Culinary Institute of America

Wright's names a new chef de cuisine

Second Helpings

Fare to Remember

Visualize World Pizza

Breaking records at New Wise Guys

Best Party Platters

Flancer's Cafe

The Radicchio's Red Glare

Valley eateries raise funds for the survivors of slain NY restaurant workers

Success Story

Brothers dish up Baja-style seafood

Cooking School Secrets: Meet the Future Chef

All my life, passion, rather than reason, has led to my relationships, my jobs and my extracurricular activities. It's why I ended up in culinary school when I have a house, some kids and a few pets to support. Here's the short version: I've always been a late bloomer. Dated late.Married late. Had ... More >>

Digestif in Scottsdale serves up absinthe and "Cal-ital food for the soul"

All my life, passion, rather than reason, has led to my relationships, my jobs and my extracurricular activities. It's why I ended up in culinary school when I have a house, some kids and a few pets to support. Here's the short version: I've always been a late bloomer. Dated late.Married late. Had ... More >>

Golden Autumn

Old standby earns longevity

Big Apple appeal

The ambiance at Times Square Deli is Anywhere, USA, but the food is New York all the way

Flashes

The ambiance at Times Square Deli is Anywhere, USA, but the food is New York all the way

Food and Fights: Highlights of the 2009 Scottsdale Culinary Festival

Everyone who's anyone in the Phoenix metro culinary scene, from local foodies to the stars of Hell's Kitchen and Bravo's Top Chef, turned out for this weekend's Scottsdale Culinary Festival. Libations flowed at the Southwest Festival of Beers and inside the Robert Mondavi wine garden. Restaurant che ... More >>

Chef Talk: Bryan Dooley, Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue

Lauren Gilger Chef Bryan Dooley.​It says something when a chef names his restaurant after himself. In our opinion, it says something good. After Bryan Dooley spent 15 years as a chef at the luxurious Fairmont Scottsdale, he opened Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue in downtown Cave Creek. Yep ... More >>

Chipotle Makes a Deal for Slow Food Phoenix

​Yep, that's right. Chipotle is doing good for the community, again. Last week it was a free showing of food industry documentary Food, Inc., and now it's putting on a fundraiser for none other than the food awareness movement's top dog, Slow Food USA. Tonight, from 6 to 8 p.m., customers can ... More >>

Chef Talk: Joe Aiello, Aiello's

Nicki Escudero Joe Aiello outside his restaurant​When Valley diners want New York Italian food but don't want to leave Phoenix, Aiello's provides a slice of Manhattan here in town. Brooklyn-born Joe Aiello owns the 2-year-old restaurant, where he whips up East Coast Italian-style food, ju ... More >>

Chef Talk: Payton Curry, Caffe Boa

Nicki Escudero Payton Curry​Thanks to Payton Curry, the 30-year-old executive chef at Caffe Boa, the Valley's dining scene is becoming more local-oriented due to his "locavore" approach. And to think that he almost didn't make the move to the Valley. "I was scared shitless," Curry say ... More >>

Scottsdale Culinary Institute Changes Its Name

​Get ready to say a mouthful as the Scottsdale Culinary Institute changes its name to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Maybe we should be excited--Julia Child, who was featured in the now-on-DVD movie Julie & Julia, attended the Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris. There are cur ... More >>

Behind the Bar: David Needham of Vista Lounge at JW Marriott

Nicki Escudero David Needham​He may be a bar expert now, but David Needham, manager of Vista Lounge at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, got his start as a culinary student at the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park in New York. Not that he didn't always enjoy cocktails, ... More >>

Cat Cora Chats With Chow Bella, Part 1

After spending so many hours glued to the TV watching chef Cat Cora make unexpected ingredients into glorious dishes that get the Iron Chef America judges waxing rhapsodic, we figured we'd never attempt to cook like the master. But as it turns out, Cora's just as much of a whiz at devising unp ... More >>

Book Week: Ratio by Michael Ruhlman

What's on your summer reading list? This week, Chow Bella contributors will answer that question with reviews of the food-related books we've read lately. If you have a recommendation for us, please leave it in the comment section. Today's selection: Ratio by Michael Ruhlman. Ratio ​ Part o ... More >>

Eric Osburn of Centurion

Chef Eric Osburn, who opened Centurion in Roosevelt Square this June, has been cooking ever since he saw his dad flip an omelet for the first time at age 11. By 13, he was cooking all the meals at home, had his first kitchen job at 15, and was taken under chef Sam Caniglia's tutelage in a country cl ... More >>

How Do I Even Begin To Learn about the World of Wine?

Uncork the issue: How do I even begin to learn about the world of wine? Spill the juice: "Don't think of it as the 'world of wine,'" suggests David Johnson, the wine director at Oakville Grocery Co. "It becomes daunting. People think they have to know about everything. The truth is that it's an inch ... More >>

Payton Curry Plays Reindeer Games

Uncork the issue: How do I even begin to learn about the world of wine? Spill the juice: "Don't think of it as the 'world of wine,'" suggests David Johnson, the wine director at Oakville Grocery Co. "It becomes daunting. People think they have to know about everything. The truth is that it's an inch ... More >>

Chris D'Angeli of Slice Cake Studio

courtesy of Chris D'AngeliPastry Chef Chris D'Angeli​ In her 15- year career, pastry chef Chris D'Angeli has created an impressive resume. Since graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Chris has traversed the U.S., working in five star hotel properties like The Ritz Carlton, as well a ... More >>

Melissa Barth of Posh

Carol BlonderPosh pastry chef Melissa Barth​ Like most younger siblings, Melissa Barth liked to follow her big brother around. In high school she entered a culinary program to be just like him. Her brother went on to a career in computers, but once Melissa hit the pastry station, she never wanted ... More >>

Melissa Barth's Chocolate-Peanut Butter Mousse and Banana Dessert

Carol Blonderchocolate-peanut butter mousse and sauted banana cake with creme fraiche ice cream​ Posh pastry chef Melissa Barth followed her older brother into a culinary program in high school, hit the pastry station, and found her niche. After completing the pastry and baking program at the Cu ... More >>

Tim O'Connor: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

Today we've got a sweet tooth for Tim O'Connor, co-owner of Honey Moon Sweets and our latest Caramelpalooza candymaker. Before the "Honey Moon," co-owners and bakers Tim & Joan O'Connor met while studying at the Culinary Institute of America in New York in 1983; since then, the culinary duo ... More >>

Payton Curry, What Are You Listening To?

Payton Curry​Payton J. CurryThe chef recently launched a pop-up concept at the Welcome Diner. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Cat Power Radio. It's been one of those weeks for me. I don't do radio at all. What's the last song played ... More >>

"My Sweet Mexico" -- A Guide to Making Mexican Desserts

​Following in the footsteps of Diana Kennedy, known as the Julia Child of Mexican cuisine, and Rick Bayless, celebrity chef and restaurateur, New York City-based chef Fany Gerson brings together history and culture and in her collection of authentic Mexican dulces recipes in My Sweet Mexic ... More >>

Olive Garden's "Culinary Institute" in Tuscany: What the Hell is Happening Over There?

Hanover Signs​Poor Olive Garden. First the Italian food chain got tagged for accidentally serving a child sangria ("Mom, dis Kool-Aid makes my sgetti bwurry!"), now it's the target of recent internet buzz with tales of what really goes on at its infamous Tuscan cooking school. You can almost hea ... More >>

The Ritz-Carlton Names Stephen Toevs as New Executive Chef

Linda M. HeroldNew Executive Chef Stephen Toevs will bring his memory-making meals to The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix.​One of chef Stephen Toevs fondest memories of food is shelling fish with his father and grandfather off the coast of Rhode Island for his mother's capellini pasta with white clam sa ... More >>

Chef David Hall of Thyme for a Chef

Lauren Saria ​We're taking a break from the bustling Phoenix restaurant scene this week to talk to Chef David Hall of Thyme for a Chef personal chef services. He share how he, a former engineer, got into the culinary world and explain what a personal chef really does. Did you always know yo ... More >>

Which Local Baker Wants to Throw a Pie at Sheriff Joe?

Courtesy of Tim O'Connor. Joan & Tim O'Connor of Honey Moon Sweets.​We're counting down the days to Pie Social 2011 -- 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at 408 E. Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Don't forget, you can get in on the action yourself. Here are details for community bakers ... More >>