Metro Phoenix is a vastly underrated dining oasis, with plenty of good food, from fine dining to fine burger joints. Each year, the Arizona Republic releases a list of 100 essential restaurants in the Valley. And by "essential" we don't mean just the places that taste the best, though of course with food taste is pretty essential. These are places that taste good and are also important to the community.

But what does "essential" mean to one of the biggest advocates for Phoenix's dining scene? And how does a restaurant get on the list in the first place?

This week on Valley 101, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we talked with iconic Phoenix restauranteur Chris Bianco, who has two restaurants on the list, and with Felicia Campbell, the Republic's food, dining and nightlife editor, who helped answer the question.

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