Bernie Kantak

West of Western Feeds Downtown

Is cuisine an artform?

Did you see the April issue of Food Wine?

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

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Cowboy Ciao

Cowboy Ciao Hosts Siduri Wine Dinner

Sideways may have been a fictional tale, but the elusive and obsession-inducing qualities of Pinot Noir are completely true. Consider Siduri Wines, a winery that produces only Pinot Noir, all single-vineyard releases from its 20 vineyards in California and Oregon. Owners Adam and Diana Lee's d ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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 Weekend: Devoured Phoenix Culinary Classic

Jason Silva A year ago, I sipped some wine at West of Western culinary festival with entrepreneur and small business advocate Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona, chatting about boosting the profile of local restaurants. If only I'd brought a crystal ball with me. ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Get Ready for Cupcake Love-In Oct. 10

Ten to the third power brings Cupcake Love-In's "peace, love, and cupcakes" to Hotel Valley Ho from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 10. Shell out $10 in advance ($15 day of), and you'll get to scarf down cupcakes from 30 different bakeries, cupcakeries, restaurants and pastry chefs.

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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

Iconic Local Dishes Appear in New Places

The Big Ol' Jack Ass Burger, in all of its glory, at Spotted Donkey II.​Leave it to chef Patrick Boll of The Spotted Donkey Cantina II to create a tribute to the Valley's most iconic hunk o' beef, Roaring Fork's Big Ass Burger. Given all the years he worked at Roaring Fork during the ... 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 >>

Chef Payton Curry Says Farewell to Caffe Boa

Jamie PeacheyChef Payton Curry was the talk of the town with his Christmas "reindeer menu."​After nearly a year and a half as executive chef at Tempe's Caffe Boa and Mesa's Caffe Boa Bistro, chef Payton Curry is leaving to launch his own restaurant."I want to do what Charleen Badman's doing, and w ... More >>

This Weekend: Devoured Phx Culinary Classic

Last year, Kai's table at Devoured was the most beautiful display of all.​Over the last few years, the Valley of the Sun has become the Valley of the Culinary Festivals. A handful of must-visit food- and wine-tasting events is now a sprawling season of eating, from East Valley to West. ... More >>

Sunday at Devoured: Payton Curry, Bite Me Brownies and the Latest Pop-Up

Erica O'NeilPayton Curry, former head chef of Caffe Boa, chats with current head chef Matt Smith during the sausage grinding demonstration at Devoured. ​Devoured is history for another year -- and we're full.We got started early Sunday morning. We highly recommend this method as a solid way to go ... More >>

Final Meditations on the Phoenix Food Scene from Michele Laudig

Erica O'NeilPayton Curry, former head chef of Caffe Boa, chats with current head chef Matt Smith during the sausage grinding demonstration at Devoured. ​Devoured is history for another year -- and we're full.We got started early Sunday morning. We highly recommend this method as a solid way to go ... 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 >>

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 >>

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 >>

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

​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 >>

"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 >>

Citizen Public House to Hold First-Ever Cocktail Pairing Dinner

Zach FowleRichie Moe of Citizen Public House pops his bar cherry at the first-ever cocktail pairing dinner.​There's a first time for everything and I'm hoping if this event ends up being half as cool as it sounds, it won't be the last. For one night only, on Thursday, July 28, Citizen Public ... 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 >>

Caffe Boa Owner Jay Wisniewski Says, "You Don't Need a Big-Name Chef to Have a Great Restaurant"

Owners Jay and Christine Wisniewski of Caffe Boa​Update: After this piece was published, Wisniewski called to clarify that Payton Curry wasn't overpaid, but was getting expensive. Charleen Badman, Bernie Kantak, Silvana Salcido Esparza -- who needs 'em? Jay Wisniewski, owner of Caffe Boa, th ... More >>

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

http://www.etsy.com/shop/YeeHaw​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 ... 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 Sc ... More >>