In true PVCL fashion, each month we play a round of 21 Questions with an esteemed Valley chef. This issue, we’re going all in on The Ra Ra Room and the talent behind the flavors, Chef Johnny Chan Boon.
1. What’s your role inside the Ra Ra Room?
My official title is Executive Chef, but I wear many hats. I’m constantly sourcing the best ingredients, leading team training (my favorite part), and helping troubleshoot when challenges arise.
2. Describe the Ra Ra Room in one sentence…
Stepping into The Ra Ra Room feels like entering the set of The Great Gatsby where Art Deco elegance drapes the walls, velvet curtains frame the scene, and the lighting cues a timeless performance just waiting for the director to call, “Action.”
3. What was your first reaction when you saw the space inside the arena?
It felt like I had stepped into an entirely different era, suddenly transported to a more glamorous, bygone time hidden within the walls of the arena.
4. On a game night, what’s the energy in the kitchen before the doors even open?
Game night in the kitchen feels like the final moments before a live performance: everything in motion, yet perfectly orchestrated. There’s an electric sense of anticipation, fueled by adrenaline.
5. Who was the first A-lister that made you stop mid-plating?
Every guest at The Ra Ra Room receives the same level of care and attention.
6. What dish has earned you the most repeat requests from VIPs?
Members who know CARBONE light up when they see familiar favorites on our menu. The Caesar alla ZZ, Mario’s Meatballs, and the Veal Parmesan often top their list.
7. What’s the one dish you never get tired of making?
The Spicy Vodka Rigatoni as it’s iconic.
8. Is there an off-menu item we should request?
We are always open to member requests while keeping the integrity of The Ra Ra Room menu... you never know what might inspire the next menu addition.
9. Proudest Ra Ra Room moment so far?
Our first members-only wine dinner. We designed a custom menu pairing each course with specialty Napa wines brought in just for the evening.
10. How much of what happens at the Ra Ra Room stays at the Ra Ra Room?
What happens at the Ra Ra Room is meant to be experienced in the moment.
11. Describe the Ra Ra experience.
Discretely positioned with PHX Arena, we're recognizable by a single martini donning the entrance. The moment members pass through the nondescript arrival, they enter a world of glamour and indulgence.
12. What’s new this year?
The Ra Ra Room will be open for the beginning of the Suns season featuring a preseason game against the Lakers and for the Suns home opener. We will continue to host exclusive members’ only events and experiences.
13. Do you cook with players in mind?
Our focus remains on delivering the exceptional fine dining experience that MFG is renowned for.
14. Has any Suns player inspired a dish?
While we honor favorites from the MFG roster, we continuously evolve the menu to reflect the diverse tastes of all our members.
15. The Ra Ra Room is part dining, part social club. How do you curate that atmosphere through food?
We design the experience to be as versatile as it is elevated... whether a member stops in for a cocktail, a glass of wine, a light bite, or a full-course dinner with food and wine pairings.
16. What’s the cocktail that gets people posting?
Our Old Fashioned.
17. What’s an ingredient you’re obsessed with?
Calabrian Chile that's used in the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni.
18. Any unforgettable dinner parties?
For our members-only tequila dinner, we crafted a custom menu designed to pair perfectly with different types of tequila, now fully available on the menu.
19. What’s your biggest kitchen flex?
How I manage service... it’s like conducting a culinary symphony on a unicycle.
20. What advice do you have for aspiring chefs?
Be laser focused and ready to tackle anything.
21. What’s one thing members might be surprised to learn about you?
Some days, I’m a coach, a mentor, or even a therapist.
Memberships are required to dine in The Ra Ra Room. Memberships for two individuals is $15,000 annually. therararoom.com