Chef Conversations

In the kitchen with Rebecca Tillman of The Phoenician

By Alison Bailin Batz / Photo by Debby Wolvos

Rebecca Tillman is the executive chef of The Phoenician, A Luxury Collection Resort, overseeing the culinary program across eight diverse culinary destinations, including J&G Steakhouse, Mowry & Cotton, and The Phoenician Tavern, as well as in-room dining, and private and banquet dining.

What inspired you to cook?

Ice cream and sports! I worked at Swensen’s in high school when not competing in cross-country or soccer, where I fell in love with restaurants. When I earned an athletic scholarship to Northern Arizona University after graduation, I fully embraced their award-winning hospitality program, through which I found the kitchen.

Tell us about your journey since NAU.

My first big break was at Arizona Biltmore. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve in leadership roles at both the Biltmore House and The Inn on the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina. I served previously as the executive chef of Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort and also cooked for The Hermosa Inn as well. I first joined The Phoenician in 2017 as a sous chef, but have taken on other roles in between, notably leading The Ritz-Carlton Bacara, Santa Barbara’s kitchen before rejoining The Phoenician in 2025 to take on the executive chef role.

What are must-try items from each of the resort’s three primary restaurants?

J&G Steakhouse’s iconic tuna tartare with ginger marinade is proof that classics never go out of style. At Mowry & Cotton, I am partial to my buttermilk buns as they are my own generations-old family recipe inspired by the Irish potato bun. When visiting The Phoenician Tavern, do not overthink it. Get a burger and taste the difference well-sourced ingredients make. This year, also look for us to really embrace sustainability at a level few resorts have done before

What would readers be surprised to know about you?

My late 2025 appointment to executive chef not only makes me the first-ever female executive chef in The Phoenician’s history, but also the very first female executive chef in the history of The Luxury Collection brand of resorts spanning 130 properties worldwide.

The Phoenician, 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale; www.thephoenician.com; 480.941.8200.