: Craig DeMarco 98: Lara Mulchay 97: M.J. Coe 96: Betty Alatorre de Hong 95: Eric Schaefer
