Fry Bread House – Phoenix, Arizona
The James Beard America’s Classics Award honors locally owned restaurants with timeless appeal, beloved in their region for serving quality food that reflects the character and cultural traditions of their community, and must have been operating for at least 10 years, recognizing enduring, community-rooted establishments over flashy new trends. While the America’s Classic award is presented annually, only six of the twelve James Beard regions are eligible each year. That means every other year, each region is represented. This ensures broad coverage over time. The most recent New Mexico recipient of the America’s classic award is the incomparable Mary & Tito’s. In 2012, the Fry Bread House, a beloved Phoenix institution since 1992, earned the America’s Classic award, becoming the very first Native American restaurant in the United States to earn that distinction. The Fry Bread house was started by Cecelia Miller, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation. After she passed away in 2020, her children Jennifer and Richard continue the tradition. According to the restaurant’s website “Tohono Oʼodham people are known throughout the southwest for their red chili beef, large, hand-stretched flour tortilla and fry bread.” Over the years, the restaurant has garnered many “Best of the City”…