Restaurants

The American Culinary Federation Chef’s Association of Arizona has named Lenard Rubin, the executive chef at The Country Club at DC Ranch, the 2013 Chef of the Year.  

It's that time of year again. Welcome to the fourth-annual 50 top restaurants in the Valley (plus, a few to check out in the northern and southern parts of the state). Featuring updates on many of last year's favorites and several new must-tries restaurants, we present 50 of Arizona's top spots to dine (in no particular order) with a little help from our foodie friends. (If there is a restaurant you think we should consider for the 2014 list, please let us know at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We'd love to hear from you.)

Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, was recently in town to launch her latest delicious creations and the new Sprinkles ATM. She sat down with Arizona Foothills Magazine to share what’s coming to Scottsdale.

AFM: What inspired you to turn your love of baking cupcakes into such a successful business?

CN: I always grew up baking with my mom, and I really loved baking classic American desserts. Chocolate chip cookies, brownies, cheesecakes, cupcakes and that was something I did because I grew up overseas and you couldn’t always...

India Plaza is celebrating 10 years serving the Valley of the Sun, highlighted by “India Plaza Night,” held April 14 at the two-acre center, 1872 E Apache Blvd., just east of McClintock Road in Tempe.

Photos by Russ Baurichter