| NEWS | ‘Jose Loved People’ Phoenix food industry mourns loss of cook, father, and friend who died at 47. BY NATASHA YEE F ather, grandfather, and promi- nent member of the Phoenix restaurant industry Jose Jimenez, 47, has died. Jimenez worked with many well-known restaurants and brands in the Phoenix food scene, including Gallo Blanco and Welcome Diner in the Garfield Historic Neighborhood, and most recently, with Little Miss BBQ in Sunnyslope and Cloth & Flame, an event company that creates culi- nary pop-ups in the Arizona wilderness and in historic and unique buildings. On November 5, Jimenez completed his shift as a prep cook for a Cloth & Flame event in Sunnyslope. He walked to the Little Miss BBQ parking lot to retrieve his bike and head to his house, Jordan Micheau, a manager at the barbecue restaurant said. But Jimenez never made it home. “Jose left his job on a bicycle at 10:16 pm. He texted his family that he was on his way home,” according to a poster published on Facebook by his wife Amanda Nash-Jimenez. Jimenez was wearing a white Chicago Blackhawks jersey and a blue backpack, according to the poster. Anyone with infor- mation about his disappearance was asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department. But the next day, police found a body that they identified as Jimenez. “On November 6, 2022, just after 8:30 a.m. officers responded to a call of a deceased person in the canal near 7th Avenue and Dunlap Avenue,” Sergeant Melissa Soliz, a police spokesperson, said in an email to Phoenix New Times. “Detectives responded to take over the investigation. His remains were recovered by the Office of the Medical Examiner. This investigation awaits the findings of the postmortem examination.” Jimenez leaves behind his wife, their two children, a granddaughter, and his mother. His death also marks a loss for the Phoenix restaurant community, where Jimenez was known for his friendly and welcoming demeanor to both customers and fellow employees. Michael Babcock, a former co-owner of Welcome Diner, worked with Jimenez for over a decade. “As grouchy and grumpy as the world could be, Jose loved people,” Babcock said. Jordan Micheau Jose Jimenez, 47, was a beloved father, grandfather, and cook. “He had some crazy life experience, working in the restaurant industry, housing foreign exchange students, and becoming a grandfather at 40. Jose loved to relate to people and make a difference. He was both smart and cultured, so as you can imagine, a great conversationalist.” Babcock first met Jimenez while working with him at Gallo Blanco in 2009. When he took over Welcome Diner along with Wayne Coats in 2012, Babcock offered Jimenez a job at the restaurant. He worked as a cook at the neighborhood staple off and on until 2020, leaving for about a year to pursue a career in youth counseling, Babcock said. He took over as head chef for a period while Babcock opened Welcome Diner’s Tucson location. Jimenez could easily connect to just about anyone and was a charitable person, Babcock said. Earlier this year, AmeriCorps awarded the Jimenez family with The President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of 2,000 hours of service. In a photo posted by Nash-Jimenez on Facebook, the Jimenez family smiled while Jimenez held a plaque displaying the achievement. “We are living in a moment that calls for hope and light and love,” read a letter from the White House accompanying the award. “Hope for our futures, light to see our way forward, and love for one another. Through your service, you are providing all three.” Jimenez used his bike to do good as well, riding 238 miles in the Great Cycle Challenge USA. The cycling event raises funds to help fight pediatric cancer. He collected $793 in donations for the cause. LOOK AT ME! 2022 HONDA CIVIC SI ne of the best selling cars of all time, the Honda Civic Si has been around since the mid-80’s and has been selling like a banshee for the most part since then. The 2022 Honda Civic Si lives up to the history of its predecessors. Just have a small knock on the Blazing Orange color choice….I felt like a douche. The Turbocharged 1.5-liter Inline 4 delivers a O Looks: Pick-Up: Handling: Comfort: Passenger Comfort: >> p 14 steady 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. The 27/37 MPG is top notch and the $28,910 price tag is amazing. Honda should really write a book on how to make amazing vehicles, consistently, for such a great price…..maybe they did? The safety, airbags, blind spot notification, lane keeping assist and road departure mitigation system will keep you or your loved RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) Access to Controls: Safety & Security: Sound System: Bells & Whistles: Overall: 2022 HONDA CIVIC SI Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on 13 ones safe. The cabin is comfortably designed and delivers a quality BOSE sound system, bluetooth technology galore and a fair amount of cargo room and passenger space for the size. Honda did charge $395 extra for the “Look at Me!” Blazing Orange but if that is my only complaint, then kudos to Honda! phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES NOV 17TH–NOV 23RD, 2022
