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A Taste of AZAuthor: A Taste of AZ
Food and drink: a shared experience and cornerstone of cultures all around the globe. But how often is the essence of "place" captured in the food? A strong community of taste-makers in the 48th state are doing their part to create an identity of their own while highlighting what truly is native in the Sonoran Desert. These are their stories. Language: en Genres: Arts, Food, Places & Travel, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Restaurant Progress
Friday, 11 September, 2026
In this episode, we sit down with chef and restaurateur TJ Culp of Restaurant Progress, Sottise, and Sidewinder to talk about the journey from a young cook figuring it out to building some of Phoenix's most recognizable independent restaurants. TJ shares how years of working in kitchens, opening restaurants, and even helping fix a struggling concept gave him the education he needed to eventually bet on himself. We get into the early Restaurant Progress pop-up dinners in his apartment, building the original 700-square-foot restaurant with limited resources, and the lessons that came from nearly a decade of ownership. Whether you're in the restaurant industry, building a business, or simply interested in what goes into creating a restaurant that lasts, TJ's story is a reminder that experience comes from doing the work, making mistakes, and continuing to evolve.
