Chef’s Night Out with Chef Gross at Los Dos Molinos in Phoenix
Where does award-winning chef Christopher Gross eat on his days off? He talks New Mexican food with dining reporter Bahar Anooshahr.
Artificial Intelligence may still be finding its footing, but it’s already moonlighting in some unexpected roles — travel agent, therapist, secretary, social media assistant, even programmer. Its rapid rise has sparked both excitement and unease, depending on whom you ask.
So, in the spirit of curiosity (and a little mischief), I asked AI to do something a bit more fun: cast metro Phoenix’s award-winning restaurants as Hollywood celebrities. The results? Surprisingly thoughtful, occasionally spot-on and universally amusing. While I don’t agree with every pick, it sure was fun to see what a scrape of the internet, including our own coverage, inspired.
From indie darlings to timeless icons, here’s how AI imagines Phoenix’s culinary stars on the red carpet.
Lom Wong
Lom Wong belongs to 2025 James Beard Award-winning Best Chef Southwest Yotaka Martin and her husband Alex. They opened as a pop-up super club as a way to bring the regional Thai food that Sunny’s family cooks to America.
Celebrity Equivalent: Greta Lee.
Why: Like Greta Lee in “Past Lives,” Lom Wong is intimate, deeply rooted in personal history and emotionally resonant. It’s thoughtful, artful and cool without trying too hard. A breakout that feels both new and timeless.
My thoughts: That’s it. That’s the whole vibe.
Details: 218 E. Portland St., Phoenix. 602-675-0522, lomwongaz.com.
Bacanora
Bacanora offers Sonoran comfort food created by chef and owner Rene Andrade, who was a 2024 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef Southwest. He also owns Huarachis. Does it live up to the hype? His cooking left Kamala Harris “speechless.”
Celebrity Equivalent: Pedro Pascal.
Why: Charismatic, intense, grounded and a total fan favorite. Bacanora, like Pascal, brings heat, heart and swagger, with rugged Sonoran flavors and a casual energy that feels effortlessly confident.
My thoughts: Saucy, spicy and absolutely correct.
Details: 1301 Grand Ave., Unit 1, Phoenix. 602-612-4018, instagram.com/bacanoraphx.
Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion
Christopher’s serves classic tasting menus and petite plates. With unmatched food and serivce, chef and owner Christopher Gross has garnered multiple awards from James Beard Best Chef to induction into the Arizona Hall of Fame.
Celebrity Equivalent: Meryl Streep.
Why: Elegant, technically flawless and a little intimidating in its excellence, this is a classic with serious pedigree, constantly evolving yet never out of style. Dining here is like watching Meryl work: masterful.
My thoughts: Nailed it and now I can’t unsee it.
Details: 2501 E. Telawa Trail, Phoenix. 602-522-2344, wrigleymansion.com/christophers.
Pizzeria Bianco
Chef and owner Chris Bianco started making pizza in the back of a grocery store in 1988 before growing his restaurant into a business empire from Arizona to California. His attention to and careful sourcing of ingredients, many from Arizona, made him a pioneer in the pizza world. He is a two-time James Beard Award winner.
Celebrity Equivalent: Paul McCartney.
Why: A legend. Universally respected. Changed the game. Pizzeria Bianco is foundational to the modern artisan pizza movement, much like McCartney to music — still drawing crowds decades later.
My thoughts: Legendary? Absolutely. But Bianco is still creating.
Details: 623 E. Adams St., Phoenix. 602-258-8300, pizzeriabianco.com.
The Fry Bread House
Owned and run by members of the Tohono O’odham Nation, this gem has been around for a quarter century. Over the years, it bounced around until returning to the Melrose District in late 2016. It won 2012 James Beard America’s Classics Award.
Celebrity Equivalent: Lily Gladstone.
Why: Quiet power, deep cultural significance and a beauty that refuses to be overlooked, The Fry Bread House, like Gladstone, represents Indigenous excellence and storytelling that speaks volumes with grace and pride.
My thoughts: This one gave me pause. The analogy felt like it was leaning on shared identity.
Details: 4545 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-351-2345. Search “The Fry Bread House” on Facebook.
Valentine
A love letter to Arizona, starting with its name — which represents Arizona statehood day — Valentine uses Arizona produce and indigenous ingredients in inventive, modern dishes. Pastry chef Crystal Kass was a James Beard finalist in 2024 and 2025 for Outstanding Pastry Chef.
Celebrity Equivalent: Zendaya.
Why: Stylish, genre-blending and modern but soulful, Valentine is a chameleon — part cafe, part fine-dining, part vintage mood board — just like Zendaya switches from red carpet glam to gritty drama with ease.
My thoughts: I love the versatility, but Zendaya’s glam is too spotlight-y for Valentine’s soft glow.
Details: 4130 N. Seventh Ave., Phoenix. 602-612-2961, valentinephx.com.
Chilte
Food truck turned brick-and-mortar, Chilte is a culmination of years of work by chef Lawrence “L.T.” Smith and his wife Aseret Arroyo. He combines both their backgrounds — his southern and her Sinaloan — to create a modern Mexican menu that has received national attention from outlets like Food and Wine, Esquire and Bon Appetit.
Celebrity Equivalent: Janelle Monáe.
Why: Bold, experimental and always pushing the envelope, Chilte, like Monáe, blends tradition with edgy futurism — Mexican roots filtered through streetwear and swagger. Every plate is a performance.
My thoughts: Close, but not quite. Chilte delivers beautiful plates in a lively, welcoming space, but “edgy” and “futuristic” don’t capture its spirit. Think more playful innovation than avant-garde rebellion.
Details: 765 Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-807-5225, chiltephx.com.
Kai at Sheraton Grand
In addition to dishes inspired by Native American cuisine accompanied by a hefty wine menu, Kai makes an impression on its patrons through impeccable service.
Celebrity Equivalent: Angela Bassett.
Why: Regal, grounded and carrying generations of legacy, Kai is the pinnacle of Native American fine dining — luxurious, deeply respectful and quietly powerful. Like Bassett, it commands respect with presence alone.
My thoughts: I love Angela Bassett, but when I think of her, I think of pure power. Kai has a softer, albeit commanding presence.
Details: 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd., Chandler. 602-385-5777, kairestaurant.com.
Little Rituals
The winner of Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards for Best Hotel Bar in 2025, Little Rituals uses over 100 ingredients, mostly made in house, to prepare over 30 drinks.
Celebrity Equivalent: Simu Liu.
Why: Smart, stylish and sharply executed with charm to spare, Little Rituals mixes high-concept cocktails with accessibility — just like Liu flips from Marvel superhero to relatable everyman with a wink and a flourish.
My thoughts: This one took me by surprise, but I’m here for it. Details: Little Rituals at Residence Inn/Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown, 132 S. Central Ave., 4th Floor, Phoenix. 602-603-2050, littleritualsbar.com.
Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@azcentral.com. Follow @baharcreative on Instagram.