Food Network

Amy's Baking Company: Overcooked Reality and the Decline of Western Civility

Editor's note: After the insanity of the last two weeks, we decided that the Amy's Baking Company saga desperately needed some context. New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld graciously complied. A tall, thin man with long, gray hair and a pair of saggy but expensive jeans shakes the handles of tw ... More >>

James Beard Award-Winning Celebrity Chef Teams Up with Phoenix's Justin Beckett for Special Dinner (Spoiler Alert: Reality TV)

On the heels of the announcement that he'll be opening a new restaurant in the old Beef Eaters building on Camelback Road this fall, Valley chef Justin Beckett has more news -- of the celebrity chef kind. See also: - Valley Sweets Expert Julia Baker Getting Her Own Show on the Cooking Channel - Pre ... More >>

Matt Pool on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, His Last Meal on Earth, and What Most People Don't Know About Coffee

This is part two of my interview with Matt Pool, owner of Matt's Big Breakfast and Giant Coffee. If you missed part one, where Pool explains what he learned from Chris Bianco and defends Phoenix as a food town, read it here. See also: -- Chris Bianco's Italian Restaurant Gets a Facelift and We've G ... More >>

Aaron May Opens Over Easy Locations in Mesa and Gilbert

When chef-restaurateur Aaron May and his partner-dad Brad opened the first Over Easy in 2007 in a former Taco Bell on 40th Street, they had an instant hit on their hands. Even though they'd added on a small shaded patio -- bigger than the restaurant's interior -- they still had long waits on the wee ... More >>

Chefs, What Would It Take to Sell Yourselves to a Major Corporation?

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.Since James Beard likened himself to a "gastronomic whore" after signing an ... 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. It's kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won't all fit in your mouth ... or in this ca ... More >>

M.J. Coe Dishes on the Weirdest Thing He Couldn't Eat and the Death of Cupcake Wars

M.J. Coe Tammie Coe Cakes and MJ Bread 610 E. Roosevelt St., No. 145 Phoenix, 85004 Federal Pizza 5210 N. Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012 See Also: Aaron Chamberlin Dishes on (Not) Being a Celebrity Chef and the Hype Around St. Francis When It Opened Steven "Chops" Smith Dishes on the Weirdest Th ... More >>

Help Food Network Connect to the Phoenix Food Scene: Submit Your Pitch Today

Have you always wished you could hack Food Network? Now's your chance. The TV network has teamed up with Advertising Age to find the most innovative technological idea to help tailor Food Network's content (including the Cooking Channel and its digital presence) to local audiences. They want to know ... More >>

Beau MacMillan Stars in New Game Show "Beat the Chefs," Premiering Thursday, August 23rd

See also: Beau MacMillan To Appear On Premiere of Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Made Beau Mac -- executive chef of Elements at Sanctuary Resort -- is our local celeb-chef and certifiably famous TV star, the high-energy, fast-talking BoSox buff who's truly in his element on the small screen. ... More >>

What Would Help Make Better Cooks in the Valley?

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.Sure, the Valley can claim a lot of talented chef ... 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 >>

James Porter Explains Why Deadliest Catch Is Better Than Anything on Food Network and Names One Local Chef He Could Happily Spend a Week With

See also: James Porter, Eddie Matney and Others Team Up with Local Brewery to Make Their Own Beer This is part two of my interview with James Porter, chef-owner of Petite Maison. If you missed part one of the interview, read it here. Favorite food smell: Saffron and white wine. If your cooking we ... More >>

Eating Smart

Chow Bella's Top 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. It's kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won't all fit in your mouth ... or in this ca ... More >>

The Breadfruit's Dwayne Allen Takes Some of the Mystery Out of Food Network's Mystery Diners

See also: Local Restaurants Featured on Mystery Diners See also: Phoenix Area Restaurants Featured on Mystery Diners Find a Mixed Bag of Reactions See also: Kim Brennan of Big Earl's Greasy Eats Pushes Back Against Cave Creek Conservative Columnist, Defends Mystery Diners Episode and Plans White Tra ... More >>

Gâteau Chocolat at Zinc Bistro

For those looking to escape from Phoenix to Paris, Zinc Bistro is the perfect place to dine. The interior is complete with brass railings, ornate ivory ceiling tiles, a 25-foot zinc bar, and Magnum-sized wine bottles turned into wax-covered candleholders, bringing a touch of French charm to Scottsda ... More >>

Am I a Food Snob? (A Flowchart)

From time to time, Zach Fowle will provide a visual guide to every day and extraordinary situations ... and (because he has bad handwriting) Claire Lawton will illustrate them. Welcome to Charted Territory: The world of a food snob is an often-confusing world of trends, vocabulary and kitchen app ... More >>

Just Like Mom's: Congrats to the Winners of Chow Bella's Mother's Day Essay Contest

From Jamaica to Panama, the entrants in Chow Bella's first-ever Mother's Day essay contest took us on a whirlwind tour of maternal culinary inspiration. And boy, are we hungry. Thanks to all who entered, and particularly to Gayle Shanks, co-owner of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, who graciousl ... More >>

10 Favorite Burrito Joints in Metro Phoenix

In his new book, Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, Gustavo Arellano, the scribe behind the syndicated column ¡Ask a Mexican! and editor of New Times' sister paper, OC Weekly, says there's no known etymological origin for the word, burrito -- even where it was created is a mystery. We l ... More >>

Eataly

Chef Brian Hulihee Celebrates His 10th Anniversary with Roaring Fork

This week we sat down with Chef Brian Hulihee of Roaring Fork. The last time we checked in with Chef Hulihee in 2010, he talked about his young family and his excitement over pink sea salt. This time, he's celebrating his tenth year anniversary working at the restaurant. Oh how time flies... Today ... More >>

Epicuriad in Photos

On Friday, 11 of Arizona's top chefs flexed their food-pairing muscles at the second annual Epicuriad, the Beer for Brains Foundation's dinner event that pits beer against wine in a food fight to the finish. Chow Bella was provided a media pass to document the deliciousness, and with almost 30 beer ... More >>

Where to Eat and Drink Near Salt River Fields

Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies: Salt River Fields 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, saltriverfields.com The most important advice we can give you regarding finding food near Salt River Fields: avoid the Pavillions shopping center, unless McDonald's and 5 & Diner are your idea of fine dining. ... More >>

Churn's Monica Castillo: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

Starting today, we've got some introductions to make. Meet our Caramalpalooza candymakers, starting with Monica Castillo of Churn. Castillo, who's worked everywhere from the Parlor to the Valley Ho, is a pastry chef with a degree from Johnson and Wales College of Culinary Arts in Providence, Rhode ... More >>

Three Things to Eat, Drink and Bake This Weekend

​Are you guys ready to end the week? I sure am, especially since it's a three day weekend which means I might be able to slip a beer or three in on Friday and be able to fully recover by Tuesday morning. 1. Eat Lobster Grilled CheeseAside from partaking in a few a cocktails of the craft beer ... More >>

Win Free Tickets to the Street Eats Food Truck Festival this Saturday!

​By now you've likely got your calendar marked for the first big food truck event of 2012. But do you have your tickets yet? From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., this Saturday, January 14, at Salt River Fields near Talking Stick Resort, the Street Eats Food Truck Festival, presented by New Times, will featur ... More >>

Top Ten Burgers in Greater Phoenix

​You can thank the St. Louis World Fair of 1904 for being the launching pad for the hamburger as we know it (at one point, it was called the hamburger sandwich). Today, the round patty in a bun is the primary way in which the Western world consumes beef. When it comes to burgers in the greater Pho ... More >>

Susan Tully's Wassail Christmas

Christmas comes a little early to Chow Bella this year -- in the form of some darn good holiday storytelling. Today, Susan Tully shares a booze-filled tale of love and cheer. Claire Lawton​The first time I met my next-door neighbor, I was a guest at his annual Wassail party. His Wassail wa ... More >>

Beau MacMillan To Appear On Premiere of Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Made

Celebu-chef Beau MacMillan, of Elements inside Paradise Valley's Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain, is no stranger to television gigs (let's see...Chopped All-Stars, Worst Cooks in America, Iron Chef America...) Makes sense then that Beau Mac and a few of his friends will be appearing on the premiere ... More >>

21 Cakes: Gourmet Cupcakery of Swanky Sweet Treats in North Scottsdale

​When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions. Share a few photos, some menu items. 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 satis ... More >>

Beau McMillan and Nine Other Celebrity Chefs to Compete on The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs

​If an Iron Chef is "a king among chefs" then what's a king among Iron Chefs called? A SUPER CHEF, YO, THE ONLY TITLE THAT MATTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In a move that has nothing to do with sagging ratings, the fourth season of The Next Iron Chef, premiering October 30 on the Food Network, ... More >>

Food Network Names The Parlor Pizzeria's "Salsiccia" Best Slice in the State

Food Network MagazineThe Salsiccia from The Parlor Pizzeria​From Birmingham, Alabama, to Laramie, Wyoming, Food Network Magazine recently completed a cross-country road trip to discover the best slices in every state. The Arizona winner? The Salsiccia From The Parlor Pizzeria in Central Phoe ... More >>

Bruschetta Three Ways, All Vegetarian

ildueipicche bruschetta​ I don't know about you, but I am ready to give my cook top a break -- send it on vacation with the chefs who, like a NYC shrink, shutter their doors for a summer respite. My ambition to make a meal has been reduced to quick and easy preparations that require a ... More >>

Cheddar Jalapeño Biscuits and Sausage Gravy from Over Easy

​Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we're back - with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you'd like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. 50: Cheddar Jalape ... More >>

July 18 In Blogs: Jan Brewer, Adult Swim, SofaKingRadio, Food Network, and Yukari Miyamae

​​​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:

Follow Friday: Chefs/Cooks On TV

It's that time again. We've compiled a small but meaningful list of great Twitter accounts for any Phoenix foodie to follow. We've been spending a sad amount of time indoors this summer running away from the heat and searching out new food inspiration on the boob tube. Everybody is tweeting now, e ... More >>

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain's Lunch & Learn Series Returns With Celebu-Chefs Aaron May, Robert Irvine, and Marcus Samuelsson

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain​When it comes to giving our brains something else to do this summer besides think about how crazy hot it is, award-winning chef Beau MacMillan of the Scottsdale resort, Sanctuary at Camelback Mountain, is bringing back his popular Lunch & Learn series with lots of ... More >>

Guy Fieri The Road Show -- It's Happening Tomorrow

Guy Fieri ​Just in case you've been living under a rock or need a friendly reminder, the spiky-haired Food Network star Guy Fieri will be on stage at Mesa Arts Center tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.. The National Pork Board (what's a "pork board"?) sponsored event promises to bring "the best elements of a l ... More >>

Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House, Part Two

Citizen Public House​Yesterday, Chef Bernie Kantak shared details of his culinary adventures and early artistic creations. Today, the conversation turns towards matters more serious, from witnessing a slaughter to ghosts in the machine. First job: My grandmother on my mother's side ran a kit ... More >>

Guy Fieri and Rachael Ray Announce New Show: Collective Groan Heard Around the World

​Yesterday on the Rachel Ray Show, Rach the Rach and Guy Fieri announced their new show, Guy vs. Rachael's Celebrity Smackdown -- a title that makes zero sense and which everyone already knows will not contain smackdowns of any kind. Premiering this summer on the Food Network, Ray Ray describ ... More >>

$10 Lunch at Los Taquitos

Megan Dobransky The exterior of Los Taquitos Grill in Ahwatukee.​Los Taquitos Grill's claim to fame is its appearance on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," although you wouldn't know it by walking into the Mexican restaurant. The only nod to the fame is in the form of co ... More >>

Penzeys Spices Shutters Scottsdale Store, Moves into Tempe Marketplace

​We credit everything from Food Network to the national attention drawn by celeb chefs Beau Mac Millan and Chris Bianco to new restaurant concepts such as Cycle for the upswing in local culinary interest. Still, we were surprised when a new Penzeys Spices location popped up at the still-tre ... More >>

Eat, Prey, Shove

Anthony Redendo of Sofrita and Redendo's Pizzeria

Courtesy of Anthony Redendo ​For Anthony Redendo of Sofrita and Redendo's Pizzeria, having a successful restaurant of one's own is not enough. Redendo is a teacher and mentor to his culinary students at Phoenix College as well as his followers on Facebook. Is this guy really a ch ... More >>

Food Network Films at Sweet Republic... And Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe?

Carol Blonder Sweet Republic's Toffee Banofi Sundae The Food Network folks are in town and busy. We hear they stopped by Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe yesterday for fried chicken with Beau MacMillian, before hitting up Sweet Republic today for Alton Brown's favorite take on Banofi P ... More >>

Top Chef All-Stars Season 8, Episode 11 Recap: Deep-Fried Chef's Law

You got this idea from where, now?​Six chefs remaining and Angelo's gone, yo. Can anyone believe this? Not the part about the six chefs but about Angelo. Seriously? Who will represent crazy now? Answer: Angelo, in about 20 minutes. In the meantime, at the Honeycomb Hideout, we see Blais show ... More >>

AZ Biltmore Hosts "Inside the Chef's Studio"

​Any excuse to hang out at the iconic Arizona Biltmore resort is great (oh, that architecture!), but if you've got a thing for gourmet cooking, there's extra incentive to visit, thanks to the new "Inside the Chef's Studio" series. This will be your chance to step inside the Biltmore's main k ... More >>

The Virgin Cook Pops Her Cherry With a Bloody Mess

By Missy & The Universe via Flickr I admit it. ​I have no clue how to cook food that tastes good. I'm practically a cooking virgin. When I met my in-laws, I tried to bake a pie for the first and only time. I had this ingenious idea that if regular pecan pie tasted good, a pie  ... More >>

Tonight: Over Easy on The Food Network

Over Easy's Waffle Dogs get some television love.​Christmas comes a little bit early for the folks at Over Easy, who will be featured tonight on The Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." Chef Aaron May's retro-inspired diner, which started off as a breakfast joint but now serves equ ... More >>

Pails in Comparison

Southwestern flavors prevail in menu's Mexican-American war