Subject: Eating Out

• America’s Taco Shop Does Mouth-Watering Carne Asada in Phoenix’s Coronado District

  October 1, 2009

• Chef Talk: Joshua Riesner, Atlas Bistro

  Cooking is all about the rock 'n roll lifestyle for chef Joshua Riesner. He stays up late, wakes up at noon and sometimes gets to enjoy a drink before Atlas Bistro opens.  His menu is based on whatever he has in stock for the day, and he enjoys the freedom to make a different delicacy each day. Plus, he says he gets paid to drink wine. Heather Hoch Chef Joshua Riesner hanging around in the kitchen. "Sometimes I show up to work drunk," Riesner says, joking (or at least we think h

  October 6, 2009

• The Naughty Vegetarian: Top Ten Fatty Meat-Free Foods

  PETA caused some hullabaloo (shocker) a couple months back with a billboard posted in Jacksonville, Fla. that said "Save the Whales, Lose the Blubber: Go Vegetarian." The billboard had a picture of a heavy-set lady on the beach in a not-so-itsy-bitsy teenie-weenie pink polka-dot bikini. Really, PETA? Really?​Understandably, issues were raised questioning PETA's sensitivity and compassion for the folks the billboard makes a jab at. However, our immediate reaction to the billboard was this

  October 5, 2009

• Sunday: Dine Out With the Chefs at Scottsdale Center

  J&G Steakhouse​Start saving your appetite now.This Sunday will be a splurge worth blowing your diet for, courtesy of more than 20 high-profile chefs from across the Valley who'll be dishing up mouthwatering tastings at Scottsdale's fourth annual Dine Out With the Chefs event.The festivities, which run from 4 to 6:30 p.m., are a good excuse for the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts to show off its brand-new Dayton Fowler Grafman Atrium. Who will be there?

  October 2, 2009

• Dine Out with the Chefs Impresses Sophisticated Palates

  Last night at the 4th annual Dine Out with the Chefs event at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, some of the Valley's hottest local chefs came out of their respective restaurant kitchens to cook, serve and wander among us mere mortals. Chef James Porter, whose newly-opened Petite Maison bistro is stirring up some buzz, chatted with guests and mingled with other chefs after dishing up oxtail crepes. Nine05 Chef de Cuisine Jay Bogsinske did well with tuna tartare served a

  October 5, 2009

• Luci's Healthy Marketplaces Bounces Back After Fire

  A little more than six months ago, the grand opening of an independently owned neighborhood grocery called Luci's Healthy Marketplace stirred up excitement in the neighborhood around 16th Street and Bethany Home. But that was nothing compared to the shocking news that came in July, when Richardson's, the legendary restaurant in the same building as Luci's, was destroyed by a fire. Although Luci's wasn't damaged as badly, it was still shuttered for major repairs. Last Thursday, the market finally

  October 6, 2009

• Prado Lands on Esquire's "Best New Restaurants" List

  ​Food critic John Mariani's annual list of best new restaurants for Esquire magazine hasn't hit the streets yet, but it's already shown up on the web, courtesy of the Eating Las Vegas blog. For 2009, the lone Arizona pick in Mariani's roundup is Prado, chef Claudio Urciuoli's Spanish-themed fine dining spot at the InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa. Mentions of Mariani often come with a cloud of controversy, as the writer does not operate in stealth mode for his visits. Restau

  October 6, 2009

• Your Meal Ticket To Bavaria and Cream Pie

  ​Where in the Valley can you order a decadent cream-filled dessert in a hidden oasis, while warming yourself by the fire on a cool fall night? Find out as we examine hot new changes to local resort restaurants in this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter.  We've also got the scoop on which local restaurant icons are being honored at an upcoming awards dinner and where to find the most authentic Oktoberfest celebration in town, complete mit bratwurst und

  October 7, 2009

• Matt Carter’s Nine 05 Classes Up Fourth Street with Brisket Crepes and Blueberry Mochi Cake

  October 8, 2009

• Tonight: Taste of the Biltmore

  It will be an all-you-can-eat extravaganza for charity tonight, when the third annual Taste of the Biltmore party takes over the National Bank of Arizona Corporate Center (6001 N. 24th St.) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. Participating restaurants from the upscale 'hood include Donovan's, Frank & Albert's, Hava Java, Houston's, L'Amore, La Grande Orange, McCormick & Schmick's, Mojo Yogurt, Omaha Steakhouse, Phoenix City Grille, Sam's Cafe, Steamer's, The Capital Grille, and Vin

  October 8, 2009

• Cafe: Nine 05

  ​If there's one thing missing from our monthly outing to First Friday it's blueberry mochi cake. Don't get us wrong. We like street-side brats and popcorn as much as the next guy, but even once in a while we want to class it up. Seems Matt Carter of Nine 05 feels the same way. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Nine 05: Chef-owner Matt Carter (of Scottsdale's Zinc Bistro and The Mission) and chef de cuisine Jay Bogsinske are the duo behind the concept. Initially, they'd taken over Fate in th

  October 8, 2009

• Chef Talk: Felicia Ruiz, Lola Tapas

  Heather Hoch Chef Felicia Ruiz on her newly opened outdoor patio.​Chef Felicia Ruiz is totally adorable. Okay, we don't mean to gush, but she's that special kind of person that makes you feel automatically welcome and at ease, especially in what she calls her second home, Lola Tapas.We guess her relaxed attitude might stem from her culinary education. Ruiz never went to culinary school... big freakin' deal. Instead of spending time learning technique from decaying professional chefs, sh

  October 13, 2009

• Two New Places Serving Pasta in the Valley

  ​Can't get enough pasta? Bol Italia and Loughlin's Bistro just opened their doors, and the Italian staple looms large on both restaurants' menus. Bol Italia, located in Chandler at Alma School and Queen Creek, offers pasta, salad, and rice bowls quickly and inexpensively. Chef Philip Occhipinti combined his love of Italian food with his experience as a quick-order cook at Chipotle, and voila.The rice bowls are the most intriguing thing on the menu. We're not sure if rice and cheese-filled

  October 13, 2009

• James Porter’s Petite Maison Brings Beautiful Bowls of French Onion Soup to Old Town Scottsdale

  October 15, 2009

• Now Open in Glendale: BiCE Bistro

  ​Founded in Milan in 1926, the first BiCE Bistro to hit the States opened in New York in 1987. Now the Italian restaurant has a new Arizona location in its lineup. BiCE Bistro's Glendale home debuted last week in the Westgate City Center (6751 N. Sunset Blvd.), with a modern, 80-seat dining room, a 24-seat bar area, a private dining room, and a patio that accomodates 50. There's plenty to choose from on the menu, including antipasti, half a dozen salads, Neapolita

  October 15, 2009

• Saturday: Roka Akor Launches All-You-Can-Eat Brunch

  ​Seafood and sushi fanatics, rejoice. Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to stuff yourself silly at Roka Akor's decadent new Saturday brunch buffet. For $35, take a deep breath and dig in to five kinds of sushi rolls, such as the salmon avocado roll, as well as salads and appetizers like the butterfish takaki with white asparagus and yuzu (pictured). Desserts will be part of the spread, too. Guests will also get to choose one item from the menu of robata grill entrees. And lest we forget

  October 16, 2009

• German Food Fest at Tonto Bar & Grill

  ​Guten tag, German food fanatics! If you haven't been getting your fix of schnitzel, sauerkraut, and strudel, head on over to Tonto Bar & Grill in Cave Creek for their Oktoberfest celebration.German chef Ernst Andreas was brought in from Tonto's sister restaurant, Stables Ranch Grille, to prepare authentic Deutschland cuisine. The menu includes potato pancakes with apple compote, sausage with sauerkraut, veal wiener schnitzel, and black forest cake. Tonto is also offering some hard-to-find

  October 19, 2009

• Digestif Closes in Wake of Payton Curry's Departure

  ​Chef Payton Curry had planned on staying with Digestif through this coming weekend (for the Crave culinary festival), but last night was his final turn in the kitchen there. Curry recently gave notice at the Old Town restaurant to make a move to Tempe's Caffe Boa. Spaghetti Western "buzz and schmooze" gal Mari Markogianis says the restaurant is now closed, although restaurateur Peter Kasperski wants to reopen it by the end of the year as a different restaurant. "We had a good run with

  October 19, 2009

• Petite Maison Adds Bouillabaise to the Mix

  I know there are some longtime Chow Bella readers who go crazy for bouillabaise, so this blog's for you. Petite Maison PR gal Wendy Goldman just dropped a line to tell me about the latest menu change-up at the bite-sized Scottsdale French restaurant. Although their whole fish for two (so tasty) and duck with sweet potato and lentils were popular dishes, for now, they're getting swapped out for bouillabaise for two ($39) and duck cassoulet ($18). The dishes will debut tomorrow night. "Chef James

  October 19, 2009

• Meal Ticket: New Biltmore Restaurant Tiptoes into Town

  ​With Digestif being the latest in a line of popular Phoenix-area restaurants to close, we're not exactly holding our breaths as the ecomonic forecasters declare the recession over. But there are definitely a few good signs here in Phoenix, especially in the restaurant industry. New eateries are popping up all over town; some, so silently that you have to be "in the know" to know they're open. In this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we've got the scoop on a new Biltmore r

  October 21, 2009

• Scare City: What To Do and Where To Go on Halloween

  October 22, 2009

• Is Chef Aaron Chamberlin’s St. Francis Holding Back?

  October 22, 2009

• Chef Talk: Shin Toyoda, Sushi Roku

  Heather Hoch Sushi Chef Shin Toyoda tending his sushi bar at Sushi Roku.​Armed with a super sharp sushi knife and some of the freshest fish to be found in a desert, sushi chef Shin Toyoda takes Arizona tastebuds to Tokyo, one happy customer at a time.Toyoda got his first job in a restaurant when he was 16 as a busboy and has been in restaurants ever since. His upbringing and his 30-year career -- 11 of which have been with the Sushi Roku company -- has made Toyoda very particular a

  October 22, 2009

• Two Chances for Eating Well While Doing Good

  ​Organizers for two separate events are donating their proceeds this week to St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, a non-profit organization that serves 300,000 meals to the hungry every day.Hickman's Family Farms has challenged local restaurants and culinary students to create a tasty "Egg on Top" dish; one dollar of each dish sold will go to St. Mary's. Hickman's will then match the one dollar donation and give each "Egg on Top" customer a coupon for a dozen free eggs. ​Some restaura

  October 22, 2009

• Farrelli's Cinema Supper Club brings Julia Childs-inspired cuisine to moviegoers

  We can't help but get hungry whenever superstar chef Julia Childs is mentioned, so why not eat her food while watching a movie about her?

  October 26, 2009

• Battle of the Pad Thai

  Yupha's Thai Kitchen vs. Wild Thaiger Visit even a semi-authentic ethnic restaurant -- Thai, Indian, Vietnamese -- and you'll generally find two types of dishes on the menu: traditional specialties with unpronounceable names and flavors that pay homage to the homeland, and bastardized versions more suited to the average American palate. Though Pad Thai is a national dish of Thailand, here in the States it almost always falls into the latter category. In this Battle of the Dishes,

  October 28, 2009

• Calistro Bistro Left Out “Tasty” When Building Its Seasonal, Local, Organic Menu

  October 29, 2009

• Coronado Cafe Under New Ownership

  Flight attendants-turned-restaurateurs Robert McCarville, Tom Vigil, and Randy Betnar sold Coronado Cafe two weeks ago, and the new owners of the charming eatery, tucked into an historic 1915 bungalow on 7th Street, have a few changes in store. Co-owner Diane Stackwick has lived in Arizona for a decade, but she hails from Baltimore, and owned a successful Maryland restaurant for several years. Her son and his wife are also co-owners; Christian Holt is the new chef and Misti Jones brings her wine

  November 2, 2009

• Tweet n' Eat: Five Foodies to Follow

  ​Before the Internet, restaurants had to rely on TV and newspaper ads and word of mouth (OMG, how totally prehistoric!) to pimp their daily specials. While these archaic delivery methods are still around, now diners can find daily food specials with the click of a mouse on sites like Facebook and Twitter -- that is, if they know which Valley restaurants/chefs/etc. are reliable Twits, er, Twitterers.   Here are five of our faves: District's Ha

  November 3, 2009

• Your Ticket to Wine on Tap and Chicago-style Eats

  ​Phoenix is known as a home of transplants, with much of its population having relocated from elsewhere in the country (or in the world). But if you're a Chicago native or an East Coaster, you'll feel right at home in a Glendale restaurant that specializes in Philly cheese steaks and Chicago-style dogs. Which one? You'll have to read this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter to find out. We'll also have info on a Phoenix restaurant that's the first in Arizona to pilot a new "wine on tap"

  November 4, 2009

• Battle of the Cuban Sandwiches

  Babaloos Cuban Cafe vs. Havana Cafe Created by immigrant laborers at the turn of the 20th century, the Cuban Sandwich is a tasty alternative to Plain Jane ham and cheese. Some versions have salami, some have lettuce and tomato, but the basics are the same: pork, spiced ham, cheese and pickles on toasted bread. We headed to two authentic Cuban cafes in SoPo/Ahwatukee to test out their versions of this popular 'wich.  In one corner: Babaloos Cuban Cafe  1241 E. Chandler Blvd. in&nbs

  November 4, 2009

• Eat

  November 5, 2009

• Woodlands Vegetarian and Café Krishna Pack Chandler With Ethnic Vegetarian Specialties

  November 5, 2009

• Recipe: Apricot Glazed Chicken from Liberty Market

  Heather Hoch This tasty dish is a dinner menu-only item, so here's the recipe to try it anytime.​Running a restaurant is a lot like entertaining guests at home for chef David Traina, our Chef Talk subject for this week. He keeps the dishes on the menu simple with ingredients he knows and loves.Several of the dishes at Liberty Market are things Traina would serve right out of his home kitchen. But one dish has more sentimentality than the rest. The apricot glazed chicken has ties to how

  November 4, 2009

• Chef Michael Rusconi is Leaving LON's

  Earlier this week, LON's at the Hermosa announced that acclaimed executive chef Michael Rusconi is leaving the fine dining restaurant at the Hermosa Inn. Where is Rusconi headed? Will the restaurant continue with Rusconi's emphasis on seasonal cuisine that emphasizes sustainable ingredients? Will the next chef at LON's be recruited from elsewhere or from the local talent pool?Unfortunately, no information is currently available on Rusconi's future plans or who will replace hi

  November 5, 2009

• 10 Things to Know If You're Dining Out

  ​As a server at several restaurants over the course of 5 years, you learn a lot about the business. It may just seem like a casual dining restaurant, but oftentimes the hospitality business is one of the most dramatic out there and has a lot of nuances diners might not even know about. Here are 10 things to keep in mind if you're going to eat at a restaurant. 10. Give your feedback on the restaurant's website While it's obvious you can always tell a manger in-person what you think, s

  November 6, 2009

• Welcome Diner Open Tonight for First Friday

  ​Just a quick reminder that Welcome Diner has special hours for First Friday. They'll be serving food from 6 p.m. to midnight. Specials on the menu include watermelon from Crooked Sky Farms and eggplant from Maya's Farm. If you're down wandering around Roosevelt Row, hit up Rusty Spoke bike co-op on 5th Street for the lowdown on how to get a pedicab to the diner.

  November 6, 2009

• Free Blooming Onion at Outback

  There's nothing we love more than food. Except maybe FREE food. While Outback Steakhouse isn't the kind of small, indie business we usually pimp here on Chow Bella, we ​have to admit they make a pretty awesome Bloomin' Onion appetizer. Sliced and fried till golden brown, the everyday onion ends up looking like some exotic Thai flower with petals splayed open to expose a creamy dip center. The normally spicy onion takes on a more subtle, sweet taste. Hungry yet? Al

  November 10, 2009

• Chef Talk: Matt Alleshouse, Tommy V's

  Nicki Escudero Chef Matt Alleshouse at Tommy V's​ When most chefs were graduating culinary school, Tommy V's Osteria Pizzeria's Matt Alleshouse was already cooking up delicacies at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa. The 29-year-old, currently the head chef at the newly opened Tommy V's, has been in the Valley for more than 10 years. He got his start as an intern at the Biltmore, eventually moving up to head chef at the resort's upscale Wright's and working with Smith

  November 10, 2009

• Talking Turkey in this Week's Meal Ticket

  ​Tired of the same boring traditional turkey dinner for Thanksgiving? Try something different this holiday. In this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we've got the scoop on unusual holiday feasts, from a meat-free faux turkey dinner to the infamous "Turducken," a Cajun treat that's three meats in one. We'll also have info on a new romantic Italian restaurant that's heating up the town with modern twists on classic comfort foods and a French bistro offering tasty, u

  November 11, 2009

• Booze Cruise

  November 12, 2009

• Bryan's Black Mountain Barbecue Does Pulled Pork That's Worth the Drive to Cave Creek

  November 12, 2009

• More on Pavle Milic's FnB, Opening Soon

  ​The moment Pavle Milic has been waiting for is almost here. If all goes as planned, he'll finally be opening his own restaurant, called FnB, sometime around the 23rd of this month. That's not even two weeks away, and Milic couldn't be more excited.

  November 12, 2009

• Chef Talk: Greg LaPrad, Quiessence

  It's hard to believe Greg LaPrad, executive chef and owner of Phoenix's farm-to-table sensation, Quiessence Restaurant & Wine Bar, almost didn't make it as a chef. Nicki Escudero Greg LaPrad at Quiessence​The 28-year-old, originally from Connecticut, got his start cooking weekend meals with his father when he was a kid, but his parents weren't too keen of his chef aspirations, instead encouraging him to hit the books. "I think at the time, the idea of cooking wasn't reall

  November 17, 2009

• This Week's Meal Ticket is a Touchdown

  ​Sports fans have it easy when it comes to choosing restaurants -- sports bars are practically on every corner here in the Phoenix Metro. But finding an upscale restaurant where you can get your sports fix is another story. In this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter, find out which new steakhouse offers gourmet eats and a sports-themed menu to boot. We'll also have a roundup of special places to take your family for Thanksgiving brunch or dinner, so you can make reservations before they

  November 18, 2009

• Postino Starts Brunch Service This Weekend

  ​Good things are happening at Postino, Phoenix's ever-popular wine bar. Brunch is the biggest thing -- starting this Saturday, Postino Central will be serving brunch (9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays). The menu looks as scrumptious as Postino's nighttime, wine-friendly fare . . .

  November 18, 2009

• Tomaso’s Spin-Off Tommy V’s Dishes Up Italian on Camelback and 32nd Street

  November 19, 2009

• Battle of the Meat Chili

  Saddle Ranch Chop House vs. Bison Witches Deli Now that fall has arrived (yes we know it's still 65-70 degrees, but that's sweater weather to most Phoenicians), there's nothing that satisfies our bellies like a nice steaming bowl of chili. This week, we hit up two local restaurants to see whether their meat-filled versions warmed our hearts or cooled our spirits. In One Corner: Saddle Ranch Chop House9375 W. Coyotes Blvd., Glendale 623-889-7770 A heaping bowl of co

  November 19, 2009

• Let Us Do Thanksgiving For You

  Ok, the title may be a little deceiving. We here at New Times will not be cooking your Thanksgiving feast for you. (Trust us, that's a good thing.) We are, however, ready to point you in the direction of some traditional -- and not so traditional -- Thanksgiving sit-down meals around town. Reservations are generally required. http://www.flickr.com/photos/yangping/ / CC BY 2.0 Sushi for Thanksgiving? Well, at least you won't be sleepy afterwards.​ ​If yo

  November 19, 2009

• Alchemy Restaurant Set to Reopen Next Week at CopperWynd Resort

  ​CopperWynd, the AAA Four Diamond resort in Fountain Hills, took such a beating in the recession that it suspended operations earlier this year. That included a shuttering of its restaurant, Alchemy. But there's a new chapter in the story. On Tuesday, November 24, Alchemy will reopen with a new chef/co-owner, Paul O'Connor. Menu details aren't available yet, but I'm told it will be a new concept.  The restaurant itself has not been remodeled, although the lobby bar will now

  November 20, 2009