Main Dish Recipes

Eric Schaefer's Phlegm-y Thanksgiving and His Turkey Recipe

Luster Kaboom​This year we're giving thanks to some of our favorite writers for sharing tales of Thanksgiving woes -- and joys. Today our typically acerbic friend Eric Schaefer shares a heart-warming story of friendship. Really. My favorite Thanksgiving memory doesn't involv ... More >>

In Season: Green Chile Cheeseburgers with Tomato

Jennifer WoodsWhy, yes, there are sweet potato chips on that plate. Dinner took me forever because of them, but it was tasty.​Lately, in this In Season 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 ... More >>

Whole Foods Ultimate Food Fight, Round 2: Stuffed

Carol Blonder secret ingredients​ Thursday night, Whole Foods Scottsdale looked like a mini set from a Food Network challenge as five regional WF chefs, including hometown favorite (with his own cheering section) Nathan Hirsch, calmly competed in Round Two of the market's Ultimate Food Figh ... More >>

In Season: Pizza-Oven-Style Pizza with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Topped with Arugula Salad

Jennifer Woods​Lately, in this In Season 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 making a fresh pizza sauce with a tomato and topping it with dressed arugula.

Chef David Hall's Braised Beef in Cabernet Sauvignon

​ This week we've been chatting with personal chef David Hall of Thyme for a Chef. Today he's sharing his recipe for Braised Beef in Cabernet Sauvignon. Braised Beef in Cabernet Sauvignon Serves six Ingredients: 2 tablespoons, olive oil, divided 2 pounds, beef chuck roast, lean, boneless, cut ... More >>

Poblano May Have Difficulty Competing with Neighborhood Staples

Chef James Fox's Braised Pork Belly

Lauren Saria Braised Pork Belly with Peach Chutney from Big Earl's BBQ​We've been talking with Chef James Fox this week, and today he's going to share one of his favorite recipes from the Big Earl's BBQ menu. Is there any one thing you've changed on the menu that you feel is distinctly "you"? D ... More >>

Chef James Fox of Big Earl's BBQ, Part Two

Yesterday we shared the first half of our talk with Chef James Fox of Big Earl's BBQ in Old Town Scottsdale. Today, we're talking smoke and the importance of a little salt and pepper. Lauren Saria ​What changes have you made since being at Big Earl's? We used to have sausage balls, but I thought ... More >>

Peruvian Jalea Fight: Inka Fest vs Contigo Peru

Tedd Roundy​Who doesn't love seafood in the summer? Especially if you have a summer love to share it with. We're pretty sure that same thought crossed the minds of Peruvians when they started serving up Jalea (a seafood platter commonly meant to serve two). There are several Peruvian plac ... More >>

Pho Ga from Da Vang

Ando Muneno Da Vang's Pho Ga. ​ ​Tired of the same old tired orange chicken and California rolls? Want to venture beyond the standard suburbian-stale take-out? Here comes Chop PHX, with the Valley's rarer Asian offerings. This Week: Pho Ga (Vietnamese Rice Noodle Chicken Soup) from D ... More >>

Making Sausage with the Morrow Brothers of Caves & Ives

Kholood Eid​ In the kitchen with: Cary and Ivan Morrow, owners of Cave & Ives Portico Grill Making: Sausages Cary Morrow's kitchen in his Phoenix home is chic, modern-looking (complete with a stainless steel fridge, dark wooden cabinets and a marble tile counter top) and filled with fa ... More >>

Build a Better Veggie "Burger"

holycowvegan​ There are two reasons veggie burgers get a bad rap. The first is the name. After all, a good burger is typically defined as meaty, juicy and smoky. A good veggie burder doesn't need to be any of that. Then there is the frozen variety of garden-veggie burgers; the cooked contents ne ... More >>

Ravioli Grapple: Pizza a Metro vs VinciTorio's Restaurant

countlesscalories.com​Pocket filled pasta pillows? Yes, please. Stuffed pastas come in many forms with the flavors and sauces limited only by one's imagination. An all-time favorite for us: ravioli. We're not talking about the popularized canned stuff by Chef Boyardee. We want the clou ... More >>

Wahsun Restaurant's Mouthwatering Chinese Food Doesn't Bother with Being Fancy

Hanna Gabrielsson's Summer Salmon Skewer

Hanna GabrielssonLemon, olive oil and pink pepper marinated salmon skewer with mango salsa and Greek salad.​This week we met Hanna Gabrielsson, the woman behind the cute and friendly Scandinavian bistro, Beaver Choice. She shared her life story, opera preferences, and today, a recipe for one of h ... More >>

The Great Burger Taste Test: Is BBQ Really Better?

Paying homage to the King of the Grill.​With Father's Day coming up this Sunday, everyone is focusing on what meats to round up for the inevitable Sunday cookout. Because even though it's Dad's special day, he inexplicably prefers to stay home and chuck some ground chuck onto the faithful ba ... More >>

Lisa G's Chicken Juno

Maya Dukmasova Memorial Day BBQ at Arcadia Marketplace​Yesterday and Tuesday, Chef Lisa G shared words of wisdom and tricks of her trade. Today, she gives us a cherished family recipe for the Chicken Juno Sandwich, an old favorite from the days of her namesake cafe and bar. Background: Our ... More >>

Vegetarian Street Food Cooking Class Tonight at Andy Food

courtesy of Sandy Liberman Green Chili Lentils Ole Taco​ "I will no longer eat anything that has a face!" proclaims your teenager. For Sunday night dinner-your sibling is bringing an "oh-by the way they are vegetarian" date. Your book club has finally gotten around to reading Michael Pollan ... More >>

Bitter Leafy Greens

Carol Blonderleafy greens​ When I first moved to the South and discovered the home style cooking of a meat and three, it cracked me up (and not in a ha-ha way) that the side vegetable choices were mac-n-cheese, creamed corn, squash casserole, mashed potatoes, and collard or turnip greens. The gr ... More >>

Lakhana In's Lok Lak Beef

Keyon Fareghi ​We finished our conversation with Lakhana In of Sekong By Night yesterday by looking over the menu and talking about different entrees. The Lok Lak Beef is the only one that bears the chef's name so far. In got just as excited as we did, when she got up to go back into t ... More >>

In Season: Beets

Whether you're a CSA devotee, a farmers' market weekender or consider ketchup aveg, we'll bring you fresh inspiration for how to prepare our local produce. This week's harvest: Beets Jennifer Woods​Beets are very sensual. They are sweet, earthy, dirty, hard when raw, tender when cooked and j ... 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 >>

Fresh Spring Rolls

Carol Blonder fresh spring rolls​ Leafy lettuces and fresh herbs are more than just salad fixin's. Roll them up, toss in some protein, and you've got a wrap. At the Asian market, the sight of fresh Thai basil, mint and cilantro puts us in the mood for fresh spring rolls on Meatless Monday. ... More >>

FnB's Spring Menu and Crispy Onion Rings in Today's Eater's Digest

Pink Parsley ​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Springtime at FnBPavle Millic and Chef Charleen Badman have done it again. We just got a glimpse at Scottsdale restaurant FnB's latest menu and it sounds enchanting. Highlights of the spring menu ... More >>

How To Cook In Parchment

Carol Blonder en papillote​This week's question: How and what to cook in parchment paper? Forming a tightly sealed packet to hold and cook food is the perfect method for steaming or moist heat cooking. Steam is created inside the packet from an outside heat source and the natural moisture ... More >>

Milanesa de Res: Thin-cut, Crispy Beef from La Salsita

Flickr- amanky Pan-fried steak never looked so pretty: Milanesa de res con limon.​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 Mexican finds in the val ... More >>

Patrick Boll's Dos Equis Battered Fish Tostadas

Keyon Fareghi​ Yesterday we finished chatting up Patrick Boll of The Spotted Donkey Cantina ii and today he will guide us in putting together a super simple fish tostada. With the dog days of summer just nearly here, lighter fare incorporating fish just sounds all the more appetizing. This dish f ... More >>

Prado's Peter DeRuvo Rolls Out Tapas Menu Today

Carol BlonderPeter DeRuvo The best seat in this house is at the copper, wood and granite tapas bar facing Prado's wood-fired oven. The view is of chef de cuisine Peter DeRuvo and his "pickle master," Jay, working the oven, firing up the food, and finishing the plates. The chef says he is "having fu ... More >>

Christopher Nicosia's Black Fettucine with Rock Shrimp

Keyon Fareghi​ Our chat with Chef Christopher Nicosia of Sassi concluded yesterday with him telling us how the best compliment he has ever received was that from a patron claiming Nicosia's food was better than his own mother's. The recipe he is showing us today, however, is something mom pr ... More >>

Emilio Morales' Kung Pao Scallops

Keyon Fareghi​We chatted yesterday with Emilio Morales of Sunshine Moon Peking Pub about everything from the family of 10 he grew up in to a mutual distaste for Andrew Zimmern. He shows us today how to make kung pao scallops. As Morales warned us in part one on Tuesday, Asian food seems dece ... 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 >>

Portobello Mushroom "Burger" with sautéed onion and Gorgonzola

Carol BlonderPortobello Mushroom Burger with oven baked "fries"​ There are days, even meatless days, when the craving for a burger takes over. Portobello mushrooms are the perfect replacement for a beef patty along with custom toppings (raw or sautéed onions, avocado, fresh tomatoes, fresh gree ... More >>

Matt Carter's Black Cod with Tomato Nage

  Keyon Fareghi​Our chat with Matt Carter ended yesterday with him explaining a little about why The Mission is different from other Latin restaurants in the area. The proof may not be in the pudding, but in the black cod dish that he will show us how to prepare tod ... More >>

Alex Padilla's Cochinita Pibil

  Keyon Fareghi ​After getting to know Alex Padilla of Taberna Mexicana, he let us in on the recipe for his favorite menu item, Cochinita Pibil, which is a Yucatan pork stew baked in a banana leaf and traditionally served with fried plantains, Mexican crema, pickled red onions, an ... More >>

Burn, Baby, Burn! Smokin' Hot Super Bowl Sliders

  ​The Super Bowl is next Sunday and fans are already loading up their carts with charcoal, BBQ sauce and various ground, sliced, chopped and pre-formed meats at my local market. Good thing my wedding anniversary is this weekend -- and my husband doesn' ... More >>

How to Use a Meat Thermometer

This week, common post-holiday-cooking-frenzy questions: Where do I place a meat thermometer in my turkey? And how do I use a meat thermometer? ​Use a meat thermometer to test cooked food for doneness. The FDA guidelines for cooking temperature are listed to keep food safe from bacteria. The t ... More >>

In Season: Kohlrabi

Whether you're a CSA devotee, a farmers' market weekender or consider ketchup a veg, we'll teach you everything there is to know about local produce. Starting this week, Jennifer Woods will bring you fresh inspiration for how to prepare locally grown produce in a new weekly series called: In Season ... More >>

Brian Peterson's Arctic Char

Courtesy of Chef Brian Peterson​Yesterday, we spoke with Chef Brian Peterson of Cork and the upcoming BLD restaurant in Chandler. Today, he shares a delectable recipe for Arctic Char with Roasted Cauliflower, Fingerling Potatoes, Baby Carrots and Butternut Squash Puree. It's a mouthful ... 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 >>

Low and Slow with Posole Soul: Dinner and A Movie

Michelle Martinez Chunks of Pork, Hominy, and Pinto Beans make this a hearty soup.​ Staying in? We've got you covered -- both on the culinary and entertainment fronts. Now presenting Dinner and a Movie -- a guide to do a do it yourself evening of food and film. Now that the hustle of the ho ... More >>

Michael DeMaria's Cinnamon Scented Duck

  Courtesy of Chef Michael DeMaria​Yesterday, we talked to Chef Michael DeMaria of Heirloom and M Catering. Today, he shows us how to prepare a delicious duck entree and accompanying side dishes from Heirloom's farm-to-table, seasonal menu. It will take a little practice to get the dis ... More >>

Brit Grit and Pub Grub: Dinner and a Movie

Candied bacon.​ Staying in? We've got you covered -- both on the culinary and entertainment fronts. Now presenting Dinner and a Movie -- a guide to do a do it yourself evening of food and film. Winter in the desert can get cold and gray. More people are wearing black sweaters, jean ... More >>

Easy Roast Chicken

Illustration by Cyndi Coon​ If you are like everyone else, you are spending this first week of the new year cleaning and organizing. This can be hard work and leave you feeling too tired to make dinner. This roast chicken recipe is even easier then ordering take out. It is also much cheaper when y ... More >>

Mosh Potatoes: A Heavy Metal Cookbook That Rocks

​There's a new heavy metal cookbook in stores called Mosh Potatoes (Atria Paperback), and even if you're not a headbanger, you'll find something to appreciate in this clever tome. Where else could you ever find recipes for things like "Hot Rod Penis Loaf" (courtesy of Gen from Genitorturers) ... More >>

New Year's Eve Guide 2010

Andrea Volpi's Pappardella Bolognese

Courtesy of Local Bistro​Chef Andrea Volpi of Local Bistro learned to cook at an early age, watching his mother in the kitchen and helping her with fresh, simple recipes like this delicious Italian Bolognese sauce. Mangia!   Pappardella Bolognese What you'll need: ... 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 >>

Taberna Mexicana in Scottsdale

Erica O'Neil The Mar y Tierra at Taberna, filet mignon and grilled shrimp over roasted potatoes and topped with a sea urchin crema. ​Scottsdale Seville welcomed a new tenant last month, with the opening of Taberna Mexicana. Partners Mark Weissberg, Tim Arnold and Chris Harter launched this ... More >>

Top Chef All Stars Season 8, Episode 1 Recap (Season Premiere): It Shoulda Been Me!

We came so close!​Unpack those friggin' knives, yo! The so-close finalists from the past seven seasons of Top Chef ain't playin' this time around, as they compete to win the grand prize of $200,000 on Top Chef All Stars. Redemption? Saving face? Insults? How can this not be good TV? The premie ... More >>

Yichao Wang, What Are You Eating?

Yichao Wang​Yichao Wang The artistic director of CloPet Theatr can be seen performing with Jester'Z improv this December and January What'd you eat for dinner last night? I ate at Hong Kong Gormet Buffet in Ahwatukee. Delicious though a bit pricey--but lots of yummy seafood, and great sushi as w ... More >>