Aaron May

Ex-Kai Chef Michael O'Dowd Opens Renegade by Mod in Scottsdale This Friday

Even if you've never heard of chef Michael O'Dowd, you've most certainly heard of Kai, the AAA five-diamond and Forbes Travel Guide five-star restaurant that O'Dowd, during his 10-year reign at the culinary destination, put on the map. See also: - New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Cen ... More >>

5 Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate. See also: - Local Food Trucks (And Lots of Alt Rock) at That Damn Show 2013 in Mesa on April 20 - Mesquite Chocolate Chips Cookies from Super Chunk Sweets & Treats (Head to the Old Town Sc ... More >>

Ex-Kai Chef Michael O'Dowd Leaving Downtown's Sheraton Phoenix to Start Own Business; First Stop Is North Scottsdale's Renegade Tap & Kitchen

Michael O'Dowd, the chef responsible for turning Kai into a culinary destination with national recognition, is setting his sights on another challenge: starting his own business. See also: - Short Leash Hot Dogs to Open Permanent Location in Downtown Phoenix - "Arizona's Hottest New Patio" Opens in ... More >>

Best Kitchen Pranks from Valley Chefs

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.With today being April Fools' Day, there's a good chance many of us will ei ... More >>

Is the Michelin Guide Still Relevant?

Over a century old, the Michelin Guide, the star-ratings restaurant guide paid for by the French tire company, is arguably the best-known on the planet. See also: - What Are the Pros and Cons of Food Festivals? - What Are Three Cooking Skills Everyone Should Know? But recently, the guide has taken ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Food Stories of the Week

Every week, there's a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you're like most people, you probably just don't have the time to get to all of it. So, here's a recap of some of the top stories from the week that you may have missed.

Five Things to Eat and Drink this Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate. See Also: Five Places to Eat, Drink and Celebrate for Mardi Gras in Metro Phoenix Aaron May Opens Over Easy Locations in Mesa and Gilbert Charcuterie Class and Tasting at The House Brasser ... More >>

What National Chain Restaurants Do You Secretly Like?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.As much as they may deny it, chefs and restaurateurs secretly enjoy nationa ... More >>

Chefs, What Would It Take to Sell Yourselves to a Major Corporation?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.Since James Beard likened himself to a "gastronomic whore" after signing an ... More >>

Which Celebrity Should Be the Next to Open a Restaurant in Phoenix?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.Movie stars and musicians opening their own restaurants is nothing new -- e ... More >>

Who's the Most Unsung Hero in the Kitchen?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com.If it takes a village to raise a child, then it takes a top-notch kitchen s ... More >>

5 Dishes at Chain Restaurants to Skip for Something Healthier (and Just as Tasty) at Local Eateries in Greater Phoenix

Eating healthier can sometimes be as easy as switching out one kind of food for another. See also: 5 Fad Diets to Avoid in 2013 and 5 Cleanses to Detox the Holidays Away So, inspired by the popular "Eat This, Not That" of Men's Health magazine, who, this October, published a list of the 20 worst, ... More >>

What Will the Top Food Trends for Phoenix Be in 2013?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Miss a question? Go here.Soon, 2013 will be upon us and so will a new year ... More >>

What's Your Cold Remedy?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Miss a question? Go here.The arrival of cold season (See: bleh) means sugg ... More >>

Does Promising a Higher Tip Mean Better Service?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Miss a question? Go here.Usually, tips are something left at the end of a ... More >>

Over Easy Adding Two Locations in the Southeast Valley

For those in the Southeast Valley looking to score a.m. eats like cheddar jalapeño biscuits and gravy, caramelized banana and pecan brioche French toast, or battered and fried breakfast sausages on sticks, your mornings just got a little sunnier. See also: Aaron May Dishes On Being a Chef, a Rest ... More >>

Ten Favorite Playlists at Metro Phoenix Restaurants

See Also: 10 Favorite Drive-Thrus in Metro Phoenix Let's face it, the music that streams through the speakers of a restaurant has the ability to make or break your dining experience. We know of a sushi shop that only plays religious music, a Mexican food joint that can't turn down the top 40 banger ... More >>

Enter Over Easy's Recipe Contest, Win a Spot on the Menu -- and Free Eggs for a Year

Get your whisks at the ready, folks. Because Over Easy just kicked off "the breakfast competition of the year." See also: Over Easy Named One of America's Best Brunches by Travel Leisure The breakfast spot with locations in Scottsdale and Arcadia is known for its inventive fare from local celeb ... More >>

From Pickled Pork Cheeks to PB&J Foie Gras, Phoenix Chefs Are Serving It Up In a Jar

See also: Tracy Dempsey: Tracy Dempsey Originals See also: Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House See also: Chef Pete DeRuvo To Head Kitchen at New Davanti Enoteca See also: Tastemaker 86: Cullen Campbell Nothing says "Hey, Y'all" like a big ol' Mason jar of sweet tea, and folksy restaurants (corpo ... More >>

Chow Bella's Top Phoenix Food Stories of the Week

Every week, there's a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you're like most people, you probably just don't have the time to get to all of it. It's kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won't all fit in your mouth ... or in this ca ... More >>

74: Sacha Levine

From now 'til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers -- Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you'll know; for others, it'll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you're here, check out our 100 Creat ... More >>

76: Anthony Patafio

From now 'til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers -- Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you'll know; for others, it'll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you're here, check out our 100 Creat ... More >>

Potbelly Sandwich Shop (and a JoS. A. Bank Clothiers) Coming to CityScape: One Smoked Ham and a Dress Shirt, Please

With restaurants like the Hotel Palomar's Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails opening its doors today, new taco shop Fuego CityScape (which moved into Aaron May's former Vitamin T Space) opening later this month, and pan-Asian restaurant Silk Sushi still planning to open later this summer, can downtown's ... More >>

Should a Chef Alter a Signature Menu Item If a Customer Requests It?

The implied meaning of a signature menu item is that it doesn't change. And for restaurants who offer them, the message to customers is simple: If you come here, you can have this special item. But what if the customer wants a signature dish with alterations? I asked Valley chefs and restaurateurs ... More >>

Five Things to Eat if You're in Phoenix for the NCAA West Regionals

Welcome to Phoenix, basketball fans. We hope you're hungry. Whether your team wins or loses, you'll want to break some bread. So we're here with suggestions of our favorite places to do it. For this list, we've narrowed things to central and downtown Phoenix -- but you'll still likely need a car (o ... More >>

Over Easy Named One of America's Best Brunches by Travel Leisure

Many of us in the Valley consider Over Easy, restaurateur Aaron May's concept of breakfast eats with some unique twists (with locations in Arcadia and North Scottsdale), our neighborhood go-to spot for a.m. goodness. Now, it looks like Travel Leisure, the travel magazine and website based in New Y ... More >>

The Strand at CityScape Off to a Good Start for Fast Casual Italian Eats

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions. Share a few photos, some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few items, and satisfyi ... More >>

Valley Chefs Demonstrate How Not to Saber a Champagne Bottle

Looks as if a few notable Valley chefs may have benefited from our post last week on sabrage, the name given to the practice of opening a champagne bottle with a sword. Last month, during a benefit dinner at the home of Jamie Hormel (owner of the Wrigley Mansion, heir to the Hormel meat-packing emp ... More >>

What's the Most Unusual Item That's Been Ripped Off From Your Restaurant?

Welcome to Chow Bella's Bites & Dishes, where each week Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question or topic New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you'd like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. ​Salt and pepper shakers, flatware, tea light ... More >>

Vitamin T Breakfast Starts Today: Buenos Días, Señor Ham & Egg Torta

Sara Dalton​Wake up, downtown Phoenix, your Mexican breakfast is ready. Vitamin T, celebu-chef Aaron May's home of tacos, tortas, and tequila in the Cityscape building, officially opens for breakfast today and my does it look tasty. Think smoked ham and oven-roasted chicken tortas, a breakfa ... More >>

Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits and Sausage Gravy from Over Easy

​Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. 50: Cheddar Jalape ... More >>

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain's Lunch & Learn Series Returns With Celebu-Chefs Aaron May, Robert Irvine, and Marcus Samuelsson

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain​When it comes to giving our brains something else to do this summer besides think about how crazy hot it is, award-winning chef Beau MacMillan of the Scottsdale resort, Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain, is bringing back his popular Lunch & Learn series with lots of ... More >>

"Dine Out with the Chefs" Event Adds Bernie Kantak, Charlene Badman, and Aaron May

Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House will be on hand at this year's event.​The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is stepping up its game this year for its sixth annual, "Dine Out With the Chefs," one of the Valley's most exclusive culinary events where guests get to mingle with local ... More >>

Nikki Buchanan Leaves Up Agency for Aaron May

PhoenixBites.com The new loaded dogs at Chase Field ​A round-up of tasty morsels from Valley food blogs. Nikki Buchanan blogged on The Wild Lavender that she has left her spot at Up Agency for a job as Aaron May's new in-house publicist.

CityScape's New Oakville Grocery: Lifeline, or Anchor?

​The signs for Oakville Grocery are up at Phoenix's CityScape development, and according to the PR machine the store is "in its final phases of construction and design." The California-based gourmet market shuttered the doors of its Scottsdale Quarter location this past January after a little ... More >>

Quick PHX: Food

Phoenix Eaterati Dish on Their Fave Foods of 2010

Joe Johnston Restaurateur Joe Johnston's perfect sandwich of 2010.​ What was the best thing you ate in 2010? I asked around with a handful of Phoenix food lovers, and they were split down the middle. For some, the answer was easy and obvious, a singular work of gastronomic perfec ... More >>

2010 Redux: Culinary Happenings

Crudo dished up beautiful plates of fish at the Devoured culinary fest.​In the spirit of tying up loose ends, we're recapping some of our favorite food-related finds of the year. We've already looked back on the Best Books, Battle of the Dishes, Just Offal, the Best R ... More >>

Shine 2010: Where to Party in Scottsdale

Halloween Guide

Our Guide to Scaring Up a Good Time This Halloween

Tilted Kilt Joins the CityScape Roster

​The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery is the latest business to sign on with the CityScape project, joining 14 other eateries in the works. This suburban chain with locations in Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Peoria will make the jump to Phoenix proper in the fall of 2010. The Tilted Kilt brings a ... More >>

Culinary Dropout, Mabel's on Main, and Mad Chef Keep You Moving on a Gastropub Crawl

Silk Joins CityScape Restaurant Lineup

​Sushi restaurants are clearly not evenly distributed in the Valley. I can think of at least half a dozen, off the top of my head, that are in or around Old Town Scottsdale, but downtown Phoenix only has one, Moira Sushi. Later this summer, though, a new spot called Silk will bring the numb ... More >>

A Burger to Die For...Literally

We've heard rumors about crazy high-fat diet plans and free food for obese diners at Chandler's Heart Attack Grill since it originally opened in 2005. We figured we'd pop by for a Bypass (yes, that's what they call their burgers) and shed a little light on their high-calorie fare, even if it means w ... More >>

Christopher Gross' Chef's Tour: A Recap

Sloane BurwellJames Porter gets Aaron May's autograph. After this weekend, it's time to replace "party like a rockstar" with "drink like a chef." Friday night is a bit of a blur for most (if not all) of the participants in a Chef's Tour of central downtown Phoenix restaurants (yes, and bars) dreamed ... More >>

Happy Hour Deals: Autostrada

What restaurant concept will they think of next? Autostrada is an Italian restaurant in north Scottsdale that, according to its Web site, is "inspired by the Italian car culture." All we know is that if Aaron May is involved, the food's gonna be good. Get in the old jalopy and head up to Scottsd ... More >>

Scottsdale Culinary Fest Comprises 12 Events This Week

The Scottsdale Culinary Festival sounds monolithic, but the granddaddy among the Valley's culinary festivals is surprisingly multifaceted -- a dozen different events at 16 different restaurants and venues around town, ranging from casual tastings to semi-formal sit-down occasions.

Roy Yamaguchi comes to Scottsdale tomorrow

West of Western Feeds Downtown