Bernie Kantak

11 Favorite Salads in Metro Phoenix

Summer is just weeks away, which means it's panic time for those of us who packed on the lbs. over the winter. Yes, of course, we should've seen this coming, and what the hell happened to that exercise regimen we felt so enthusiastic about back in January? Now there's no place to run and certainly n ... More >>

Owners of Citizen Public House Announce New Restaurant Planned for the Biltmore Area

In January, it was reported that the owners of Citizen Public House (chef Bernie Kantak, Andrew Fritz, and mixologist Richie Moe) were on the hunt for a new restaurant location. Two months later, the space -- as well as the name -- have been confirmed. See also: - Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers Coming t ... More >>

6 Don't-Miss Events During AZ Cocktail Week: Feb 16-22

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Phoenix is becoming a bona-fide food-town, "becoming" (present progressive) being the operative word. Exhibit A, for your consideration: the second annual Arizona Cocktail Week, a seven-day series of boozy events -- some educational, others not so much -- b ... More >>

12 National Food Trends We'll See in Phoenix in 2013

Everybody likes to say that Phoenix is years behind "real" food and drink towns, and for an embarrassingly long time, that was absolutely true. Lately? Not so much. I've read a slew of end-of-the-year predictions about what we Americans will be eating and drinking next year, and in many cases, we've ... More >>

Chef Salad Highlights: The Funny, Astute and Provocative Comments Our Local Chefs Made in 2012

If you've been reading Chef Salad here at Chow Bella for a while, you've probably gleaned a few tasty nuggets about your favorite chefs: what they like to eat and where, the colleagues they admire, the mentors they've learned from and their views on trends and celebrity. As the interviewer, I've bee ... More >>

Forget Candy! Five Ways to Celebrate Halloween in Metro Phoenix with Food and Alcohol

Maybe you shouldn't forget candy completely, but as a grown up, there are ways to celebrate Halloween that are far more delicious than chalky, corn syrup-filled packaged sugar. There are pumpkin beers and entrées, horror-themed cocktails, and frightening foods like headcheese (real head included). ... More >>

Meet-and-Greet (and Booze with) Favorite Local Chefs at Dine Out with The Chefs This Weekend

The world of food doesn't get more boozy and schmoozy than Dine Out With the Chefs and if your social calendar is looking a little bare the good news is the once a year event is just around the corner. From 3 to 5 p.m. this Sunday, September 7, Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will become a ... More >>

Tastemaker No. 1

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 >>

Tastemaker No. 2

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 >>

Tastemaker No. 3

Citizen Public House: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Citizen Public House, 7111 E. Fifth Avenue, Suite E, Scottsdale, 480-398-4208, www.citizenpublichouse.com. See also: Bernie Kantak Explains What's Good About Food Network and How Josh Hebert Inadvertently Changed His LIfe Tastemaker #16: Bernie Kantak The Hours: Happy Hour is offered 3 ... More >>

4: Cathy Hayes

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 >>

6: Francesca Bianco

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 >>

8: Bob McClendon

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 >>

9: Eytan Zias

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 >>

10: Joe Johnston

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 >>

11: Chrysa Robertson

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 >>

14: Josh Hebert

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 >>

15: Jim Cerreta Sr.

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 >>

Bernie Kantak Explains What's Good about Food Network and How Josh Hebert Inadvertently Changed His Life

See also: Lifting the Wine-List Veil at Citizen Public House This is part two of my interview with Bernie Kantak, chef and co-owner of Citizen Public House. If you missed part one, read it here. The great thing about being a chef is: I get to throw a party every night! The tough thing about bein ... More >>

Bernie Kantak Dishes on Food Trucks and Why He Hopes Comfort Food Is Here to Stay

See also: Chef Bernie Kantak Returns with Citizen Public House Bernie Kantak Citizen Public House 7111 East Fifth Avenue, Scottsdale 480-398-4208 www.citizenpublichouse.com This is part one of my interview with Bernie Kantak, chef and co-owner of Citizen Public House. Come back on Tuesday for part ... 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 >>

Citizen Public House Hosts Revenge of the Pig: A Boozy Affair with Porcine

View the full slideshow of Revenge of the Pig at Citizen Public House. 'Twas a marriage of alcohol and pork at last night's Revenge of the Pig dinner hosted by Citizen Public House in Scottsdale. At $75 per person, guests gobbled down six courses of Miss Piggy, and sipped on six pork-paired cocktai ... More >>

What's Your Kitchen Entrance Jam?

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.It's no secret there's a connection between food ... More >>

AZ Restaurant Week Survivors Party at Citizen Public House This Sunday

Love it or hate it -- AZ Restaurant Week (Spring Edition) is officially over Sunday night. According to Bernie Kantak, chef and co-owner of Citizen Public House, this calls for a celebration. But then, with Kantak, what doesn't? He and his partners Richie Moe and Andrew Fritz are hosting a late ... More >>

Lifting the Wine-List Veil at Citizen Public House

Welcome to Vine Geeks, where Brian Reeder and Pavle Milic of AZ Wine Merchants take the drinking game quite seriously. Pay attention -- you might just learn something. Today, Brian heads over to Citizen Public House to uncork the secrets of the restaurant wine list. In all likelihood, a restaurant ... More >>

The Five Most Memorable Things I Put in My Mouth in 2011

​That's right, laugh it up. Although the title of this post wasn't my idea, I did consume a fair share of noteworthy eats in 2011. Whether crazy-delicious, crazy-exotic, or just crazy-crazy, many have managed to make quite an impression. Here are five of the most significant. ​5. Pan-Seared ... More >>

Pig Out Monday Night at The Mission with the Latest Tender Belly Dinner

​The latest "Roaming Pork Party" is taking it south of the border with a stop at The Mission in Scottsdale for Chef Matt Carter's signature modern Latin cuisine. Monday, November 28, you can pig out from 8 to 11 p.m. with a menu priced at $5 to $8. This event began as an industry-folks-only ... More >>

New Chef Competition Show for Bravo Now Casting: Will Valley Chefs Represent?

Attention Valley chefs: Time to pull out the can of whoop-ass for a potential new TV series.​Payton Curry, step it up. Bernie Kantak, I'm callin' you out. Silvana Salcido Esparza, time to kick some ass. Seems as if the producers of the Emmy award-winning Top Chef are putting together a potent ... 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 >>

Bernie Kantak's Citizen Public House Is Your New Favorite Restaurant

Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House

​Chef Bernie Kantak began his culinary adventure at a very early age. He sampled head cheese at four years old and liked it. Shortly afterwards, instead of slapping together a messy PB&J when his mom told him to make a snack, Kantak pulled up a chair, turned on the stove a ... More >>

Late Night at Citizen Public House Starts Tonight

Bernie Kantak​Beginning tonight, a new favorite in Old Town Scottsdale will be staying open late. Bernie Kantak's Citizen Public House is planning regular late night hours Thursday -- Saturday, til 1:30 a.m. This weekend's menu will feature Berkshire spare ribs ($12) and pork tacos with ... More >>

Gina's Homemade at Cycle and Shrimp Tacos in Today's Eater's Digest

Foodie Bride​Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?The Next Cycle Gina Buskirk of Gina's Homemade is mixing things up in the Cycle kitchen this Friday and Saturday with her very own menu of "old school Italian peasant food". Gina's "Rustic" menu wil ... More >>

Citizen Public House Opens for Lunch

​The Valley's hot ticket is chef Bernie Kantak's brand-new gastropub Citizen Public House, which just opened its doors two weeks ago and specializes in bar snacks with a gourmet spin and contemporary American cuisine tinged with Eastern European influences (think pork bell ... More >>

Local Restaurant Peeps' Predictions for 2011

What cuts of meat will you be eating in 2011?​Helen Yung, Sweet Republic co-ownerI think it'll be the year of gourmet food trucks. It started this year but will make a huge jump in 2011, with well-regarded restaurants joining the game.Craig DeMarco, Postino ownerMy short list: ... More >>

Amaro Pizzeria and Vino Lounge in Cave Creek

The Kantak chop salad and pane caprese drizzled with balsamic at Amaro Pizzeria and Vino Lounge. ​We blogged a couple weeks back about Amaro Pizzeria and Vino Lounge opening in Cave Creek, and even brought you a first look of the posh new digs. The new restaurant smell still hasn't worn off ... More >>

Chef Bernie Kantak Returns With Citizen Public House

Chef Bernie Kantak stayed in the spotlight by cooking up some clever eats at this year's Devoured culinary festival.​What's next for chef Bernie Kantak, who left his longtime executive chef gig at Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz last year?Well, Next is next. He and partner Andrew Fritz (formerly of Cowb ... More >>

2: Stetson Chopped Salad at Cowboy Ciao

​​Hungry yet? We're working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, which hits the streets tomorrow, with daily servings of Chow Bella's 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley -- in no particular order.Visit our sister blog, Jackalope Ranch, for a c ... More >>

New in Cave Creek: Amaro Pizzeria & Vino Lounge

Pizza and wine: Two great tastes that go great together. That's the concept from two hospitality pros --alumni from Kazimierz World Wine Bar and Estate House -- who are making their mark on the dining scene in the North Valley with the opening of their new restaurant, Amaro Pizzeria & Vino ... More >>

A Sweet Ending for the Devoured Culinary Festival

FnB's butterscotch pudding. ​Maybe it was the calming influence of arts maven turned Devour Phoenix spokesperson Kimber Lanning, or some new Zen-like mojo brought on by the event's name change, but today's installment of the Devoured Culinary Classic went on without a hitch ... More >>

Lots of New Local Eateries in the Works

AZCentral's list of 20 new restaurants scheduled to open by the end of the year has suddenly been changed to 15 since the story was posted yesterday. Not hard to figure out which five are now missing -- it's the restaurants on Jackson that Bernie Kantak is planning. Should we rea ... More >>

This Week In Chow Bella

Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let's have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Last Night's Sea Saw Finale Last Night: Skyy Vodka Bar Chef Competition Chef ... More >>

Jackson Street Entertainment District Hits a Political Nerve

This afternoon, the City of Phoenix Planning and Zoning Committee has a scheduled hearing on the establishment, through rezoning, of the controversial Jackson Street Entertainment District -- ground zero for those five new Bernie Kantak restaurants I mentioned yesterday. And it looks like ... More >>

Chef Bernie Kantak Planning Five Restaurants Downtown

Former Cowboy Ciao chef Bernie Kantak and his business partners have finalized a deal to open not one, not two, but five new restaurants downtown, reports the Republic today. The concepts will be Southwestern, Southern, steakhouse, Latin, and wine bar, and will be located at 1st Stree ... More >>

June 9 In Blogs: Thomas Coletto, Pretty Things Peep Show, TheEroticReview.com, and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard:Thomas Coletto Renounces Neo-Nazi-ism, Alleges Former Comrade to be Satanist Up on the Sun:Ge ... More >>

Cowboy Ciao and Digestif host wine, beer, and absinthe dinners

Did you see the April issue of Food Wine?

West of Western Feeds Downtown

BEST NEW AMERICAN CUISINE

Cowboy Ciao