Foods

Cupcake Wars Challenge: OllieCake vs The Coffee Shop

See Also: America's Largest Cupcake Franchise Expands to Arizona Because Cupcakes, Chains We've all seen Food Network's Cupcake Wars, right? It's the show that puts four bakers up against one another to see who can make a few batches of cupcakes worthy enough for the queen of cupcakes herself, Mis ... More >>

"Grass Roots" Pakistani Cuisine at Zaidi's Grill

Celebrate Cheese, Glorious Cheese, With WedgeFestUSA

Whether you prefer the term caseophile, turophile, or just plain curd hound, put down that cheddar wheel and listen up: This news is for you. Cheese expert Lara Mulchay, former ​owner of Petite Fromage, her (sadly) defunct Phoenix cheese shop, recently has embarked on a new venture called WedgeFe ... More >>

Anatomy of a Chocolate Chip Cookie with Brady Breese of Urban Cookies

See also: Mail Order Cookie Clash: Urban Cookies vs. Goosebumps See also: Urban Cookies (OllieCake) Wins Food Network's Cupcake Wars See also: Urban Cookies' Brady Breese: Caramelpalooza Candymakers When you're cooking, it's all about a dash of this and a splash of that. But baking is another matte ... More >>

Seven Hate-Free Chicken Sandwiches in Metro Phoenix

See Also: Chick-fil-A "Kiss-In" Protest Today: Puckering Up for Gay Rights All this talk of chicken sandwiches lately has made us hungry for one thing -- a chicken sandwich. But not just any ol' chicken sandwich, we want a delicious, hate- free chicken sandwich that believes that everyone should ... More >>

Old Town Sarajevo Is a Bread and Meat Lover's Dream

Ten Favorite Phoenix Meat Shops

These days, most of us have never experienced (or have forgotten) the joy of going to a real live butcher or the intoxicating fragrance of fresh smoked meat or even the taste of imported cheese straight off the wheel. Most of us just hit the grocery store and pick up whatever's in the neatly wrapp ... More >>

Tiramisu at Aiello's Salumeria

See also: Aiello's Salumeria and Isa's Pizza Corner the Moon Valley Market See also: Original Aiello's May Relocate Closer to Downtown Central Avenue, although replete with restaurants of all varieties, lost an irreplaceable one early last month when Aiello's East Coast Italian Dining closed its do ... More >>

Celebrate BBQ Season in Style with "Haute" Dogs

You may be thinking of having a hot dog to commemorate Independence Day. You may also be thinking you don't really want to DIY over a hot grill in 110-degree weather just to eat a plain old mystery-meat wiener with mustard and relish. Frankly, we don't blame you. Here are three places to eat upsca ... More >>

Comfort Food, Damn the Calories: Miracle Mile Deli's Straw Sandwich

The Guilty Pleasure: Straw sandwich (with accoutrements) Where to Get It: Miracle Mile Deli The Cost: $10, give or take What It Really Costs: Your entire afternoon.

Distrito Kicks Off Fourth of July with Barbacoa Tasting Dinner and Prix Fixe Menu

Slow-cooked meats went fast at Chef Jose Garces' Distrito Barbacoa Tasting Dinner Thursday night. The dinner, which was led by Chef Michael Fiorello, Culinary Director for the Garces' Restaurant Group, served as both a barbacoa how-to as well as a preview for the restaurant's upcoming prix fixe di ... More >>

Aiello's Salumeria and Isa's Pizza: Cornering the Market in Moon Valley

AndyTalk: Beyond Lox - Smoked Seafood Hold the Bagels

If wishes were fishes they might very well be smoked.

"Hot Chocolate" Cake at The Arrogant Butcher

Sam Fox: Love him or hate him, chances are you have some opinion about this Valley-based restaurateur. Not everyone likes the idea of one guy cranking out 12 (yes, 12!) restaurant concepts in 14 years. But even if not all of them are winners, at the very least Fox is putting up one hell of a fight a ... More >>

Distrito to Hold Smoking (Literally) Cooking Class This Weekend

Staying in town this Memorial Day weekend? You cannot be bored. Not yet. Get up off your lazy butt and do something productive -- like attending a class on outdoor cooking. Let's embrace the season, people! This Sunday afternoon, May 27, Distrito will bring back its popular "Cook Like an Iron Chef" ... More >>

Fava Beans at Rancho Pinot and FnB -- Hurry, They're Almost Gone

Fava beans -- quite possibly the spookiest legumes of all time. Remember Hannibal Lecter, who scared the bejeezus out of Clarice (and the rest of us) when he deadpanned, "I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti"? And then that little slurpy noise he made after? Seriously creepy. The ... More >>

Pomegranate Chocolate Cake at Pomegranate Café

Dessert isn't supposed to be healthy, but that doesn't mean that it has to be entirely bad for you, either. Pomegranate Café's large selection of pastries and desserts expertly toes this line, bringing the best of both worlds: indulgence and health-consciousness. All desserts are made in-house from ... More >>

Organic Farms Yield Mixed Results, Study Reveals

Hoping for a decline in organic produce prices anytime soon? That probably isn't going to happen, if a recent study published in Nature is any indication. And get rid of any notions that organic farming is by definition better for the earth. The "meta-analysis" reveals that certain types of conven ... More >>

Chef Brian Hulihee's Green Chile Mac and Cheese

This week in Chef Talk we brought you our interview with Chef Brian Hulihee of Roaring Fork in central Scottsdale. On Monday, he talked about how he got into the business and what it's like to be entering his 10th year at the restaurant. Yesterday, he recalled family memories involving traditional ... More >>

Profiteroles with Roasted Banana Ice Cream at Café Bink

There's one chef in all of Arizona who's currently nominated for a James Beard Award. Up for Best Chef: Southwest, Kevin Binkley is making our state proud. But with entrees priced around $40, not everyone will be rushing to Binkley's to see what the buzz is all about. Luckily, the restaurant has a l ... More >>

So Who Won the Burger Battle at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival?

It was burgers galore last night at Scottsdale Stadium and although there wasn't a huge turnout for the Scottsdale Culinary Festival's very first Burger Battle it was a really fun (and filling) experience and the folks that did shell out the $55 for a ticket got their money's worth. Zinburger, Mod ... More >>

Last Night's Scottsdale Culinary Festival Chocolate & Wine Experience Not So Chocolatey

To me, one of chocolate's best properties is the fact that it doesn't need to be super sweet to feel incredibly indulgent. A blissful chocolate is smooth, rich, dark, and simple. My current favorite is Chocolove's Orange Peel, and I expected the Scottsdale Culinary Festival's only dessert event woul ... More >>

Fu-Fu Cuisine: Where Africa Meets the Caribbean

Go Lbs Salt is Crowd Funding the Southwest's First Truffiere

Local entrepreneurs Aaron and Liz Eckburg of Go Lbs Salt announced plans recently to found the southwest's first commercial truffiere, an orchard for truffles. Due to the incredibly steep costs of starting a truffiere, the Eckburgs have turned to crowd funding to raise the necessary $3.5 million dol ... More >>

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers' Classic Fare Goes Awry

Chef Dan Moody Defends Pink Slime

We have probably moved past the point in which reasoned debate will enter the furor over pink slime, but some people are going to try. Chef Dan Moody, who has cooked at Posh and visits the Valley frequently, wrote a post on his blog defending the merits of pink slime in the broader context of feedi ... More >>

O.H.S.O. Eatery and nanoBrewery Can't Get Beyond So-So

Boiled Beets with Parm and Pine Nuts

Lately, in this In Season series, we're taking a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I've done with my CSA share, or part share. This week I'm using beets. My default cooking method for root vegetables is roasting. Lately, though, I've been having the darndest ... More >>

How the Valley's Legendary Restaurants Keep Up With the Times

Easter Brunch Roundup

Whether or not you celebrate Easter, it's definitely one of the best Sundays of the year to indulge in a lavish brunch. The holiday falls on April 8 this year, and while you might be thinking that gives you plenty of time to make plans, it's never too early to book a table and secure your very own r ... More >>

Chef Talk: Our Lady of Cupcakes, Part Two

Yesterday we talked with Katie True and Lisa Even of Our Lady of Cupcakes. Today the conversation continues when we ask them about the cupcake market and what they see in their future. What advice would you give someone looking at becoming a small business owner? Lisa: If we would have done what ... More >>

11 Favorite Barbecue Joints in Greater Phoenix

Nearly every meat-eating American speaks the language of barbecue. From the backyard to the upscale restaurant to the hole-in-the-wall 'cue house, cooking meat with smoke and heat has become somewhat of an art form -- taking on various styles, techniques, and rituals around the globe. Which is why ... More >>

Guinness Chocolate Cake and Orange Glaze

Welcome to our new(ish) column, "Ask the Pastry Chef," by Amy Morris, a pastry sous chef at J&G Steakhouse. Have a question for Amy? Leave it in the comments section. Do you have a cake recipe with Guinness in it for St. Patrick's Day? Nothing says St. Patrick's Day more than Guinness beer. I c ... More >>

Battle of the Food Truck Hot Dogs: Epic vs. Short Leash

You've seen gourmet food trucks all over town. Each one has its own different spin, giving a unique twist to casual street eats. For the most part, each better-known truck has its own specialty... except two of them. There is a pair of trucks prowling the Valley offering gourmet hot dogs. Since the ... More >>

Cardamom Cookies with Slivered Almonds

Although it has limitless possibilities, cardamom really shines as the star ingredient in baked goods with a hint of almonds, pistachios, or walnuts to round out the flavor.

Stacked Cheese and I'itoi Enchiladas with Homemade Sauce

Lately, in this In Season series, we're taking a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I've done with my CSA share, or part share. This week I'm using dried chiles and i'itoi onions.

Ten Favorite Gourmet Pizza Shops in the Valley

Since pizza -- a basic dish associated with Naples but not exclusively so -- was taken to America by Italian emigrants, shops selling the flat disks topped with goodness have popped up on nearly every street corner. And since most folks have a cherished neighborhood hangout that offers up simple a ... More >>

Jose Garces' Culinary Star Power Shines at Old Town Whiskey and Distrito

Tom's Tavern Fumbles After Renovation

Chef Christine Boerner of The Baker's Daughter, Part Two

In recognition of Valentine's Day we're talking with chocolatier and pastry chef, Christine Boerner of The Baker's Daughter. Yesterday she gave us a peek into how she prepares for V-Day and today we get schooled about how you go from cacao bean...to chocolate dream. So, how do you make chocolate? ... More >>

How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries

​ Welcome to our new(ish) column, "Ask the Pastry Chef," by Amy Morris, a pastry sous chef at J&G Steakhouse. Have a question for Amy? Leave it in the comments section.This week's question: How Do I Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries?Chocolate covered strawberries are perfect for Valentine's ... More >>

Good Bagels in Unlikely Places: Hot Bagels & Deli

Many East Coast transplants in the Valley might argue that getting a decent bagel in Phoenix is difficult, if not impossible, to find. Then there are others who say Hot Bagels & Deli comes pretty damn close. Hot Bagels & Deli, the little breakfast and lunch spot with three locations -- Arrowhead, ... More >>

14 Ways to Get Your Phoenix Valentine's Day Chocolate Fix

​ Chocolate and Valentine's Day go together like eggs and bacon, or cookie and milk, or cookies and bacon, or bacon and bacon .....mmmmm bacon. Oh wait, we were talking about chocolate. Anyhow, chocolate and Valentine's Day go hand in hand. A Valentine's Day without chocolate would just be a ... More >>

Chloe's Corner at CityScape: Lunch Under $10

Shelby Moore The hot-pressed Albacore Tuna melt incorporates tomato and cheddar cheese, served on cranberry walnut bread. There's a Gosling's Ginger Beer to sip on.​Chloe's Corner earned its stripes serving straightforward diner fare -- panini-pressed meat and cheese sandwiches, salads, and ... More >>

Claire's Chocolate Chip, Fool Proof, and Better Than They Look (Really) Cookies

​Our latest Chow Bella showdown: a traditional holiday cookie exchange. From now through Christmas, we present Chow Bella's 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Today, we bring you Claire's Chocolate Chip, Better Than They Look (Really) Cookies. I am not a baker -- a tough fact I thought I could hide un ... More >>

Shannon's Who-Cares-About-Chocolate Lemon Crunch Sugar Cookies

Tedd Roundy Shannon's lemon cookies.​Our latest Chow Bella showdown: a traditional holiday cookie exchange. From now through Christmas, we present Chow Bella's 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Today: 11. Shannon Armour's Who-Cares-About-Chocolate Lemon Crunch Sugar Cookies. I don't make coo ... More >>

Top 10 Bread Bakeries in Greater Phoenix

​Bread, often equivalent to the word "food," is an indispensable staple in many parts of the world. Throughout history -- in religion, magic, and custom -- this deceptively simple foodstuff has ensured a seat at our table of survival. Where to find some of the best of it in the Valley? Here ar ... More >>

In Season: Green Chile Cheeseburgers with Tomato

Jennifer WoodsWhy, yes, there are sweet potato chips on that plate. Dinner took me forever because of them, but it was tasty.​Lately, in this In Season series, we're taking a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I've done with my CSA share, or part share. This ... More >>

In Season: Pizza-Oven-Style Pizza with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Topped with Arugula Salad

Jennifer Woods​Lately, in this In Season series, we're taking a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I've done with my CSA share, or part share. This week I'm making a fresh pizza sauce with a tomato and topping it with dressed arugula.

MXSW Takes Ads and Eric Eats Out Considers Taking a Break

A round-up of tasty morsels from Valley food blogs. ​In the same week, two popular Phoenix food blogs are headed in two different directions. Jess Harter of Mouth by Southwest announces that he's going pro in his East Valley dedicated food blog by bringing on advertisers for the first time. ... More >>