Meet Trailblazer Marci Symington

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marci Symington.

Marci, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Losing my mother was a pivotal moment in my life: there is distinct “before” and “after”. I was in a dark place for many months after she passed, mumbling like a mad woman as I walked the dogs around the neighborhood with tears streaming down my face. My mother had been a restaurant owner in TX and was an amazing home cook, so when I enrolled in the Arizona Culinary Institute, I felt I was where I belonged. I cut my teeth working at Franco’s Italian Caffe, catering at local events and teaching cooking classes with a friend from culinary school.

But let me back up a bit… I am a Texas girl. Like many who move here for school, I hadn’t planned on staying. Arizona was to be a stopover on the way to working for a multinational corporation in South America. I had moved to Glendale to get an international MBA but was shortly distracted by a cute AZ boy who convinced me to linger a while. Downtown Phoenix took the place of some bustling South American capital, and I worked as a CPA while my husband started a greenhouse tomato operation in Northern Mexico. After some years, swearing off the cubicle life for good, I handed in my calculator for an apron and toque. The recession hit and I was faced yet again with the prospect of having to reinvent myself. But fate works in mysterious ways, and I found myself back in Texas; however, now I was caring for my mother who had been diagnosed with terminal leukemia.

Shortly after the one-year anniversary of her death, my husband took me on a weekend getaway to Sedona. After hiking, yoga and an incredible dinner at Elote, I woke up in the middle of the night, furiously writing a letter to my mother about the things I had done that day, and texAZtaste was born. It is a compilation of my travels and my travails, my joys and my disappointments. Food plays an important part in who I am: it connects me to my childhood and to the memories of my mother. Writing about the joy that surrounds a memorable meal and the people behind the creation of these experiences has helped me work through the sadness and grief. As a result, I am on a daily discovery of the world around me, of what makes Phoenix and the great state of Arizona so great.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think the path of life is supposed to be smooth; if it were, we wouldn’t go anywhere, emotionally or physically. While I had this “aha” moment and began writing to help work through the grief of losing my mother, I find that many days I have to find that inspiration in me to get through something difficult. You will hear people telling you to find something you love and make that your job, but sometimes you have to go through many jobs before you find that one that makes you happy. It’s kind of like the old adage, “You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince.”

We’d love to hear more about texAZtaste.
I am celebrating 25 years of living in AZ. I have seen a lot of growth, change and struggle in this great state I now call home. I am fascinated by the stories of the pioneers in the AZ restaurant scene, like Vincent Guerithault, Christopher Gross, Chris Bianco and Mark Tarbell (just to name a few). Currently, I sit on the Executive Board of Arizona Culinary Institute and am excited about the opportunity to help shape the future of the food scene by providing opportunities for training and knowledge in the culinary arts. For many, moving out West means new opportunities, and I think we have a big opportunity now to showcase AZ and what the state has to offer.

What sets me apart from others? I would say experience, wisdom and insight. I have seen this state through the eyes of a student, a business professional, the daughter-in-law of a (former) governor, and a mother. In fact, part of the reason I call the blog texAZtaste, is that taste connotes many things; for me, it doesn’t mean just to savor food or drink, but also conveys experience, grace, and style.

Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
Great question! And one, I would love advice for as well. I have always been hesitant to ask others for help and I would say the best advice given to me was, “You never know unless you ask”.

Contact Info:

• Website: texAZtaste.com
• Email: marci@symington.net
• Instagram: texAZtaste
• Facebook: texAZtaste
• Twitter: texAZtaste

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.