Food and Cooking

Five Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate. See also: - Food Truck Caravan Rolls into Downtown Scottsdale Starting This Saturday Night - Drive-Thru Tacos and Tapas Come to Peoria (By Way of Las Vegas) Schnepf Farms Peach Festival ... More >>

Good Gravy! Welcome Diner in Downtown Phoenix Serves Up Southern Charm

Sam Fox's New Seafood Spot, Little Cleo's, Opens at The Yard in North Central Phoenix

Fans of The Yard, restaurateur Sam Fox's 53,000-square-foot dining and hangout space on Seventh Street in north Central Phoenix, can now add seafood to the multi-use urban mix. See also: - Jobot Owner John Sagasta Opening Ice Cream Shop in Downtown's Roosevelt Row - Z'Tejas to Debut New Taco Restau ... More >>

CLOSED: Cask 63 in North Scottsdale

As of Monday, there's now one less restaurant at the Shops at Gainey Village in Scottsdale. Cask 63 American Eatery & Wine Bar has shuttered. See also: - CLOSED: X-Tapa Joe's in North Scottsdale - Cheuvront Restaurant in Phoenix to Close at the End of May The lunch and dinner concept from partner ... More >>

Quiessence Chef Greg LaPrad Leaving the Farm at South Mountain for Sonoita

It's the end of an era. Chef Greg LaPrad -- the talented farm-to-table chef who made Quiessence a destination restaurant and kept it in the media spotlight for eight years -- plans to wrap up his eighth and last season at the restaurant on Saturday, June 15. Sister restaurant Morning Glory Cafe clos ... More >>

Summer Mixology Classes with Travis Nass at the Last Drop Bar, Starting May 19

There are a few great mixologists in the Valley, and most cocktail connoisseurs would say Travis Nass is, hands down, one of them. He and his handlebar mustache have been creating quite a name for the Last Drop Bar at Lon's at the Hermosa Inn as a place to get unique drinks. See also: - Tastemake ... More >>

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 >>

Scotch Chef's Table at Cafe ZuZu in Scottsdale on May 20

A Mr. Ron Burgundy once said, "I love scotch. Scotchy, scotch, scotch. Here it goes down, down into my belly." And if, like Mr. Burgundy, you're a fan of the stuff, then you might just be thrilled to know that Cafe ZuZu at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale will be having a scotch-filled chef's table ... More >>

Four Peaks SunBru: A Can-tastic Gold Medal Winner

Beer: Sunbru Brewery: Four Peaks Brewing Co. Style: Kolsch ABV: 5.2 percent If you people are any part the beer geeks you claim to be, you'll journey outside your homes on Saturday, May 18, into the increasingly balmy summer air and over to the AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival. You'll get to lis ... More >>

Nikki's Five Picks for Arizona Restaurant Week (May 18-27)

Arizona Restaurant Week -- the Spring 2013 Edition -- begins Saturday, May 18 and ends Monday, May 27 (which is Memorial Day, when most of us will be grilling burgers and drinking beer at home . . . but never mind). By the end of this week, ARW officially will be upon us: a 10-day eating extravaganz ... More >>

Matt Taylor of Market Street Kitchen on Robert McGrath, Brad Thompson, and the Trend He Hates (You'll Be Surprised)

Matt Taylor Market Street Kitchen 20825 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale 480-278-7044, marketstreetkitchen.com See also: -- Matt Taylor Becomes Head Honcho at Market Street Kitchen; Robert McGrath Stays On as Consultant -- Maple-Rye Creme Brulee at Market Street Kitchen This is part one of my interview ... More >>

The Western in Scottsdale Off to a Good, Boot-Scootin' Start

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, and dish about 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 item ... More >>

Food Truck Caravan Rolls Into Downtown Scottsdale Starting This Saturday Night

When it comes to the food truck revolution, the city of Scottsdale has been slow to come to the cabal. See also: - Short Leash Hot Dogs to Open Permanent Location in Downtown Phoenix - Six Phoenix Food Trucks, Rated But thanks to the Edible Exchange, a caravan of food trucks will roll into downto ... 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. Aaron Chamberlin's ... More >>

Chandler's Living Room Wine Café Expanding to Northwest Valley

Northwest Valley folks looking for a new place to lounge with a glass of wine soon will be able to add The Living Room to their list. See also: - New Korean Barbecue Spot Opens in Glendale - Z'Tejas to Debut New Taco Restaurant Concept in Old Phoenix Church Restaurateur Tom Kaufman (owner of the H ... More >>

CLOSED: X-Tapa Joe's in North Scottsdale

Oh, Joe, say it ain't so. X-Tapa Joe's, the North Scottsdale Mexican restaurant, has been X'd out: The restaurant has shuttered. See also: - Cheuvront Restaurant in Phoenix to Close at the End of May - CLOSED: Busters on the Lake in Scottsdale Located at 7500 East Pinnacle Peak Road, the lively M ... More >>

3 Easy Recipes That Call for Nut Butters

Forget peanut butter. There are all sorts of nut butters just waiting for your morning toast. More important, every jar of cashew or pumpkinseed butter is the secret ingredient to thicken your sauce, bring depth to your salad dressing, or turn tortilla chips into fancy hors d'oeuvre. See Also: And ... More >>

The Original ChopShop in Scottsdale Caters to the Healthy Crowd

Bink's Cafe and Bink's Midtown Host New All-You-Can-Eat Pig Roast Every Saturday and Sunday

Although the phrase "all you can eat" doesn't necessarily come to mind when referring to the cuisine of (Stiffed!) James Beard Award-nominated chef Kevin Binkley, it's good to know when considering the new Pig on the Patio event going on every weekend at two of his three restaurants: Cafe Bink and B ... More >>

Central Bistro's Andrea Volpi Offers Tips on Cooking with Wine

You've probably seen the meme about wine and cooking: "I tried cooking with wine for the first time last night. After 5 glasses, I forgot why I was in the kitchen." Even if this is you, have no fear. General "cooking with wine" rules including things like "don't use cheap wine," or use a dry whit ... More >>

Fest of the Best

Tea Time

Toddy Takedown: Press Coffee Roasters vs. Cartel Coffee Lab

Toddy-style brewed iced coffee is better than hot drip for a few reasons. First of all, the acidity levels are lower in cold-brewed coffee, making it more drinkable in those indigestion-filled crunch times. It's also higher in caffeine, which means you pretty much only need one cup to keep you going ... More >>

Chandler's Barrelhouse Rolls Out with a Few Bumps

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, and dish about 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 item ... More >>

Ehren Litzenberger of BLD in Chandler on Mario Batali and Why It's Hard to Be a Three-Squares Chef

This is part two of my interview with Ehren Litzenberger, executive chef at BLD in Chandler. If you missed part one, where Litzenberger dished about simplicity, chocolate-covered grasshoppers and his beef with "foodies," read it here. See also: -- 11 Great Cooking Supply Stores in Metro Phoenix -- ... More >>

Chef Christopher Gross Introduces New Petites Bouchées (Little Bites) Menu at Crush Lounge in Phoenix

Christopher's and Crush Lounge, the Biltmore Fashion Park restaurants of James Beard Award-winning chef Christopher Gross, have always been spots to score top-notch French-inspired eats. See also: - Tastemakers 2012: Christopher Gross - 10 Best Spots for Fries in Metro Phoenix And last week, Gro ... More >>

Mother's Day in Metro Phoenix: 12 Recommendations Based on Time, Budget, and Location

Sunday is Mother's Day, and (especially if you don't do it throughout the year) you'd better find a way to honor the woman that gave you life. Brunch is the traditional meal of the holiday, and there are plenty of those in the Phoenix area if your mom loves waffles, omelettes, and bacon. But there a ... More >>

Pig & Pickle in Scottsdale: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Pig & Pickle 2922 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale 480-990-1407 www.pigandpickle.com See Also: - Bink's Midtown in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card - Scottsdale's Pig & Pickle a Culinary Power to the People - Perk Eatery and Barrio Cafe Scheduled for Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in ... More >>

Nine Favorite Mac and Cheese Dishes in Metro Phoenix

Ah, mac and cheese. Whether it comes from a blue box or your mother's oven, few childhood comforts can compare. These days, your cheesy noodle perfection can be customized with additions ranging from the gourmet (pancetta, panko bread crumbs, and lobster) to the not-so-gourmet (hot dogs, ketchup, an ... More >>

Ehren Litzenberger of BLD in Chandler on Simplicity, Chocolate-Covered Grasshoppers, and Who We Can Blame For "Foodie" Obnoxiousness

Ehren Litzenberger BLD 1920 W. Germann Road, Chandler 480-779-8646, bldchandler.com See also: -- Cork Earns Wine Honors From OpenTable -- Chou's Kitchen in Chandler Makes Travel Leisure's List of Best Chinese Restaurants in the U.S. This is part one of my interview with Ehren Litzenberger, execu ... More >>

Aaron Chamberlin's Phoenix Public Market Cafe Opens Wednesday

It's been almost exactly a year since Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery closed its doors, leaving downtown devotees feeling bereft without a locally focused brick-and-mortar market and a convenient, affordable go-to for a nosh and a glass of wine. See also: -- Downtown Phoenix Public Market Urba ... More >>

Pomo Pizzeria Heading to New Home in Scottsdale

In a couple of weeks, fans of Pomo Pizzeria, the stylish Scottsdale spot serving certified authentic Neapolitan pizza (complete with a stamp of approval from the Italian trade group Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana), will need to travel north to score their favorite artisan pies. See also: - Lam ... More >>

Where to Eat and Drink in Hermosillo, Mexico

A few weeks ago, I started counting the years since I've visited my hometown of Hermosillo. After removing my socks so the writing may continue, and hitting the very high number of 10 fingers and 7 toes, I was glad to have toes to spare, but I panicked at my increasing age and resolved to stop the c ... More >>

New Korean Barbecue Spot Opens in Glendale

West Valley residents looking for Korean barbecue and other specialty dishes can now head to Koryo Korean BBQ at 10040 North 43rd Avenue in Glendale (inside the Great Skate Mall). See also: - Bao Bing, the Cool and Fruity Asian Treat, Gets Its Own Shop in Central Phoenix - New Conveyor Belt Sushi S ... More >>

Grab Your Favorite Dining Buddy: Arizona Spring Restaurant Week Is Almost Here

Twice a year, the Arizona Restaurant Association tries to entice us into dining out for 10 days straight by getting more than a hundred local restaurants to offer prix-fixe menus for $30 or $40. And every year, twice a year, it pretty much works. See also: - April Restaurant Openings and Closings ... More >>

Ten FIDY, Oskar Blues and the Canned Beer Apocalypse

Beer: Ten FIDY Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery Style: Imperial Stout ABV: 10.5 percent As we inch ever closer to the third annual AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival our discussion of aluminum cylinders continues, and it's only right that at this point we bring up Oskar Blues. See also: - 2013 Ameri ... More >>

Kevin Binkley Stiffed (Again) at the 2013 James Beard Awards

Tonight, the James Beard Foundation Awards, also known as the Oscars of the culinary world, announced this year's winners at the Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. See also: - Vincent Guerithault on Wolfgang Puck and Kevin Binkley - Bink's Mid ... More >>

Five Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We've got you covered. Check out what's on our plate. See also: - 13 Metro Phoenix Restaurants and Bars with Cinco de Mayo Celebrations - Bink's Midtown in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card Restaurant Crawl: Arcadia Crewz Derby Day The Kentuc ... More >>

How To Make the Best Mint Julep, Ever.

This weekend, brace your livers for impact. Sunday is Cinco de Drinko Mayo. Thankfully, I already have that base covered with how to make an awesome margarita. But first, it's time to get out your ludicrously oversized hats for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. If it's time for the Derby, it's time fo ... More >>

2013 AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival in Scottsdale on May 18

As much as we respect beer in bottles we have to admit there are quite a few benefits that come with sipping your suds out of a can. First of all the can is much more beach and pool friendly not to mention lighter (and therefore easier to transport) and never, ever requires a bottle opener. See al ... More >>

Cinco De Mayo 2013 Guide

Miu's Cuisine: Sichuan Food That's Anything but Familiar

Daniel Malventano's Caffé Daniel to Open Monday, May 6

After construction delays and hassles with his wood-burning oven, restaurateur Daniel Malventano is finally ready to get back in the restaurant game, opening Caffé Daniel at the upscale strip mall at 32nd Street and Lincoln Drive on Monday, May 6. See also: -- CLOSED: La Piccola Cucina in Centra ... More >>

Perk Eatery and Barrio Cafe Scheduled for Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives in May

In January, spiky-haired chef Guy Fieri spent time with six Valley restaurants for the 14th season of his popular Food Network show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. See also: - Amy's Baking Company in Scottsdale Is the Season Finale of Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay, Natch - Perk Eatery's Paul ... More >>

13 Metro Phoenix Restaurants and Bars with Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Okay, so maybe you don't know exactly why it's a tradition to eat, drink, and party on Cinco de Mayo (FYI, it's to commemorate the 150-year-old Battle of Puebla, a victory of the Mexican militia over the French army). But those pesky details shouldn't stop you from having a truly awesome modern Amer ... More >>

How Hard Is it to Hire and Keep Good Cooks?

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.One of the most common titles -- and most crucial positions -- in a restaur ... More >>

CLOSED: La Piccola Cucina in Central Phoenix

La Piccola Cucina, the fast-casual Mediterranean cafe tucked into a charming, restored 1920s home on Seventh Street in Central Phoenix, has shuttered. See also: - CLOSED: Cave & Ives Portico Grill in Arcadia - CLOSED: Busters on the Lake in Scottsdale The restaurant, whose name means "the little ... More >>

CLOSED: Busters on the Lake in Scottsdale

A longstanding restaurant in Scottsdale is no more: After over 20 years, Buster's on the Lake has shuttered. See also: - Brix Wine Spot in Cave Creek Closed; Brix Wine & Bistro Opening Soon - CLOSED: J. Alexander's in Scottsdale In McCormick Ranch and with outdoor dining patios overlooking Lake Ma ... More >>

Bink's Midtown in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Bink's Midtown 2320 East Osborn Road, Phoenix 602-388-4874 www.binksmidtown.com See Also: - Scratch in Downtown Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card - Sam Pillsbury Spills on the Reason He Landed in Arizona, and Launches a Wine Column for Chow Bella - Bink's Midtown Is a Must (Especially When ... More >>

CLOSED: Cave & Ives Portico Grill in Arcadia After Today

Italian- and Mediterranean-inspired dishes served up in a cozy, second-story neighborhood bistro in Arcadia will be no more following tonight's service: Cave & Ives Portico Grill is shuttering. See also: - CLOSED: Busters on the Lake in Scottsdale - CLOSED: J. Alexander's in Scottsdale The restaur ... More >>