57: Robin Trick

By Chow Bella Tue., Jul. 10 2012 at 12:00 PM

Categories: Tastemakers 2012

Photo courtesy of Terri Macdonald

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 with a lot up her sleeve.

Tastemaker 57: Robin Trick

Robin Trick has been co-owner and operator of House of Tricks Restaurant in Tempe for the past 25 years. The restaurant opened in 1987 in a 1920s cottage remodeled by the Tricks themselves and soon became an icon of the Tempe community. A passionate supporter of the arts, Robin served on the original steering committee that brought Tempe Art Center to life and was awarded a Downtown Tempe Community MADEE Award and a Business Volunteer for the Arts Award from the Arts and Business Council. House of Tricks Restaurant received the Tempe Chamber's Business Excellence Award in 2010.

Plus, their food is damn good.

I arrived in Phoenix (Tempe) with... my dog Ruby in November 1974 to visit my sister who was attending ASU. I never went back!

My six dream companions would be... my husband, my son Hunter, my mother-in-law, my sister Marcie, my best friend Judy, and George Clooney!

One place everyone who comes to Phoenix must eat is... House of Tricks! We have become a Tempe icon.

One menu item this city could do without is... corn dogs. There are so many better ways to waste those calories, like on an ice cream cone at Churn!

My last meal in Phoenix would be... Lo-Lo's Chicken and Waffles. I absolutely love fried chicken, but don't allow myself to eat it very often.

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
69: Gina Miller
68: Cindy Gentry
67: Amy Binkley
66: Dave Anderson
65: Mark Tarbell
64: Marianne Belardi
63: Audrey Lasalle
62: Brandon Gauthier
61: Brad and Kat Moore
60: Denise Clayton
59: Nobuo Fukuda
58: Richie Moe