Friday Bites With Heather Walker

Recently I got really into the World Food Championships. In the last few years I have met a few people that have competed in the Championships and have followed their progress along on social media. This past year I knew three people competing and found myself glued to Facebook waiting for updates. One name that kept coming up in my friends posts was Heather Walker. I found out that she was a local gal, so naturally I needed to know more.

Here’s the low-down on Heather Walker:

As a long-time personal trainer and health advocate, Heather Walker has been writing, broadcasting and speaking about healthy lifestyles for most of her life. But she also has a secret passion…DECADENT DESSERTS!

“I was the little girl who always ate her vegetables, played outside until the sun went down…and ate TWO huge pieces of cake at everyone’s birthday party!  Then, when no one was looking, I was eating everyone else’s cake, licking the knife, and stuffing my pockets with leftover candy!”

After her son was born in 2010, Heather began to pursue her passion for cooking and food by successfully blogging and competing in local and national food competitions. Her two blogs, Hoopfinity’s Happenings and Healthy, Busy, Mom now contain over 300 recipes, attract over 60,000 readers monthly, and garner followers in the US, France, Ukraine, and Canada.
Heather has also finished as a top ten finalist the last two years at the World Food Championships in the dessert category,  an achievement that has quickly shifted her to the forefront of many well-respected culinary circles.

She has appeared on local San Diego and Phoenix area news programs, and blogs for several national PR firms, promoting new and upcoming products. Heather has also worked as a spokesperson and brand ambassador for Bertolli Olive Oil, the happy egg co., and LorAnn Oils, focusing on recipe development, live cooking demos and video tutorials.

In January of 2015, Heather launched ExtraordinaryEats.biz, a home-based baking venture that focuses on cakes, pastries and festive edible display tables. Her care-free sense of humor, approachable personality and unmatched sense of style shine through in all of her tables and dishes.

For more recipes and food-centric musings from Heather, check-out her blog Hoopfinity’s Happenings, or follow her on Facebook, and Twitter.

So where are her go to spots? Check them out!

Friday Bites with Heather Walker

Coffee and Light Bite: French Grocery.  A New Orleans creole/French spot with heavenly coffee drinks, sandwiches on home made baguettes and freshly made beignets.  It’s a great little “grab and go” place that doesn’t skimp on quality or authenticity.  EVER.

Best Asian: Tottie’s Asian Fusion #2.  I love the decor in this little spot.  Chef Tottie Kaya herself is often lurking about, folding napkins and chatting up the clientele to create a friendly atmosphere. They have amazing cocktails (Pineapple Infused Saki) and a great variety of delicious Asian soups and dishes from Vietnam to Thailand to China.

First Date Spot: The Duce.  If a guy took me to this place on a first date, he’d have me for life.  It’s a cheeky, retro heaven. There’s a boxing ring, ping pong tables and the food is cooked in an Airstream trailer right in the middle of the lot.  The brisket sliders are ridiculous.

Special Occasions: Elements. These people never cease to amaze me.  By the time I leave here, I’m best friends with my server and Chef Beau Macmillan has once again blown my mind with his bold flavors and decadent dishes.  If you don’t have the budget for dinner, just do cocktails and appetizers at happy hour.  You won’t regret it.

Best Breakfast: Park Place Bar & Grill.  Another place with a great coffee drink menu, this is a perfect place to go on a Sunday morning and cruise around the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall afterward.  All the hashes are amazing, my fave is the Green Flannel Hash.

Adventurous Eating: SumoMaya.  Don’t let the humorous Luchador masks and sun-spectacled Buddha at the entrance fool you.  These people are SERIOUS about their fusion food. The servers are super and Executive Chef Matt Zdeb has managed “fuse” Asia and Mexico into everything from cocktails, to sushi rolls to side dishes.  The Mexican Street Corn is life changing.

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