Name: Steven Zimmerman
Instagram: chef_stevez
Website: www.merkinvineyards.org
Age: 65
Title: Executive Chef
Married/Single: Married
Kids: 3 / Josh, Tabitha and Emily
City you live in: Goodyear
A typical day in my life includes… gardening, playing guitar, reading cookbooks, formulating my next day at work or special menu item
I was born… St. Louis, MO
My favorite thing about Arizona… proximity to Nature
I’m listening to… Bluegrass, Blues, Classic Rock, Chef’s PSA
My family… is #1
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be… a great Chef like Thomas Keller
One thing I cannot live without… my guitars, knives, and my wife
When I was younger, I wanted to be… an architect
I’m inspired by… Chef’s better than I am
The one person who motivates me is… There isn’t just one person. It would be people who are passionate about their craft, whatever craft it is
If I could change anything in the world, it would be… that there would be no division between ethnicity, cultures … people on this earth
The perfect day would be… everyone around me happy and healthy
My first job was… a short-lived newspaper route when I was 14
My favorite escape… Mother Nature
My life… needs to have meaning
I’m currently working on… what my next chapter will look like
Always… push yourself to be a little bit better than you were yesterday
Never… give up
Favorite Quote… Chef’s mindset, If you fail to plan you plan to fail
Biggest Dream… to leave a piece of myself even after I’ve left this earth, whether it be a recipe or someone I’ve impacted
My Pet Peeve(s)… people who don’t care
Bio-on yourself/company: Steven Zimmerman is a classically trained, award-winning Certified Executive Chef, with more than 25 years of hands-on experience. With a commitment to using the freshest ingredients, Chef Zimmerman embraces the farm-to-table concept and has a passion for creating high quality, nutritious and exquisite foods at Merkin Vineyards.
Merkin Vineyards is on a mission to come as close to delivering a 100% Arizona experience to the community. The produce and ingredients are farmed at the Merkin Vineyards Verde Valley greenhouses, gardens, and orchards. What we can’t grow, we source from local Arizona farmers.
