FOOD FIGHT! Sunset Declares Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, and Phoenix-Scottsdale Winners of Best Food City "Smackdowns"

MENLO PARK, Calif., June 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Four Western cities just got something new to brag about. After pitting rivals against one another in regional food fights, Sunset editors have declared the best food cities in the West—and some of the results may surprise you:

• California Food Fight: San Francisco vs. Los Angeles. The winner is ... Los Angeles!
• Northwest Food Fight: Portland vs. Seattle. The winner is ... Seattle!
• Southwest Food Fight: Phoenix-Scottsdale vs. Tucson. The winner is ... Phoenix-Scottsdale!
• Mountain Food Fight: Boulder vs. Denver. The winner is ... Denver!

To help choose the winners, which can be found in "Food Fight" on page 31 of the July issue, Sunset solicited arguments from local food experts, writers and thought-leaders, including Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Jonathan Gold (LA), San Francisco magazine restaurant critic Josh Sens, and Craig Outhier, who reviews restaurants and covers dining for the Arizona Republic and Phoenix magazine. After weighing each writer's argument, the winners were determined by the Sunset editors based on a points system that took a variety of categories into account, including "Star Wattage," "New Ideas," "Great Markets," "Obsession Factor," "Booze & Caffeine," "Crowd Control," "Smug Factor," and "Variety/Diversity." Cities earned up to 10 points in each category except "Smug Factor," where points were lost.

"There are some real upsets here!" said Katie Tamony, Sunset editor-in-chief. "I love how our editors dove into all aspects of the local food cultures to reveal the best-of-the-best instead of relying on conventional wisdom. There are so many amazing places to eat in the West and I hope this inspires our readers to explore how their own towns stack up."

Sunset's food editors go way beyond the city limits to uncover the 25 best places to eat on the road. In "Drive In" (p. 72), discover the best spots to pull off and fuel up whether you're craving a burger, shake, fish taco, breakfast, or pie. The article also includes three of Sunset editors' favorite food routes, which include stretches of road in New Mexico, Oregon, and Oahu.

Looking to give your Fourth of July cookout a taste of the unexpected? "The New Fourth of July Party" (p. 94) delivers inspiration by putting a new twist on traditional standards. Potato salad, coleslaw, and strawberry shortcake all get makeovers with Potato Salad Stacks, a deconstructed potato salad, Warm Bacon and Herb Coleslaw, and Grilled Strawberry and Shortcake Kebabs, which reimagines this summertime stalwart on skewers! And why not try pouring your watermelon from a pitcher this year? We've got a recipe for that too: The Party Starter.

Also in the July Issue:

• "Drink in Summer" (p.13) – Sunset reinvents summer cocktails with rye, fresh herbs, berries and fruit, including the Rye-jito, Berry Manhattan, Peachy Old-Fashioned, and Rock n' Rye Collins.
• "Farm Markets Worth the Trip" (p. 38) – Find "can't miss" stalls bursting with local colors and summer flavors all around the West and discover the hidden "finds" that makes each one stand out (think best grilled cheese on the planet ... )
• "Flavor Burst" (p. 66) – Quick jams (No canning! Less sugar!) and pickles capture the bounty and flavor of summer. These recipes are so easy, you can try one every weekend: Spiced Plum Jam, Cherry Rhubarb Jam, Mustard and Ginger Pickled Carrots, and Sweet ad Sour Cucumber and Red Onion Pickles.

Sunset magazine is the premier guide to life in the West, covering the newest and best ideas in Western home design and landscaping, food and entertaining, and regional travel in 13 Western states. Sunset and sunset.com are part of the Lifestyle group of magazines and websites published by the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group.

SOURCE Sunset Magazine