Arizona Restaurant Association, Tourism Office: Our State Is a Foodie State

Average temperature aside, is Arizona about to become the country’s hottest foodie hot spot? It’s a little early to say, but the Arizona Restaurant Association, in partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism, is working to make the case.

The trade group and government agency are teaming up on a new website called Expedition Foodie  (opens in a new tab), which highlights the state’s many culinary perks.

The website helps to leverage a series of recent victories the state has seen on the food front. In 2015, the city of Tucson received a Capital of Gastronomy designation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which made it the first American city to receive such an award  (opens in a new tab). Meanwhile, there have been individual restaurant success stories, like Phoenix-based Little Miss BBQ, which has gotten international attention.

Scott Dunn, the Arizona Office of Tourism’s vice president of communications, says that the approach of the new website is meant to bolster an already growing trend.

“Our culinary reputation has elevated with each passing year,” Dunn told Cronkite News Service  (opens in a new tab).

The website, currently preparing for a full launch, is accepting submissions from bars and restaurants in the state that might be good fits for the directory.

A plate from the internationally-known Little Miss BBQ in Phoenix. (via Facebook)