Press

'Southern' is an awfully big tent, and mother and son duo Sharon and Devan Cunningham don't feel compelled to restrict themselves to any particular subgenre.

For the Phoenix New Times food team, June was a month of culinary surprises and delights. At a new uptown Phoenix restaurant, one of the best bites sounded the most simple.

Mother-and-son duo Sharon and Devan Cunningham have wowed diners and our food critic alike with their blend of Southern, soul food and creole cooking at their midtown restaurant CC’s on Central. In the symphony of the restaurant’s dishes, Devan’s chicken wings are the gong – locked and loaded for explosive impact.

Sharon spent years serving her delicious dishes in California before moving to Arizona, while Devan’s love of the food industry started at his family’s table. After spending 10 years working for big-name chefs, Devan brought his love of creating back home to work with his mother. Sharon and Devan share their family recipes and passion for cooking with their customers.

Unexpected flavors found at hidden bars and restaurants stood out this month.

Austin is from Palos Verdes, California and may seem like a laid-back surfer - but he’s a skilled chef who already has experience working in Italy’s fine dining scene. Now living in Costa Rica, he is a natural leader on a mission to be the best at everything he does – especially cooking.

Devan Cunningham is one of 12 contestants who traveled to Italy to prove their Italian cooking skills.