Joy Bus Diner: A restaurant for good

Guest Cathy Bonnell shared his top spot in the valley with the rest of the “Check, Please! Arizona” guests: Joy Bus Diner. 

The Joy Bus Diner was started by Chef Jennifer Caraway who started the Joy Bus Foundation. She created the foundation in honor of her friend, Joy who  had cancer. 

After Joy passed, Jennifer realized that many cancer patients don’t  have a support system or someone to bring them nutritious food. With the help of local chefs  and volunteers, they would create meals and deliver them to homebound cancer patients. 

With money she won from winning the tv show, Chopped—she started the diner. The diner serves breakfast and lunch and the money goes to the foundation to serve more meals to cancer patients.  

“The menu that we have at the diner is all from scratch.” Caraway said. “ I would say the most popular dish right now is the chilaquiles.” 

In addition to enjoying the diner, you can also volunteer with the foundation by decorating the  bags the meals go into or delivering the meals.

Guest Bonnell visits the Joy Bus dinner once a week without fail, her favorite dish is the avocado toast.  “The toast varies, as you know, from place to place. But on the Joy bus is this big chunk of avocado, on the most fabulous bread.” she said

Guest Brittany Acevedo stopped by the Joy bus diner to try the eggs benedict. She goes on to describe how “phenomenal” and delicious the dish was. “The bread was toasted perfectly, and then they made this poached egg, a potion of perfection.” she said. 

Guest Jeannie LaMarche had the two eggs breakfast with peppered bacon and seasoned potatoes. “It was a little bit spicy, but it was yummy.” 

For the grande finale, guest La Marche ordered the Jar cherry pie. Her remarks could be wrapped up in one word: “Awesome .”

Overall, Joy Bus diner  was a memorable favorite among this week’s guests.