Jose Garces

8 Great Guacamoles in Metro Phoenix

Some snooty conquistador way back when once noted that in Mexico, avocados and guacamole were "butter for the poor." My, how times have changed! Guacamole -- a literal and linguistic mash-up of the Nahuatl (Aztec) words ahuacatl (avocado) and mole (mixture) has gone so upscale, customers now routine ... 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: - Astor House in Phoenix to Host "Mega-Authentic N'awlins Crawfish Boil" on Sunday, April 14 - Rough Draft's Barrel-Aged Freudian Slip: Your Subconscious Will Love It (Free!) Fe ... More >>

CLOSED: Chick Rotisserie & Wine Bar in Arcadia

Looks like Chick has lost what was left of its pluck -- permanently. See also: - Jose Garces' Old Town Whiskey in Scottsdale Shutters to Become Hotel Event Space - Distrito Gets Neutered: From Colorful and Lively to Brown and Boring, This Makeover Ain't Makin' Sense The second concept from Allen a ... 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.

Distrito Gets Neutered: From Colorful and Lively to Brown and Boring, This Makeover Ain't Makin' Sense

Two weeks ago, Old Town Whiskey, Jose Garces' upscale saloon inside The Saguaro hotel in Old Town, shuttered to be used as event space. But unbeknownst to Garces' fans, his modern Mexican restaurant just down the hall was undergoing an arguably worse fate: getting its cojones cut off. See also: - ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Food and Restaurant News 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 >>

(Huh?) Jose Garces' Old Town Whiskey in Scottsdale Shutters to Become Hotel Event Space

Bourbon and bar bites for bridal and baby showers? (Sigh.) It's true. See also: - CLOSED: Blue Wasabi Sushi & Martini Bar in North Scottsdale - Opening Weekend at Morning Squeeze in Old Town Old Town Whiskey, celebrity chef Jose Garces' upscale saloon inside The Saguaro hotel in Old Town Scottsd ... More >>

Nine Baked Goods in Metro Phoenix to Pre-Order for Your Christmas Table

With all of the baking that has to be done during the Christmas season -- from cookie exchanges and decorating to making gifts and serving guests -- it can be nice (and necessary) to take a break. Ensure that everything on your holiday table for breakfast, dinner, and dessert is special by getting a ... More >>

Shine: Eating in Scottsdale

Iron Chef Jose Garces Celebrates Release of New Cookbook -- The Latin Road Home -- With Temporary Menu at Distrito

Jose Garces comes to town frequently to check up on Distrito, his modern Mexican restaurant specializing in Mexico City-style street food. This trip, however,the Iron Chef had another objective: to promote his new cookbook -- The Latin Road Home -- by hosting a special five-course dinner using recip ... More >>

10 Favorite Places for Pozole in Greater Phoenix

Pozole (pronounced poh-SOH-lay) just might be the ideal Mexican comfort food. Enjoyed nearly everywhere in Mexico and throughout the American Southwest, the hearty meat broth, laced with chile and enhanced with hominy (essentially dried maize kernels soaked in lime) boasts several variations. Most ... More >>

Six Favorite Places to Take Cooking Classes in Metro Phoenix

There comes a time in everyone's life when they have to learn to cook more than scrambled eggs and frozen pizzas. For those of us who grew up in homes that relied on take-out and frozen foods, this can be a particularly hard transition. But fret not, there are plenty of places where you too can lear ... More >>

El Fuerte for Two at Distrito

Frescas and Pozole at Distrito

Welcome to Brunched, where Chow Bella samples local restaurants' offerings for our favorite meal. (Hey, you get to sleep in and eat breakfast -- what's not to like?) See also: Iron Chef Jose Garces of Distrito at The Saguaro What: Distrito at the Saguaro Hotel Where: 4000 N. Drinkwater Boulevard, ... More >>

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 >>

Chow Bella's Top Phoenix Food Stories of the Week

Every week, there's a cornucopia of new 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 thi ... 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 >>

Three Ways to Eat Your Way Through Arizona Restaurant Week

Sure, it may be called Arizona Spring Restaurant Week, but this nine-day sup-fest -- from Saturday, May 19, through Sunday, May 27 -- takes place when the Valley starts heating up and the restaurant business starts slowing down. In Phoenix and beyond, about 90 eateries are offering three-course di ... More >>

Eat, Play, Grub

Brunch at Distrito, Free Midnight Feast at Old Town Whiskey and a Secret Special

Since opening at the end of last year, Distrito and Old Town Whiskey, the two restaurants in Scottsdale's The Saguaro, have been causing quite a buzz in the Valley. Much of that is due to Chef Jose Garces, the man behind the menus, who is best known for winning the coveted title on season two of The ... More >>

What's Your Favorite Cookbook?

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.Inspiration, information, mouth-watering photogra ... More >>

Cook Like An Iron Chef at Distrito

Jose Garces is an Iron Chef, but then, if you're a fan of Food Network's Iron Chef America, the popular culinary game show based upon the Japanese cult sensation, you already knew that. And now, his new modern Mexican restaurant in Scottsdale, Distrito, located in the newly rehabbed Saguaro hotel o ... More >>

Jose Garces, What Are You Listening To?

​Jose GarcesThe Iron Chef and James Beard award-winning chef is executive chef of Distrito, Old Town Whiskey and Garces Trading Co. To-Go at The Saguaro Hotel. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? I have Sirius/XM in my car, and ... More >>

Where to Eat and Drink Near Scottsdale Stadium

San Franciso Giants: Scottsdale Stadium Seeing a game at Scottsdale Stadium? Lucky you. Not only is it a beautiful little stadium (not the newest, not the biggest, but a sentimental favorite), you are without a doubt in the best ballpark 'hood when it comes to drinking and dining options. We could ... More >>

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

Iron Chef Jose Garces Shows Star Power at Old Town Whiskey, Needs a Little Help at Distrito

Chances are if you're a fan of Food Network's Iron Chef America, you've heard of chef Jose Garces. Recently, two of Garces' concepts, Distrito, a modern Mexican restaurant, and Village Whiskey (altered for Scottsdale to Old Town Whiskey), an upscale tavern, have come to the Valley, inside The Sagua ... 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 >>

Chef Jose Garces' Esquites

Jose Garces​We've spent the past couple days talking with Iron Chef Jose Garces of Distrito at The Saguaro in Scottsdale. In part 3 of our series this week we have his recipe for esquites. Esquites is a traditional Mexican snack often sold at corn stalls or festivals. Chef Garces suggests p ... More >>

Chef Jose Garces of Distrito, Part Two

Amada Restaurant ​In this week's Chef Talk we've been getting to know Chef Jose Garces of Distrito in Old Town Scottsdale. Located at The Saguaro Hotel, Distrito bears the same name as Garces' restaurant in Philadelphia, although he says this location will cater more specifically to th ... More >>

Iron Chef Jose Garces of Distrito at The Saguaro

Jose Garces​This week in Chef Talk we bring you a few words from the man behind The Saguaro's new restaurant Distrito, Chef Jose Garces. Winner of the James Beard Foundation's Best Chef Mid-Atlantic award in 2009, Garces owns and holds the title of executive chef at a handful of restaurants ... More >>

Iron Chef Jose Garces Opens Modern Mexican Restaurant Distrito at Scottsdale's New Saguaro Hotel

Tacos de Hamachi​Chef Jose Garces' modern Mexican restaurant, Distrito, is now open at The Saguaro, the stylish new hotel that opened the first week of November in Scottsdale (formerly Hotel Theodore and Mondrian.) The Saguaro's flagship restaurant alongside Garces' two other dining destinatio ... More >>

Bourbon, Scotch, Rye and Duck Fat at Old Town Whiskey

​ Last month, Team Distrito, led by Jose Garces chef de cuisine Dave Conn, earned the title of grand champions at the 2nd annual Arizona Taco Festival -- whetting our appetite for their mahi-mahi, carnitas and chicken rapa vieja tacos and setting us up to eagerly await the Scottsdale opening of Di ... More >>

Iron Chef Jose Garces Opens Two Restaurants at Scottsdale's New Saguaro Hotel

Whiskey King Burger​The Saguaro, the stylish new hotel that opened the first week of November in Scottsdale (formerly Hotel Theodore and Mondrian), has two of its three eateries from executive chef and Iron Chef Jose Garces ready to be sampled. ​Old Town Whiskey is an upscale saloon fea ... More >>

Get a First Taste of The Saguaro's Flagship Restaurant and Meet Its Chef de Cuisine at the Arizona Taco Festival This Saturday

Distrito Mahi Mahi​The Saguaro hotel in Scottsdale (formerly Hotel Theodore and Mondrian) won't be open until November, but for foodies looking for a sneak preview of tastes from its flagship restaurant of modern Mexican cuisine, Distrito, along with its new chef de cuisine, both can be found ... More >>

Chris Bianco, Iron Chef Jose Garces, Jonathan Waxman, and Others Cook For National Fundraiser For Childhood Cancer Research

Edward Dai, The Epoch TimesChef Jose Garces (right) prepares deliciousness at the Great Chefs Event in Philadelphia to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand. ​Seems as if celebu-chef Chris Bianco was in The City of Brotherly Love last week to show a little love of his own. ​Bianco joined 36 oth ... More >>