Lee Hillson

West of Western Feeds Downtown

Is cuisine an artform?

Scottsdale Culinary Fest Comprises 12 Events This Week

The Scottsdale Culinary Festival sounds monolithic, but the granddaddy among the Valley's culinary festivals is surprisingly multifaceted -- a dozen different events at 16 different restaurants and venues around town, ranging from casual tastings to semi-formal sit-down occasions.

Coming in September: Phoenix Cooks!

​Yes, Phoenix -- this city will come back to life pretty soon. Things feel slow right now, but at least there's a big culinary event right around the corner, ushering a whole season of activities for food fanatics. Phoenix Cooks! is the shindig to put on your calendar. Scheduled for Saturda ... More >>

Sunday: Dine Out With the Chefs at Scottsdale Center

J&G Steakhouse​Start saving your appetite now.This Sunday will be a splurge worth blowing your diet for, courtesy of more than 20 high-profile chefs from across the Valley who'll be dishing up mouthwatering tastings at Scottsdale's fourth annual Dine Out With the Chefs event.The festiviti ... More >>

Dine Out with the Chefs Impresses Sophisticated Palates

Last night at the 4th annual Dine Out with the Chefs event at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, some of the Valley's hottest local chefs came out of their respective restaurant kitchens to cook, serve and wander among us mere mortals. Chef James Porter, whose newly-opened ... More >>

In the Raw: Local Chefs Get Naked for Charity

Nice, um, cucumber!A friend showed me his copy of the new In the Raw calendar, and what can I say? It's pretty ballsy.Ken and Lee Singh are the charming couple who run the all-natural Singh Farms -- a 20-acre wonderland where their composting efforts have created nutrient-rich soil for fresh veggies ... More >>

Ask the Critic: Where Should I Go For My Anniversary Dinner?

Heather HochLife is beautiful: Atlas Bistro's exquisite fare is worth sharing with the love of your life.​Lovebirds have been coming out of the woodwork! Two different pals recently asked me for recommendations on where to take their darling spouses to celebrate their anniversaries. My gut sa ... More >>

Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame Winners to be Announced Tonight

  scottsdaleculinaryfestival.org The Scottsdale Culinary Festival kicks off tonight not just with a kick-off party, but also with the announcement of the winners of this year's spots in the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame. The nominees make for quite a power meeting, don't you ... More >>

A Love Letter For Lee Hillson, Something Baked Cookies, Chopped at AndyFood, Boba at Bosa Donuts

A round-up of tasty morsels from Valley food blogs. eateraz.com​EaterAZ wrote a love letter to Lee Hillson of T. Cook's for his weekly $2 Taco Tuesday promotion. They "can't recommend it enough." With tacos like Kiltlifter tempura bacon tacos with butter lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, and a horsera ... More >>

James Porter, Eddie Matney, and Others Team Up With Local Brewery to Make Their Own Beers

Eddie Matney of Eddie's House is one of four chefs customizing his own beers with Scottsdale's Sonoran Brewing Company.​Sure, we're used to enjoying the food of top-notch Valley chefs, but when's the last time we chug-a-lugged their culinary styles in beer form? The craft beer experts at Scot ... More >>