Chris Bianco

Matt Taylor of Market Street Kitchen on John Besh, Michael Mina, and the Best Southern Restaurants in the U.S.

This is part two of my interview with Matt Taylor, executive chef at Market Street Kitchen. If you missed part one, where Taylor dished about Brad Thompson, Robert McGrath and what he likes and dislikes about the Southern Cooking trend, read it here. See also: -- New Southern-Style Cooking Spot Com ... More >>

Chris Bianco on One of the Most Under-Rated Chefs in America and What's Great About Italian Cooking in Italy

This is part two of my interview with Chris Bianco, chef-owner of Pizzeria Bianco, Bar Bianco, Pane Bianco and Trattoria Bianco. If you missed part one, where Bianco dished about Jamie Oliver, the local chefs he most admires and awesome pizza, read it here. See also: - -- 11 Best Pizza Spots in Met ... More >>

Check, Please! Arizona Festival at CityScape Was a Hot Hit; Celeb Chefs Informed and Entertained

Channel 8 hosted its first-ever Check, Please! Arizona Festival at CityScape on Sunday and despite the ridiculous temperatures (100 degrees, but it felt hotter), everybody seemed to have a good time. See also: -- Chef Kevin Binkley a Finalist for James Beard Award -- Chris Bianco Opens Full-Blown P ... More >>

Big Brain Awards 2013

Jacques Qualin of J&G Steakhouse on Head Cheese, Being an Apprentice, and Daniel Boulud

Jacques Qualin J&G Steakhouse The Phoenician Resort 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale 480-214-8000, jgsteakhousescottsdale.com See also: -- Matt Pool on Chris Bianco, Andreoli Italian Grocer, and Phoenix as a Food Town -- Chef Kevin Binkley a Finalist for James Beard Award This is part one of ... More >>

Matt Pool On Chris Bianco, Andreoli Italian Grocer and Phoenix as a Food Town

Matt Pool Matt's Big Breakfast 825 N. 1st Street, Phoenix 602-254-1074, mattsbigbreakfast.com Giant Coffee 1437 N. 1st Street, Phoenix 602-396-7215 See also: -- Chili Challenge: TexAZ Grill vs. Matt's Big Breakfast -- Matt's Big Breakfast: New, Bigger Location Now Open This is part one of my i ... 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.

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.

Charleen Badman: On Male Chefs, Cooking for Famous People, and the Irrelevance of Her Lady Parts

This is part two of my interview with Charleen Badman, chef and co-owner of FnB, AZ Wine Merchants and Bodega. If you missed part one, in which Badman praised Lori Hashimoto, described her first meeting with Chris Bianco's mom, and talked about the kitchen phrase she hates, read it here. See also: ... More >>

Portillo's in Scottsdale: The Happiest Reunion Between Girl and Food

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out and let you know our initial impressions. 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 satisfying curiosities (yours and ours). For as ... More >>

Charleen Badman: On Lori Hashimoto, Chris Bianco's Mom, and the Kitchen Phrase That Gets Under Her Skin

Charleen Badman FnB 7125 East Fifth Avenue, Suite 31, Scottsdale 480-284-4777, www.fnbrestaurant.com See also: -- Charleen Badman and Pavle Milic to Open FnB on Craftsman Court on Tuesday -- FnB's Charleen Badman Tells Food & Wine Her Favorite Places to Eat, Shop and Sleep in the Valley -- 15 Met ... More >>

Why Don't Some Restaurants Take Reservations?

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.When it comes to dining out, some of us need a re ... More >>

Tastemaker No. 3

70: Jason Silberschlag

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 >>

Flourless Chocolate Cake with Lemon Marmalade at Pane Bianco

In this town, the Bianco name is synonymous with amazing pizza. In fact, Food & Wine recently named Pizzeria Bianco as one of the 25 best spots for pizza in the United States. With Pane Bianco, Chris and his brother Marco brought us incredible sandwiches with focaccia bread baked on the premises (no ... More >>

Chris Bianco's Tomatoes Land in Chicago Butcher Shop of James Beard Award-Winning Chef

Fans of Bianco DiNapoli canned tomatoes, the organically grown plum-shaped beauties in yellow containers from taste maker Chris Bianco and California cannery expert Rob DiNapoli, already know the goodness they bring to foods like marinara sauce and salsa. Now, it seems as if folks in Chicago are d ... More >>

Five Phoenix Hot Spots for a Potential Prince Harry Sighting

Hey, Harry! We're ready for our fairy tale to begin! We hear that Prince Harry, a.k.a. The Real Prince Charming, is now just an hour and a half away near Gila Bend for the final leg of his Apache helicopter training. We know he's already made a couple road trips to San Diego during his st ... More >>

Chef Peter DeRuvo Leaves Prado

​After less than nine months at Prado, the Andalusian-inspired fine-dining spot at Paradise Valley's InterContinental Montelucia, chef de cuisine Peter DeRuvo has left. DeRuvo, who started at Prado in January a few months after leaving Sassi, the award-winning Italian restaurant at the foot o ... More >>

Tuck Shop Owner Opening New Concept Next to Restaurant: Think Pastries, Sandwiches, Deli Cases, and an Old-School Soda Fountain

Convenience: The building for the new concept sits just south of the Tuck Shop.​Looks like the Coronado District is getting a delicious new neighbor, courtesy of a current one. DJ Fernandes, owner of the Tuck Shop, the cozy house-turned-eatery, has purchased the home just south of the restaur ... More >>

Crescent Ballroom's Menu to be Overseen by Chris Bianco and Doug Robson

​In case you haven't been paying attention, Phoenix is getting a new music venue called the Crescent Ballroom (you can read about it here). Phoenix music fans are pretty excited for the venue's October 3rd opening and it looks like Phoenix foodies have something to look forward to, as well.&nb ... More >>

Georganne Bryant's Perfect Food Day

Jamie Peachey​Georganne Bryant is the owner of Frances, Smeeks and the new Frances Studio, all in Medlock Plaza on the northwest corner of Camelback and Central. If you've seen those Love Phoenix or Leave Phoenix t-shirts and bumper stickers around town, we have her to thank. She has enviable tas ... More >>

Five Favorite Coffee Houses in Metro Phoenix

​I remember the very first coffee house in Phoenix. OK, maybe it wasn't the first. I'm sure it wasn't the first. But it was my first. It was 1991(ish) and I'd just moved home to the Valley -- and no one around here was into coffee. Yet. It would be years before Starbucks arrived, but one da ... More >>

Peter DeRuvo Hired as Chef at Prado

Chef Peter DeRuvo was invited to cook at New York's James Beard House while he was chef at Sassi. ​The off-the-record buzz about chef Peter DeRuvo taking over the chef de cuisine position at Prado is now confirmed news. He officially starts the job on Monday. DeRuvo seems lik ... More >>

Chris Bianco Buys Out Business Partner in Pizzeria Bianco

Pizzeria Bianco co-owner Susan Pool has parted ways with the restaurant.​After a 16-year business partnership, James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco is parting ways with Susan Pool, who's been a front-of-the-house fixture at the popular downtown eatery. "I'm taking over the ownership ... More >>

Vatra Grillhouse to Become Kitchen 56

Vatra Grillhouse is now called Kitchen 56.​Will the third time be the charm for the restaurant at the southeast corner of Indian School and 56th Street? The recently renovated building, which used to be a garage, opened in August as Vatra Grillhouse, and, after getting a lukewarm response fro ... More >>

Gasper Manno of Gasper's Casual Italian Dining/Pizzeria, Part Two

Gasper Manno and his wife Maria grew up in towns 20 minutes apart on the Italian island of Sicily, but they didn't meet until they wound up at the same college in New York City. Halfway around the world decades later, now they work together at Gasper's Casual Italian Dining/Pizzeria.

Nobuo at Teeter House Proves Izakaya Dreams Really Can Come True in Downtown Phoenix

35: Antipasto Platter at Pizzeria Bianco

​Hungry yet?We're working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella's 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley -- in no particular orderLeave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section.Visit o ... More >>

Chef Nobuo Fukuda Set to Open New Spot Next Week

​Chef Nobuo Fukuda's new restaurant, Nobuo at Teeter House, is undoubtedly the most anticipated opening of the past year. When his last eatery, Sea Saw, went out with a bang and a whole lot of hamachi last June, fans of the James Beard Award winner's stunning modern Japanese cuisi ... More >>

Rito's Mexican Food: You Can't Fix What Isn't Broken

Chef Talk: Charles Stotts of Avalon (part two)

​Yesterday we sat down with Charles Stotts of Avalon in south Scottsdale. Lucky for you, there's a part two! Want to hear about Stotts recent foodgasm? Read on ... What's the best tool in your kitchen drawer? A spoon. I am against tongs; they're something else you won't find in my kitchen. Tongs ... More >>

Pizzeria Bianco: Is it Worth the Wait?

A little wine, a little cheese, and good company makes the wait for a seat at Pizzeria Bianco more than bearable. ​It's purely coincidental that I ended up at Pizzeria Bianco the day after news leaked out about Every Day With Rachael Ray's new March issue, which declares Chris Bianco's pizz ... More >>

Chef Nobuo Fukuda Officially Planning Downtown Izakaya

​He just signed the lease today. After about three and a half months of negotiations with the City of Phoenix and the city's Historical Preservation Office, chef Nobuo Fukuda is officially planning to open a new restaurant, Nobuo at Teeter House, this June or July. The location, across fro ... More >>

The Wonders of Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta

The Wonders of Sergio Mendoza y La Orkesta and Hotel Congress

Pimping the Obvious in Phoenix

A friend just sent me a link to today's dining post in Tasting Table, a sort of Daily Candy-style food newsletter with New York, Los Angeles, and "Everywhere" editions. Phoenix got the "Everywhere" love, except Tasting Table's four dining picks for this city were so predictable. I wish they would'v ... More >>

Art Burn: More than Tummies Growling at Cibo

Some of the worst restaurant art is found (unsurprisingly) in the restrooms. I can understand the urge to tuck away a bland floral print purchased on clearance at Ross or an ugly oil painting done by the owner's nephew and thus forced to be on display somewhere. But when a hip, "urban chic meets vin ... More >>

Liberty Market: The East Valley’s Answer to La Grande Orange

Local bands feel pain at the pump as they hit the road this summer

The Big Chill

One Valley gelateria has the competition licked

Jaimee Rose, I beg to differ

Sittin' in the Waiting Room

Dance Flavor

Can't spin these platters

Single-File, Please!

No more Mr. Nice Gardeners: The feathered fiend on Mayor Phil's idiot stammerings after the big undocumented-workers' march

Take It to the Bianco

Glorified prison food never sounded so good

Date Shake

Pantry Raid

Second Helpings

Second Helpings

Little Pig Man