Claudia Vindiola of Tucson’s La Frida Mexican Grill & Seafood often says she isn’t a chef, but a passionate cook who learned in her mother’s kitchen.
In fact, Vindiola worked a wide variety of jobs as a single mom supporting her family — including 20 years as a hairstylist — before finally pursuing her true passion as a career.
Now she is not only being lauded as a chef — she’s earned her way onto one of the most prestigious lists in that field. This week, the James Beard Awards, often called the Oscars of the food world, named Vindiola as a semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest…