{"id":2364,"date":"2016-05-24T13:11:52","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T20:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/bestof\/?p=2364"},"modified":"2016-05-24T13:11:52","modified_gmt":"2016-05-24T20:11:52","slug":"kevin-binkley-influential-valley-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com\/bestof\/people\/kevin-binkley-influential-valley-food","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Binkley: Most Influential in Valley Food"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

PHOTO BY DAVID ZICKL<\/em><\/p>\n

By Melissa Larsen<\/em><\/p>\n

From the most influential educators and business people to the biggest trendsetters and\u00a0tastemakers, these locals are tops when it comes to making the Valley the best place to call\u00a0home.<\/p>\n

Most Influential in Valley Food:\u00a0<\/strong>Kevin Binkley, Chef\/Owner, Binkley\u2019s Restaurant<\/strong><\/p>\n

How did you get into the restaurant world?<\/strong> My first job at age 14 was at TCBY. Ever since\u00a0then, I have almost always had a job in\u00a0restaurants. I enjoyed the people, hours,\u00a0immediate\u00a0gratification and, mostly, the food.<\/p>\n

Biggest professional accomplishment?<\/strong> Opening Binkley’s in 2004. I can’t\u00a0believe we pulled it\u00a0off. The hardest thing I have ever done, and it’s still far from easy.<\/p>\n

Most rewarding part of your job?<\/strong> Three things:\u00a01.\u00a0When a customer tells me it was the best\u00a0dining experience of their life.\u00a02. When a dish comes together so perfectly it makes me want to\u00a0cry (doesn’t happen that often).\u00a03. When a cook really gets it,\u00a0digs in,\u00a0loves it and is hungry for\u00a0more. This rarely happens.<\/p>\n

Fast Faves<\/strong><\/p>\n

Best dish:<\/strong> Kumamoto oyster with tomato water, wasabi and uni at Nobuo at the Teeter House. I\u00a0think I could eat around 60 of them in one meal.<\/p>\n

Hidden Valley gem:<\/strong> Yasu Sushi Bistro. This place is great and should be packed\u00a0every night.\u00a0The beef tongue (and everything else) is amazing.<\/p>\n

Destination for relaxing:<\/strong> Flagstaff.\u00a0Life slows down up there. I particularly love it in the\u00a0summer. Some good food there too: Coppa Cafe, Pizzicletta, Brix and Diablo Burger. One of my\u00a0favorite spots is hiking up from Lockett Meadow to the Inner Basin. It’s beautiful, and my\u00a0cellphone doesn’t work.<\/p>\n

Kevin Binkley’s Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

Kevin Binkley’s Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

Kevin Binkley’s Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Check out\u00a0Kevin Binkley\u00a0in Arizona Foothills Magazine Best of Our Valley 2016 Collectors Edition issue<\/b> here<\/b><\/a> or get the digital version<\/b> here<\/b><\/a>.
\n<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHOTO BY DAVID ZICKL By Melissa Larsen From the most influential educators and business people to the biggest…\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2404,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2364","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"cs-entry","9":"cs-video-wrap"},"yoast_head":"\nKevin Binkley: Most Influential in Valley Food<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"PHOTO BY DAVID ZICKL By Melissa Larsen From the most influential educators and business people to the biggest trendsetters and\u00a0tastemakers, these locals\" \/>\n<meta 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