69: Gina Miller

By Chow Bella Thu., Jun. 21 2012 at 9:00 AM

Categories: Tastemakers 2012

From now 'til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers -- Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you'll know; for others, it'll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you're here, check out our 100 Creatives on Jackalope Ranch.

Today: a woman who makes the cookie her canvas.

Tastemaker 69: Gina Miller

AZ Cookie Love

What started as a love for baking in a junior high cooking class, turned into a custom cookie business for cookie artist and owner of AZ Cookie Love: Gina Miller. She began baking uniquely decorated cookies for family and friends; as word of her custom designs spread, people began calling with orders. Each order of cookies she creates is unique and designed especially for the intended recipient with her favorite being the "Your Life in Cookies" collection, a design where Miller creates cookies that depict the special moments in people's lives.

I arrived in Phoenix with... my husband and our two kids under the age of 5 in the summer of 1998.

If I was sitting down to dinner for six, my five dream dining companions would be... my husband and my three kids. Life is so busy right now that I can never have enough family time. My fifth dining companion would be my mom, who passed away in 2006. She shared my love for collecting recipes. I miss her so much.

One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... Pomegranate Café in Ahwatukee. They create amazing vegan and vegetarian meals and beverages. I'm not vegan or vegetarian, but I think they could convert me. They support our local farmers, their menu is ever-changing and just thinking about their food right now is making my mouth water.

One menu item this city could do without is... nachos

My last meal in Phoenix would be... Grandma G's Rosemary Chicken Potato Pizza at Oregano's. Red pepper pesto, roasted garlic chicken, diced Roma tomatoes, gorgonzola, sliced potatoes, Havarti, caramelized onions. Need I say more?

The Tastemakers so far:
100: Tracy Dempsey
99: Craig DeMarco
98: Lara Mulchay
97: M.J. Coe
96: Betty Alatorre de Hong
95: Eric Schaefer
94: Hanna Gabrielsson
93: Shinji Kurita
92: Silvana Salcido Esparza
91: Mike Pitt
90: Christina Barrueta
89: Christopher Gross
88: Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung
87: DJ Fernandes
86: Cullen Campbell
85: Chris Lee
84. Gwen Ashley Walters
83: Tony Morales
82: Lylah Ledner
81: Andrea White
80: Lori Hashimoto
79. Mrs. White
78: Eugenia Theodosopolous
77: Lou & Lovey Borenstein
76: Anthony Patafio
75: Carl Seacat
74: Sacha Levine
73: Sharon Salomon
72: Johnny Chu
71: Susie Timm
70: Jason Silberschlag