Matt Carter

West of Western Feeds Downtown

Is cuisine an artform?

Get ready for West of Western

A Handful of New Restaurants Open in Scottsdale

Second Helpings

The Mission Adds Mexican Cuisine to Old Town Scottsdale's Menu

Local Celeb Chefs Bail On Their Own Restaurants for V-Day

All right, I'm having fun with headlines. But I couldn't help but notice how many local "celebrity" chefs are listed in the "all-star" lineup of a charity event that just so happens to take place on Valentine's night -- one of the busiest nights of the year for most restaurants. It's a night wh ... More >>

Chef Matt Carter Takes Over Former Fate Restaurant

There's been talk for quite a long time that chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission has had his eye on downtown -- particularly around Roosevelt Row. Well, he finally made his move. Carter's in Uruguay right now, says Brian Raab at The Mission, but before he left, he signed a leas ... More >>

March 26 In Blogs: Pickaxes, Elton John, Downtown Sushi 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: Speed Camera Pickax Attacker Gets Probation and Fine Governor Brewer's ... More >>

Too Sexy for My Soufflé

Local Chefs hate Zinc Bistro, so you know it's gonna be good.

Lots of New Local Eateries in the Works

AZCentral's list of 20 new restaurants scheduled to open by the end of the year has suddenly been changed to 15 since the story was posted yesterday. Not hard to figure out which five are now missing -- it's the restaurants on Jackson that Bernie Kantak is planning. Should we rea ... More >>

Christopher Gross' Chef's Tour: A Recap

Sloane BurwellJames Porter gets Aaron May's autograph. After this weekend, it's time to replace "party like a rockstar" with "drink like a chef." Friday night is a bit of a blur for most (if not all) of the participants in a Chef's Tour of central downtown Phoenix restaurants (yes, and bars) dreamed ... More >>

Now Open Downtown: Nine 05

​After a hiatus for renovations and development of a totally new menu, the transformation of Nine 05 (from the restaurant formerly known as Fate) is complete. The restaurant opened last night. Executive chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission, joined by chef Jay Bogsinske, has creat ... 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 >>

Cafe: Nine 05

​If there's one thing missing from our monthly outing to First Friday it's blueberry mochi cake. Don't get us wrong. We like street-side brats and popcorn as much as the next guy, but even once in a while we want to class it up. Seems Matt Carter of Nine 05 feels the same way. Food Critic Mi ... More >>

CRAVE Arizona is Perfectly Balanced Gluttony

​Celebrity chefs. Blind wine tasting contests. Food samples from dozens of Valley restaurants. Only two weeks after Scottsdale's Dine Out With the Chefs event, culinary afficianados from across the Valley loosened their belts for another huge epicurean event: CRAVE Arizona ... More >>

Thomas Keller Comes to Kierland

sloane burwell​ Cookbook fans and foodies alike crowded Sur La Table at Kierland Commons Wednesday afternoon as more than 200 people waited in line to meet award winning chef Thomas Keller, who was on hand to sign his new cookbook, Ad Hoc At Home. Keller is famous for his meticulou ... More >>

Nine 05 Chefs Matt Carter and Jay Bogsinske Demo New Dish

Jay Bogsinske (left) and Matt Carter of downtown's Nine 05. ​This past weekend, we popped by Scottsdale's Old Town Farmers' Market to see what they're up to lately. If you haven't been there this season, Viking now sponsors a weekly chef's demo in a white tent loaded up with a teensy m ... More >>

Battle of the Dumplings: Moira vs. Nine05

Let me guess: when you're looking for comfort food, Asian cuisine doesn't exactly pop to the top of the list. While yummy, sushi lacks the warm, tummy-nurturing sensation that comes with mac n' cheese or Aunt Sally's meatloaf. But there are a few Asian dishes that easily calm frazzled ... 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 >>

Farewell to Nine 05 and Everything Else Planned for That Corner

​Today would be a gorgeous day to eat some spring rolls and drink sake on the front patio of Nine 05, but sadly, it's too late. The nine-month-old restaurant has closed. Servicemen were removing equipment when I stopped by, and the place was deserted. The kitchen appears to be in a state of ... 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 >>

Former Nine 05 Chef Hired at District American Kitchen

Jay Bogsinske (pictured at left with Matt Carter) is a familiar face from the former Nine 05.​On the heels of chef Nathan Crouser's recent departure, District American Kitchen has hired Jay Bogsinske as its new chef de cuisine. Yesterday was his first day on the job. Before coming to t ... More >>

New Restaurant Concept Coming to Former Nine 05 Space

​Downtown's momentum took a hit when chef Matt Carter's Asian fusion spot Nine 05 abruptly closed its doors three months ago, but soon the corner of 4th Street and Garfield will show signs of life again. Fez owner Mark Howard tells me he's working on a "very fun" new restaurant tha ... More >>

Petite Maison Hosts Chef Matt Carter Tonight

​Petite Maison created plenty of buzz when it launched its late-night "Staff Meal" (offered from 10 p.m. to midnight, Thursday through Saturday) and now the cozy French country spot in Old Town is mixing things up by welcoming guest chefs into chef James Porter's kitchen. Tonight, chef M ... More >>

Bliss and ReBar Host Grand Opening Tonight

photos by Jessica VanZalen ​ In with the new -- Downtown hot spots Fate/Nine05 shut down in March leaving plenty of room for what's now Bliss and ReBar. (No word on whatever happened with Nine05's chef-owner Matt Carter and his plans for other projects on the corner of Fourth Street and Garfie ... More >>

Foodie Fight 2 Brings Out Local Luminaries This Saturday

​Several months ago, foodie-about-town and marketing/PR agency owner Ty Largo (shown at left) challenged his friend and fellow food geek/blogger Joel LaTondress (shown below, at right, he's also known as the Yelper who incited ABC Baking Co. owner Amy Bouzaglo's epic tangent, which got Chow B ... More >>

Dine Out with the Chefs Sunday Oct. 3

Start stretching out your stomach and saving up your allotted calorie intake. You'll want to try a little bit of everything from more than 20 Valley chefs at the fifth annual Dine Out with the Chefs 4 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3.

Luis Millan of Canteen Modern Tequila Bar, Part Two

Chef Luis Millan of Canteen Modern Tequila Bar fuses together his Mexican heritage, French cooking techniques, Spanish food adoration and Arizona kitchen experience to create really interesting dishes with international flair.

Canteen Modern Tequila Makes Mill Ave a Grown-Up Destination

Chef Luis Millan of Canteen Modern Tequila Bar fuses together his Mexican heritage, French cooking techniques, Spanish food adoration and Arizona kitchen experience to create really interesting dishes with international flair.

Alex Padilla of Taberna, Part Two

Keyon Fareghi​Yesterday we spoke with Alex Padilla of Taberna Mexicana and today our conversation continues... Honduran-born Padilla is notably health-conscious -- nothing on Taberna's menu is smothered in cheese and rice and beans are not automatic. Padilla tells us he is ap ... More >>

Matt Carter of The Mission and Zinc Bistro

Keyon Fareghi​For Chef Matt Carter, a trip across Scottsdale means a journey from France to Spain -- and back again. Now, that's a worldly guy. The Mission  in Old Town Scottsdale offers margaritas and twinkly lights alongside the Spanish cuisine, while Kierland Comm ... 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 >>

Beau MacMillan, Eddie Matney Defect to Monti's La Casa Vieja (For a Day)

Monti's La Casa Vieja​What happens when an executive chef loses the top-of-the-line stainless steel commercial appliances, professional tools and cache of underlings that he's used to? Either he rises like cream to prove he's got culinary game without the fancy extras, or he sinks like poached egg ... More >>

Final Meditations on the Phoenix Food Scene from Michele Laudig

Monti's La Casa Vieja​What happens when an executive chef loses the top-of-the-line stainless steel commercial appliances, professional tools and cache of underlings that he's used to? Either he rises like cream to prove he's got culinary game without the fancy extras, or he sinks like poached egg ... More >>

Rain or Shine, Scottsdale Culinary Festival Heavy on the Pour

We did not love Macayo's, despite Scottsdale Culinary Festival's subliminal marketing ploy. ​Another year of Scottsdale Culinary Festival events has come and gone. We sampled the fare at the 33rd Annual Great Arizona Picnic, watched the wine flow at Cooks & Corks, and took the opportuni ... More >>

Matt Carter Guest Chef's Tonight at Monti's and Pretzel Dogs in Today's Eater's Digest

Fake Ginger​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Culinary Masters Part ThreeIt started with Eddie Matney back in February. In March Beau MacMillan gave it a go. Now it's Matt Carter's turn. Tonight, Don't miss NY Times-acclaimed chef Matt Ca ... More >>

Flavors of Phoenix 2011 and Chicken Pizza in Today's Eater's Digest

bunsinmyoven.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Flavors of Phoenix 2011Get your wallets out for this event. The 20th Annual Flavors of Phoenix is happening this Thursday. Thirty of the Valley's top chefs, including Aaron May, Beau Mac ... More >>

"Dine Out with the Chefs" Event Adds Bernie Kantak, Charlene Badman, and Aaron May

Bernie Kantak of Citizen Public House will be on hand at this year's event.​The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is stepping up its game this year for its sixth annual, "Dine Out With the Chefs," one of the Valley's most exclusive culinary events where guests get to mingle with local ... More >>

Big Earl's BBQ Fills Opening Left by Morales with Ex-Mission Chef

Jackie Mercandetti​Looks like Big Earl's BBQ, chef James Porter's home of "old school 'Q" in Old Town Scottsdale has found a replacement for Tony Morales, their pitmaster since January who left last week to focus on Desert Smoke BBQ, his business of signature sauces and spice rubs. Chef James ... More >>

Chef James Fox of Big Earl's BBQ

Lauren Saria ​Chef Talk this week takes us to Old Town Scottsdale where we'll be chatting with James Fox from Big Earl's BBQ. If you don't already know, Big Earl's BBQ is Chef James Porter's way of satisfying ourneed for down-home cooking. Fox joined Big Earl's team just a few months ago af ... More >>

Bonfire Grill and Bar: All That Is Good About What Happens When Meat Meets Flame

Lauren Saria ​Chef Talk this week takes us to Old Town Scottsdale where we'll be chatting with James Fox from Big Earl's BBQ. If you don't already know, Big Earl's BBQ is Chef James Porter's way of satisfying ourneed for down-home cooking. Fox joined Big Earl's team just a few months ago af ... More >>

Cafe: Bonfire Grill and Bar

Jackie Mercandetti​Are you a meat lover? If you are, you can thank chef Matt Carter for the wood-fired cuisine at Bonfire Grill in Scottsdale. Carter consulted on Bonfire's menu, creating a selection of American dishes with hints of the extravagant, heavy on the skewers, and approachable eno ... More >>

Valley Chefs Demonstrate How Not to Saber a Champagne Bottle

Chefs Matt Carter, Aaron May, James Porter, Christopher Gross, and Beau MacMillan give it their best sabers.​Looks as if a few notable Valley chefs may have benefited from our post last week on sabrage, the name given to the practice of opening a champagne bottle with a sword. The aftermath.& ... More >>

CLOSED: Bonfire Grill and Bar

​What the skewer? Bonfire Grill and Bar, Old Town Scottsdale's stylish restaurant of American wood-fired cuisine at 7210 East 2nd Street has been shuttered. Opened in March of last year where Furio used to be, Bonfire boasted a menu designed by chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission. ... More >>