Foods

Summer Guide: Ice Cream

Cretons: Pork Scrap Breakfast Spread

Erica O'NeilToast, mustard and a tub of cretons makes for a hearty breakfast.​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles that do ... More >>

Now Open: Wedge & Bottle

​Since the demise of Phoenix's lone cheese shop, Petit Fromage, Valley cheese lovers have been patiently waiting for the cheese gods to again bless us with a new place to pick up chunks of Gouda, Asiago and Brie. Good news -- the wait is over. Wedge & Bottle, the Valley's newest chees ... More >>

Ribbon Tripe: Pho Tai Sach Bo Vien from Khai Hoan

Erica O'Neil Ribbons of omasum tripe afloat in a bowl of pho tai sach bo vien​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles ... More >>

Quick Guide to Cooking Beans

Carol Blonder adzuki​ Middle Eastern Hummus, Italian Pasta e Fagioli, New Orleans Red Beans and Rice, even Hannibal Lecter's Fava beans and Chianti transform the modest bean to a stellar ingredient. All beans are seeds that stem from the plant family leguminous. More importantly, beans deli ... More >>

Build a Meatless Sandwich

Carol Blonder​ What comes to mind first when you think of making a sandwich? A basic combination of meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo or mustard slapped between two pieces of bread. The April issue of Saveur magazine is filled with sandwich specials from around the world and got us thi ... More >>

Last Minute Easter Brunch Roundup

​We don't want to rain on anyone's parade or anything, but Easter is like on Sunday. That's in about two days. If you're planning on getting your brunch on you had better book your table quick or else you will be stuck in a champagne-less kitchen attempting to make your own version of brunch which ... More >>

Starbucks Oatmeal At Home

Illustration By Cyndi Coon​ The convenience of a drive-thru is good and options for eating healthy are good but saving money in this economy is really good. So when Starbucks came out with instant oatmeal with toppings in cup we wondered, how much more would we pay for that convenience ove ... More >>

Dos Ranchitos Pork Cracklins: Fried Backfat

Erica O'Neil A crispy mound of Dos Ranchitos pork cracklins. ​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles that don't make ... More >>

A Quick Guide to Grains

Carol Blonder grains and seeds​ One of our tips for cooking meatless is to prepare a pot of grain over the weekend, mostly brown rice, and have it on hand to add to soups, stocks, and casseroles or to make a fresh grain and vegetable salad during the week. Going meatless one day a week is m ... More >>

The Life of Pie at Rock Springs Cafe

Carol Blonder grains and seeds​ One of our tips for cooking meatless is to prepare a pot of grain over the weekend, mostly brown rice, and have it on hand to add to soups, stocks, and casseroles or to make a fresh grain and vegetable salad during the week. Going meatless one day a week is m ... More >>

Easter Holiday Brunch Happenings Part 1

Viking ​Don't want to cook on Easter but haven't got a clue where to go? We're here to help. We have rounded up over a dozen restaurants and resorts that would be delighted to spend Easter with you. All you have to do is call and RSVP then let the experts handle the rest. Scottsdale's trendy ... More >>

Susan Russo's The Encyclopedia of Sandwiches Is Worth a Bite or Two

​Allow us to posit a theory. You're a fan of sandwiches. No, we're not clairvoyant. What we are is intimately aware of the delicious potential inherit in placing various fillings between two pieces of bread. So too is Susan Russo, a writer for NPR's Kitchen Window, food blogger, and author o ... More >>

Sam Fox Shoots but Doesn't Score with The Arrogant Butcher

​Allow us to posit a theory. You're a fan of sandwiches. No, we're not clairvoyant. What we are is intimately aware of the delicious potential inherit in placing various fillings between two pieces of bread. So too is Susan Russo, a writer for NPR's Kitchen Window, food blogger, and author o ... More >>

Chicken Livers: Country Pate Platter from Beckett's Table

Erica O'Neil The colorful and rustic country pate platter from Beckett's Table. ​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibl ... More >>

Closed for Business: Chaka Chaka

​I hope you're not hungry for a jerk chicken sandwich with seasoned mayo, hunks of meat, shredded cabbage, basil, and scallions. That's the signature dish at Chaka Chaka, a tiny eatery on 7th Street, south of Chase Field, that just closed its doors. Owner Charlie Blonkenfeld says he si ... More >>

Lunch $10 and Under at Romanelli's

​ Enter Romanelli's on the northwest side of Phoenix, and you'll instantly feel as though you've been transported to Little Italy in New York City. Heck, you feel like you're in Italy. Or at least like you're from Italy, There are so many little Italian themed signs, shirts and other tri ... More >>

Homemade Corn Tortillas: Los Reyes de la Torta

Erica O'Neil A thick homemade corn tortilla, wrapped around some serious tinga from Los Reyes de la Torta.​Tacos may very well be the perfect food, but let's face it, the standard Meximerican fare can get a bit stale after a while. Taco the Town is here to highlight some of the more unusual ... 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 >>

Got a Favorite Burger? Add Its Meaty Ass to BurgerMap!

​No beatin' around the burger bush here, BurgerMap claims to be exactly what the slogan says it is: The World's Best Burgers. On a map. But wait, not yet. BurgerMap can't do it alone. The map's success depends on people's patty input, and lots of it. According to the website, when enough fol ... More >>

Thymus Glands: Fried Sweetbreads from Big Earl's BBQ

Erica O'NeilA basket of deep fried thymus glands-- sweetbreads from Big Earl's BBQ.​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles t ... More >>

Suzanne Garcia's Chocolate Cherry Almond Cookies

Carol BlonderSuzanne Garcia and her cookie counter​ Yesterday, Suzanne Garcia president of Chocolate Star Bakery shared the lessons she brought from a successful fashion and business background to her cookie bakery. The San Francisco native likes to keep her recipes simple but isn't afraid to gla ... More >>

Spaghetti Squash with Zucchini Ribbons, Chunky Tomato Sauce and Toasted Chickpeas

Carol Blonder spaghetti squash with tomato concasse, zucchini ribbons and toasted garbanzo beans​Spaghetti squash as an alternative to pasta is great when the mood hits for a light dish. A usual preparation is to serve it pasta style with a rich meaty tomato sauce. In this recipe it serves ... More >>

Where Can I Find Blood Sausage in Phoenix?

Wiki-Emmanuel Boutet black pudding​ A few weeks ago we wrote about Hungarian paprika, and a reader left a question: "Where can I find gurkha also known as blood sausage? I live in Phoenix area." While blood sausage is found in every cuisine from Asia to America, we could not find a nam ... More >>

Lisa Reinhart: Wei of Chocolate

Carol Blonder cacao pod​ In the eighteenth century, Carl Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist credited for the naming and classification system used to distinguish plants and species found in Europe and the New World, named the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, "food of the gods". Cacao had a long-es ... More >>

Lunch $10 and Under at Coach & Willie's

​Located a baseball's throw from Chase Field, Coach & Willie's is one of the only joints around with its own parking lot -- which makes it a prime destination for locals who don't have time to fiddle with parking meters on their dwindling lunch hours. There's not much directly around ... More >>

Travis Watson's Chocolate Mousse Covered Strawberries

Carol Blonder chocolate covered strawberries​Yesterday in Sweet Talk, Executive Pastry Chef Travis Watson described his philosophy on the discipline and art of pastry creation and the important elements of any carefully crafted dessert. Chef Watson favors desserts that are refined and inclu ... More >>

Lunch $10 and Under at Chompie's

The egg salad sammie, a New York deli classic.​I walked in the door of Chompie's in Tempe the week I first arrived in Phoenix. I'd driven cross-country from New York in a giant moving van, and frankly after a week of eating greasy truck stop food and seeing nothing but dead g ... More >>

Salmon Skin Roll: Shimogamo Japanese Restaurant

Flickr- Island Vittles A mound of crispy, fried salmon skin that would put bacon to shame.​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those t ... More >>

Noca Set to Launch "nocawich" Lunch Service

Noca's famous lobster roll.​For anyone who scratches their head at the thought of relaxed fine dining spot Noca going all casual and sandwich-centric for its new lunch service, I have two words for you: Lobster roll. It makes perfect sense, actually. The eatery has been doing a clever, up ... More >>

Tempe's House of Tricks Amazes Audiences with Seared Foie Gras

Noca's famous lobster roll.​For anyone who scratches their head at the thought of relaxed fine dining spot Noca going all casual and sandwich-centric for its new lunch service, I have two words for you: Lobster roll. It makes perfect sense, actually. The eatery has been doing a clever, up ... More >>

Hog Maws: Spicy Pork Stomach from Lao Ching Hing

Erica O'NeilA mound of spicy pork stomach from Lao Ching Hing in the Chinese Cultural Center. ​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those ... More >>

Casey Moore's Oyster House: Happy Hour Report Card

Fried Clams at Casey Moore's are reminiscent of summer in New England.​ The Spot: Casey Moore's Oyster House, 850 S Ash Ave, Tempe, 480-968-9935, http://www.caseymoores.comThe Hours: Happy Hour runs from 3-7 Monday-Friday and from 11-4 on Saturday and Sunday.The Details: Casey Moore's features a b ... More >>

Whataburger Green Chile Double Versus Dead Birds Falling From the Sky

​In a response to thousands of dead birds falling from the sky with implications that the end of the world is upon us, Whataburger has announced a limited-time offering of its Green Chile Double, which features two beef patties, two kinds of cheese, and roasted green chiles. Smart move, What ... More >>

Scrapple: The Pennsylvanian Treat from Schreiner's

Erica O'Neil A feast of fried scrapple and other breakfast fixings. ​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles that don ... More >>

Bliss Doesn't Live Up to Its Culinary Promise

Erica O'Neil A feast of fried scrapple and other breakfast fixings. ​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles that don ... More >>

In the (Cal)Zone: Getting Sauced at Queen's Pizza and Boulders on Broadway

Every city has a certain type of cuisine it's known for. In New York, there's a pizza place on every corner. Memphis and Kansas City have great BBQ joints. In Phoenix, it's Mexican food. While finding a late-night burrito or enchilada in this town is a piece of cake (tres leches, of course ... More >>

2010 Redux: Just Offal

Erica O'NeilHot tongue-on-tongue action. Veal tongue and crispy bone marrow from Petite Maison. In the spirit of tying up loose ends, we're recapping some of the best food-related finds of the year. We've already recapped the Best Books and Battle of the Dishes superstars, a ... More >>

Cookie Showdown: Chocolate Chip Peppermint Sandwich Cookies

Photo: Cyndi Coon Chocolate Chip Peppermint Sandwhich Cookie​ Cookie exchanges are a staple at every holiday office party, including the offices of Chow Bella. But the contributors to this blog are a cutthroat bunch, and with an inordinate amount of trash talk thrown about, our cookie excha ... More >>

Beckett's Table Is Playing It Safe

Photo: Cyndi Coon Chocolate Chip Peppermint Sandwhich Cookie​ Cookie exchanges are a staple at every holiday office party, including the offices of Chow Bella. But the contributors to this blog are a cutthroat bunch, and with an inordinate amount of trash talk thrown about, our cookie excha ... More >>

Southern Comfort: The Breakfast Joynt Threatens Texaz Grill's Chicken Fried Steak Title

New Year's is a time for resolutions, many having to do with working out, losing weight or eating healthier. With that in mind, we figured now is the time to load up on calorie and fat laden foods before we're forced to start battling broccoli and sugar-free crap. This week's Battle of the Dishes&nb ... More >>

Wildfish Seafood Grill Hires Sushi Chef

The raw bar at Wildfish Seafood Grille​Already a reliable spot for a good crabcake or a big platter of raw oysters to slurp, now Wildfish Seafood Grill is bringing sushi and sashimi into the mix with the hiring of sushi chef Stephan Martin.It's a natural evolution for the Waterfront restaurant, wh ... More >>

Tully's Intense Dark Chocolate Mocha

​ Tully's Coffee is a chain, but we haven't seen too many locations in the Valley. But we stumbled upon a Tully's last week in the Fry's Markerplace off 27th Avenue and Bell Road, and since we'd never tried Tully's (gasp!), we decided to stop in. We ordered a tall "intense dark chocolat ... More >>

Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen

Carol Blonder Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen​You know what gifts to get for your significant other and the rest of the family. What to do about co-workers, holiday hosts, teachers, coaches, and neighbors? Try a treat from your kitchen, easy and delicious, a tasty memory that will please ev ... More >>

Guido Saccone of Cibo Urban Wine Cafe & Pizzeria, Part Two

that makes his heart melt and his appetite roar. "Pasta's something I really have passion for," Saccone says. "That's what I eat every day, sometimes twice a day. I tell my wife it's going to kill me."

Recipe: Christine Boerner's Rocher

Carol BlonderChocolate gifts in gourds​ Rocher (FR: rock) When I was a kid we called these chocolate -coated bites haystacks. I stand corrected! These yummy little mounds can be made with your choice of ingredients, toasted nuts, golden raisins and chopped dried fruit. Christine Boerner provi ... More >>

Head Cheese: Banh Mi from Lee's Sandwiches

Erica O'Neil Head cheese, liver pate and other tasty morsels packed on a fresh-baked baguette from Lee's Sandwiches. ​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounce ... More >>

Lamb kidneys: Steak and Kidney Pie from George and Dragon Pub

Erica O'Neil Steak and lamb kidney pie served up by George and Dragon Pub.​Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there's more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles tha ... More >>

Chana Masala: Chickpeas in Spicy Tomato Sauce

Carol BlonderChana Masala​ Yesterday we told you about asafetida, a pungent spice that adds a flavor reminiscent of garlic to a dish. Used in minute quantities, asafetida complements fish, vegetables and legumes. In Indian cooking it is a spice that is added to chutneys, sauces and pickled dishes. ... More >>

Pie Social: No Need for Humble Pie

The first-ever Pie Social -- to be held Saturday, November 13, 2 to 6 p.m. at 5th Street and Roosevelt -- is right around the corner. While we wait, we are busy trying to flex our pie-baking muscles. We've never made lemon meringue pie before so this seems like the perfect time to try our hand ... More >>