27 March 2nd–March 8th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) How bout a little pep? 2023 Mazda3 2023 Mazda3 T here is something about hatchbacks that give off a cool, street race vibe. The 2023 Mazda3 continues this trend as the Soul Red Crystal Metallic color and black alloy wheels put the style vibes over the top. How’s the performance, you might ask? Does it deliver on the street race vibe? Continue….. The Skyactive-G 2.5 L DOHC turbo engine delivers 227 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque but with the low body and light weight, the pep and power feel substantially more powerful than that. The exterior stylings match with killer LED signature illumination, LED headlights and taillights and a cool black front grill. Where the Mazda3 takes it’s value to the next level is with the warranty, safety features (attention alert, lane departure warning, lane assist, blind spot monitoring & more), fuel economy (23/31 MPG) and value ($37,095 MSRP). All in all, the Mazda3 looks cool, is fun to drive and delivers quality, support and value in one peppy whip. Pick-Up: Handling: Comfort: Passenger Comfort: Safety & Security: Sound System: Access to Controls: Bells & Whistles: Overall: Looks: Veggie Victory Chef Sasha Raj shares her experience of winning Guy’s Grocery Games. BY RUDRI PATEL L ocal chef Sasha Raj caught the attention of a Food Network producer with her vegetarian cooking, landing her a chance to compete on celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s competition show Guy’s Grocery Games. And for Raj, the call to compete came at exactly the right time. In late 2021, the landlord of her Tempe restaurant 24 Carrots Natural Cafe decided not to renew the lease for the location. So after 13 years, the restaurant closed. Suddenly, Raj had time to dedicate to another endeavor. “Four hours after I turned in the keys to my restaurant, the producer of Grocery Games called me and asked if I would appear on the show,” Raj says. She admits, initially, even after more than a decade in the industry, she felt some impostor syndrome. “It still feels like a dream, to be honest,” she says. The premise of the show is simple — competitors race through host Guy Fieri’s “grocery store” and pick ingredients to create a winning dish. Either three or four chefs then compete to create the best dish. The challenge for Raj’s episode was “Beat the Judges: The Vegetarian Episode.” The judges participating included chefs Damaris Phillips, Bryan Voltaggio, Michael Voltaggio, and Justin Warner. Raj says that even though she was competing, she made lifelong friendships and expanded her community of chefs. When the competition began, Raj didn’t have every ingredient at her disposal. Competitors were given two thin bags and were faced with running up and Food Network Phoenix chef Sasha Raj won $20,000 on Guy Fieri’s Grocery Games. >> p 28
