Lola Tapas

Green in Downtown Phoenix Now Open

After months of patiently waiting (okay, not so patiently), the second location of Green, Damon Brasch's funky vegan bistro, in downtown Phoenix is now open. Green's location, a house at 2022 North 7th Street, was formally Brasch's sandwich shop called That's a Wrap before he sold it to longtime m ... More >>

Green's Damon Brasch Opens Vegan Ice Cream, Coffee, and Pastry Shop in Downtown Phoenix

Damon Brasch, owner of Green, the funky vegan bistro in Tempe, thinks so much of the Tsoynami, his organic ice cream treat featuring Blizzard-like flavors, the name for his new vegan ice cream, coffee, and pastry shop in downtown Phoenix was inspired by it. Located at 2014 North 7th Street, the new ... More >>

Quick PHX: Food

Bliss Doesn't Live Up to Its Culinary Promise

Now Open: That's a Wrap

​After closing down at its longtime home on 7th Street, fave CenPho lunch spot That's a Wrap has just reopened in new digs, at the former Lola Tapas building on Camelback (800 E. Camelback). Previous owner Damon Brasch sold the biz to long time staffer Erik Hansen, who now shares chef duties ... More >>

That's a Wrap Moves to Old Lola Tapas, Green Fills the Void

​Get ready for more vegan-friendly eats in CenPho -- including killer vegan chicken wings. Chef-owner Damon Brasch has sold his popular sandwich shop, That's a Wrap, to longtime manager Erik Hansen. Hansen plans to relocate the 7th Street business to the old Lola Tapas spot on Camelback, m ... More >>

Chef Aaron May's Iruna Fills a Tapas Void

Ana Borrajo of Sapna Cafe, Part One

​After the sad closing of Lola Tapas, we learned that no restaurant, no matter how amazing, is immune from a bad economy. That's why we were relieved to find that despite the economic downturn Ana Borrajo, Chef and owner of Sapna Cafe remains optimistic about the future. And this is a great ... More >>

Lola Tapas Set to Close This Weekend

​A wonderful little restaurant is about to close its doors this weekend. For me, it's the loss of a personal favorite where I've sent countless friends to dine and have enjoyed many plates of tortilla de patatas and glasses of delicious sangria.After dinner-only service from 5 to 10 p.m. tonight a ... More >>

Happy Hours: Your Guide to Valley Spots Worthy of Your Drink Money

Kitchen Ink: Hidden Blade

Felicia Ruiz​Continuing our weekly Kitchen Ink follow-up on local tattooed kitchen peeps, here's some more skin art from the culinary world. It's 23-year-old Tara Luscombe, a line cook who always has her large chef's knife close by -- permanently. Luscombe currently works at both ... More >>

MF Tasty Comes to Welcome Diner

​Hot on the heels of the second sold-out MF Tasty secret supper, I just got word that MF Tasty creator Eric Gitenstein (who's the chef at the fabulous Lola Tapas) will be doing a special lunch at Welcome Diner on Monday, May 3, followed by another by-reservation dinner that night.I'll have a ... More >>

Chef Eric Gitenstein's Grilled Hanger Steak with Rioja Onion Jam

​ ​In this week's Chef Talk, we heard from Chef Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas and mftasty. Today he shares his recipe for a Lola Favorite: Grilled Hanger Steak with Rioja Onion Jam. Here's how it's done...

Chef Talk: Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas (part two)

photo by Claire Lawton​ Yesterday we heard from Chef Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas. Gitenstein joined the Lola team and now works with owner Felicia Ruiz on menu items and seasonal concepts. Coming up? Gitenstein says they're working on bocadillos, or Spanish sandwiches and a gaspacho-inspired t ... More >>

Chef Talk: Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas

photo by Claire Lawton​Eric Gitenstein was the kind of kid with food on his brain; after realizing he spent more time thinking about his restaurant jobs than his university classes, he made a culinary escape from traditional study. After culinary school, Gitenstein tested out a few local kitchens ... More >>

This Weekend: Devoured Phoenix Culinary Classic

Jason Silva A year ago, I sipped some wine at West of Western culinary festival with entrepreneur and small business advocate Kimber Lanning of Local First Arizona, chatting about boosting the profile of local restaurants. If only I'd brought a crystal ball with me. ... More >>

Spicy Chickpeas and Spinach at Lola Tapas

​Finally! I'd been wanting to check out the new weekday lunch at Lola Tapas ever since it debuted a few months back, and it was worth my (unintentional) wait when I stopped by this week. The place is just close enough to downtown that I can justify repeat visits from time to time. At night, ... More >>

This Week In Chow Bella

Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let's have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Chef Payton Curry to Leave Digestif for Expanding Caffe Boa Chef Talk: Felici ... More >>

Recipe: Goat Cheese Medallions at Lola Tapas

Heather Hoch Goat Cheese Medallions at Lola Tapas.​Chef Felicia Ruiz loves using fresh, often locally grown ingredients to create her dishes at Lola Tapas. One ingredient that remains a constant on the Lola menu is honey. Ruiz explains that she loves honey so much because each area has its ... More >>

Chef Talk: Felicia Ruiz, Lola Tapas

Heather Hoch Chef Felicia Ruiz on her newly opened outdoor patio.​Chef Felicia Ruiz is totally adorable. Okay, we don't mean to gush, but she's that special kind of person that makes you feel automatically welcome and at ease, especially in what she calls her second home, Lola Tapas.We gues ... More >>

October 13 In Blogs: Lou Dobbs, Nick Cave, Lola Tapas, and Arizona Democrats

​​In the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Feathered Bastard: Salvador Reza Calls for Anti-Joe Arpaio March This Friday, October 16 The Anti-Lou Dobbs ... More >>

Caffiend: Lola Coffee's Quadruple-Shot Espresso

The charming Lola Coffee shop on Central Avenue shares a similar ambiance with hip hangouts like Lola Tapas and Lux -- lots of comfortable chairs and couches, magazines laying about, Wi-Fi access, smooth and unobtrusive music (often jazz) in the background, and good-looking people absorbed in laptop ... More >>

Now Open: Lola Coffee

Today is the first day in business for Lola Coffee, the hip hangout created by Daniel Wayne (formerly of Lux and Lola Tapas). House-roasted coffee is one good reason to go; homemade pastries by Danielle Librera of the recently closed Sweet Pea Bakery are another. And what about the location i ... More >>

Lola Tapas' Daniel Wayne Readies New Coffee Shop

Lola Tapas owner Daniel Wayne -- who founded the ultra-hip Lux Coffeebar, then sold it and opened the tapas joint four years ago -- is getting back into the coffee game. He tells me he just signed a lease on a 1200-square-foot space on Central Avenue, just south of Camelback (4700 N. ... More >>

March 9 In Blogs: James Harden, Jimmy Eat World, First Friday and More

We understand that in the 24-hour news cycle it can be difficult to keep up. Worry not! We have the solution. Check back on Valley Fever every evening for highlights from each of New Times' blogs. Today's entries: Valley Fever: Brewer vs. Nader: The U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Arizona's Appe ... More >>

Food PHX

Lola Coffeebar debuts next week

May Day

Going tapas

Lady of Spain

Tapas-notch

Torturous Times

The winged wonder on John McCain's righteous anti-torture stance, Stepford-like Gilbert and changes at hipster haven Lux