Main Dish Recipes

A Recipe for Summer: Easy Whole Roast Chicken with Thyme and Lemon

Roasting a whole chicken can be daunting (at least the first time), but it's just as easy as making boneless skinless chicken breasts. A whole chicken takes longer to cook, but it's 1) juicier, 2) tastier, 3) takes less active time, and 4) it's cheaper. See Also: AndyTalk: Get a Load of These Melo ... More >>

Mother's Day in Metro Phoenix: 12 Recommendations Based on Time, Budget, and Location

Sunday is Mother's Day, and (especially if you don't do it throughout the year) you'd better find a way to honor the woman that gave you life. Brunch is the traditional meal of the holiday, and there are plenty of those in the Phoenix area if your mom loves waffles, omelettes, and bacon. But there a ... More >>

13 Metro Phoenix Restaurants and Bars with Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Okay, so maybe you don't know exactly why it's a tradition to eat, drink, and party on Cinco de Mayo (FYI, it's to commemorate the 150-year-old Battle of Puebla, a victory of the Mexican militia over the French army). But those pesky details shouldn't stop you from having a truly awesome modern Amer ... More >>

How to Prepare for a Party in Under an Hour -- and Clean Out Your Fridge at the Same Time

"Sure, come over. See you in 90 minutes." That's how it begins. Then you make the bed, and since it's nearly dinnertime, you look for something (anything) to serve the friends you just invited to stop by. See Also: AndyTalk: The Simple Pleasure of Chocolate Bruschetta AndyTalkL 3 Springtime Pizz ... More >>

3 Springtime Pizza Recipes

It's spring and that means pizza. OK - maybe pizza isn't exactly what comes to mind when you think about Easter and Arbor Day, but pizza is my personal not-so-secret favorite comfort food.

Sunday Devoured in Phoenix: Decadent 'Til You Drop

After all of the goodness Saturday's Devoured offered, we sent two more of Chow Bella's finest out to tag team the over 40 vendors at the event on Sunday. Heather Hoch and Minerva Orduna roamed the aisles of Devoured at Phoenix Art Museum to bring you the good, the bad and the blah of the event. Dig ... More >>

Salty Sow in Phoenix Could Use Some Spice

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out and let you know our initial impressions. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few items, and satisfying curiosities (yours and ours). Rest ... More >>

Fourteen Valley Restaurants to Take Your Sweetie Pie to on Valentine's Day

On which day of the year does one-third of all Americans visit a restaurant? If you guessed Mother's Day, often referred to as the busiest day in the restaurant biz, you're wrong. Valentine's Day is the holiday that draws out the diners, so if you're planning a fancy date night with your special som ... More >>

Street Eats Food Truck Festival, Day One: Shorter Lines, Better Organized Than Last Year, and We Share Our Favorite (and Not So Favorite) Tastes

Last year's first-ever Street Eats festival did not exactly endear itself to many of our readers -- and we weren't so happy either, for that matter. Among the problems: long lines, terrible traffic, confusion about payment methods and trucks running out of food. To be fair, this is a challenge that' ... More >>

Ando Muneno Starts the New Year Off with a Dangerous Bowl of O-zoni Soup

This holiday season, Chow Bella asked some of our favorite writers to regale us with tales of the holidays -- and food. What do you eat on New Year's Day? For many that's a trick question -- it's not a day you want to think about food, except perhaps greasy breakfast food late in the afternoon. Not ... More >>

5 Dishes at Chain Restaurants to Skip for Something Healthier (and Just as Tasty) at Local Eateries in Greater Phoenix

Eating healthier can sometimes be as easy as switching out one kind of food for another. See also: 5 Fad Diets to Avoid in 2013 and 5 Cleanses to Detox the Holidays Away So, inspired by the popular "Eat This, Not That" of Men's Health magazine, who, this October, published a list of the 20 worst, ... More >>

4 Ways to Enjoy Black-Eyed Peas for Luck in Metro Phoenix in the New Year

Eating black-eyed peas has been a tradition to ring in the New Year for centuries. In fact, it was first recorded 2,500 years ago as a Syrian Jewish custom, and the Aramaic name for black-eyed peas (rubiya) also means "abundance." A couple millennia later the tradition made it from Africa to the Dee ... More >>

Eating Christmas

Chicago's Taylor Street Deli Combo Sandwich: A Delicious Hot Italian Mess

The Guilty Pleasure: Combo Sandwich Where To Get It: Chicago's Taylor Street Deli, Scottsdale Road north of Loop 202 Price: $6 ($7 with peppers, highly recommended) What It Really Costs: You might want to get your shirt dry-cleaned after eating. One of my favorite regional guilty pleasures that has ... More >>

Polish Goodies Like Grandma Used to Make

Nine Dishes from Metro Phoenix Restaurants We'd Love to Make at Home (Recipes, Please -- Hint, Hint)

When it comes to some of our favorite restaurants, we wish the chefs would just buckle down and put together a cookbook already. Maybe an entire book of recipes is a bit much to ask for, but how about sharing a few? So we put together a wishlist of local restaurant dishes that we would give our righ ... More >>

Dolce Vita Italian Grocer Offers a True Taste of Italy

Petite Maison's Halloween Offal Dinner Puts Elegant Spin on Spooky Animal Parts

For some people, offal (pronounced OAF-uhl) is as cringe-worthy as a slasher film.That's surely why James Porter, chef-owner of Petite Maison, decided two years ago to create a tongue-in-cheek Halloween menu built around animal organs and the occasional odd part. He knows that for the squeamish, liv ... 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 >>

Lynne Rossetto Kasper Dishes on a Caller Who Cooked a Turkey in Hot Tar and Being a Reluctant Rock Star

Lynne Rossetto Kasper -- longtime host of NPR's James Beard Award-winning The Splendid Table -- was in town over the weekend to help KJZZ with its pledge drive. When I mentioned to four different friends that I was interviewing her, I got the same excited (and clearly envious) response every time: ... More >>

Hue Gourmet: Vietnamese Cuisine Fit for Royalty

AndyTalk: A Tale of Two Ground Beef Substitutes

Does mock beef actually mock beef? Or, does fake beef really do justice to the image in which it was created?

Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Sandwiches

See Also: Behind the Scenes at Chris Bianco's Restaurants See Also: The Sandwich Nazi (NSFW, Not Even a Little) See Also: Seven Hate-Free Chicken Sandwiches in Metro Phoenix Everybody loves a good sandwich, right? Bread, meat, cheese, veggies, condiments -- all things that taste pretty good, especia ... More >>

St. Francis: Happy Hour Report Card

See also: Richardson's: Happy Hour Report Card See also: Local Bistro: Happy Hour Report Card The Spot: St. Francis, 111 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602-200-8111, www.stfrancisaz.com. The Hours: Happy Hour is offered from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. every day. The Interior: Wendell Burnette Architects trans ... More >>

Brian Ford Makes High-Quality Casual Fare in an Unlikely Setting

10 Favorite Drive-Thrus in Metro Phoenix

See also: 15 Spots for Late-Night Eats in Greater Phoenix See also: 10 Favorite Cold (and Frozen!) Phoenix Foods Haven't you always wanted to have a list of awesome drive thrus that are locally owned and operated? Ya, we did, too. So we came up with our own list. Some require you to order ahead o ... More >>

66: Dave Anderson

From now 'til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers -- Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you'll know; for others, it'll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you're here, check out our 100 Creat ... More >>

The Slider: Delicious Burger Innovation or Small, Sad Excuse for a Sandwich?

We had so much fun chucking Chow Bella contributors Ando Muneno and Lauren Saria into the ring over Alton Brown, food trucks, movie theaters with food pho and Matt's Big Breakfast that we put them back at it again. This week's topic: The Slider. Ando: What are the strengths of the hamburger? Opi ... More >>

Lo-Lo Dishes About Jean-Georges, Kool-Aid and Muhammad Ali

Larry White, Jr. Lo-Lo's Fried Chicken & Waffles 10 W. Yuma Street, Phoenix 602-340-1304 and 2765 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-945-1920 www,loloschickenandwaffles.com This is part two of my interview with Larry White, Jr. (Lo-Lo), the owner of Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles. In case you missed it, ... More >>

La Petite France: Bon Appetit in Scottsdale

Kim Kunasek's Winning Essay: Mom's Ultimate Comfort Food, Pfannkuchensuppe

Earlier this week, we announced the winners of Just Like Mom's, Chow Bella's first Mother's Day essay contest. Today we present the winning essay by Kim Kunasek, about her mother, Emilie Charlotte Klaiber -- and Klaiber's recipe for "pancake soup." My mother has always been a life force. As a cook ... More >>

Chris Cosantino's Lasagna Bolognese

This week in Chef Talk we've been talking with Chris Costantino of Costantino's Kitchen. His line of handmade gourmet sauces and seasonings began with one recipe, a recipe for tomato basil pasta sauce he learned from his Grandma Angie. Today, you can find his line of products at farmers markets ar ... More >>

Coffee: It's a Spice. Really.

When you think of coffee, chances are that you think of the beverage -- and probably Starbucks -- and stop there. But coffee has uses beyond being a deliciously addictive caffeine fix to be guzzled down at all hours of the day. Coffee is also a spice that can add a rich, deep, and earthy flavor to o ... More >>

Point-Counterpoint: Alton Brown Is the Man and I Challenge You to Say Otherwise

We had so much fun chucking Chow Bella contributors Ando Muneno and Lauren Saria into the ring over food trucks, we decided to do it again. This week's burning topic: Alton Brown. Ando: Alton Brown is the man and I challenge you to say otherwise. Lauren: CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. Ando: Seriously, wha ... More >>

AndyTalk: Big Bang Theory in the Kitchen -- Hot-Doggity-Dog

A food processor is essential to success here, but it's not nearly as pricey as a Hadron Collider and there are more practical applications.

Chef Mensur Duzic's Paella

This week in Chef Talk we've been talking with Chef Mensur Duzic of Phoenix Children's Hospital. A tenured veteran of fine dining spots from across the Valley to across the pond, Duzic has enjoyed his position at the hospital for nearly ten years. But does he miss his more high-class culinary roots? ... More >>

Chow Bella's Guide to Eating Cute Baby Easter Animals

Super cute Easter animals are more than just super cute -- they can be pretty freakin' delicious. This Easter, skip the ho-hum ham, save the turkey for Thanksgiving, and let's eat some super cute baby animals. Here's our little guide to feasting on completely cute meats. Enjoy! Cute Animal: Veal -- ... More >>

Creamy Cashew Alfredo Pasta with Swiss Chard, Green Garlic and Mushrooms

Lately, in this In Season/Meatless Monday 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 swiss chard and spring garlic. This recipe was all about my 4-year-old son. He's a mac and cheese ... More >>

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

AndyTalk: Why Would Anyone Eat (Stinky, Mushy) Brussels' Sprouts?

The smell of steaming or boiling Brussels' sprouts is anathema to any sort of mouthwatering Pavlovian response. When I was a kid and my mother made Brussels' sprouts (or anything cabbage-related) I'd avoid the smell by staying in my room with the door closed. Self-imposed exile was the lesser evi ... More >>

Lemon-Ricotta Fritters with Lemon Curd: Girl Scout Cookie Showdown

What better use for an extra case of Girl Scout cookies than a Chow Bella Showdown? In years past we've challenged our contributors to make something delicious out of Thin Mints and Trefoils. This time: Savannah Smiles. Stay tuned for more recipes and a decision from our "judge," web ... More >>

Tom's Tavern Fumbles After Renovation

A High School Kid's Guide to Cooking for Your Girlfriend on Valentine's Day

Jayson Swearington​Editor's Note: The original headline on this post was "The Manly Man's Guide to Cooking for Your Woman," but since our intern Jayson Swearington is still in high school, that didn't feel quite right. And yet you'll likely agree after reading this post about making chicken pi ... More >>

Menu Sneak Peek: The Uprooted Kitchen Southwestern Kale Salad

Earlier this week we mentioned that The Uprooted Kitchen, a vegetarian food truck getting ready to start serving around town, plans to reveal its menu of salad bowls sometime in the near future. These bowls won't be your standard lettuce with dressing B.S. They're loading them up with hearty greens, ... More >>

Tea Light Cafe is Golden For Under $10

An outsider's opinion will tell you that the most essential building block to good Vietnamese pho is in the broth, but the insiders tasked with assembling the traditional brew of steeped herbs and bone morrow will take it a step further. They'll tell you it's like the keystone to building a bridge - ... More >>

Chef Peter Deruvo's Grilled Crostini with "Cecamariti"

Cuoco Pazzo ​This week we sat down to talk with Chef Peter Deruvo of Cuoco Pazzo in Scottsdale. He may have said, "there's no such thing as Italian food," but Chef Deruvo's Roman-style feasts have been creating a buzz in the food community since the restauraunt opened in late 2011. Today, we've go ... More >>

8 Foods to Fry Up for Hanukkah

From left: Jackie Mercandetti,loloschickenandwaffles.com, epicurious.com, foodnetwork.com​The first night of Hanukkah is history, meaning that by now you've probably fried up your fair share of latkes -- or, if you're like me, narrowly avoided a fist fight at Trader Joe's yesterday afternoo ... More >>

A Merry Vegan Christmas Menu from Chakra 4, Green, and Pomegranate Café

Still don't know what you're making for your holiday table? These three recipes from local chefs and restaurateurs will get you started: Chakra 4's Red & Green Holiday Salad, Green's Lemongrass "Chicken," and Pomegranate Café's Vegan English Toffee.

Pearl Sushi Lounge: Chic Ambiance and (Mostly) Flashy Food in Scottsdale

Tamales 101: 10 Tips from a First-Time Holiday Tamale Maker

​For some, the Holy Grail of Holiday Cooking is the croquembouche. For others, it's the perfect latke or maybe the whole turkey-and-fixin's line-up. But tamales have always topped my holiday bucket list. Maybe because "Tamale Day" has long been described by friends in hushed tones -- romant ... More >>