Matt Pool

Good Gravy! Welcome Diner in Downtown Phoenix Serves Up Southern Charm

Jacques Qualin of J&G Steakhouse on Head Cheese, Being an Apprentice, and Daniel Boulud

Jacques Qualin J&G Steakhouse The Phoenician Resort 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale 480-214-8000, jgsteakhousescottsdale.com See also: -- Matt Pool on Chris Bianco, Andreoli Italian Grocer, and Phoenix as a Food Town -- Chef Kevin Binkley a Finalist for James Beard Award This is part one of ... More >>

Top Five Phoenix Food Stories of the Week: St. Patrick's Day Edition

Every week, there's a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you're like most people, you probably just don't have the time to get to all of it. So, here's a recap of some of the top stories from the week that you may have missed.

Matt Pool On Chris Bianco, Andreoli Italian Grocer and Phoenix as a Food Town

Matt Pool Matt's Big Breakfast 825 N. 1st Street, Phoenix 602-254-1074, mattsbigbreakfast.com Giant Coffee 1437 N. 1st Street, Phoenix 602-396-7215 See also: -- Chili Challenge: TexAZ Grill vs. Matt's Big Breakfast -- Matt's Big Breakfast: New, Bigger Location Now Open This is part one of my i ... More >>

Tastemaker No. 1

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 >>

Tastemaker No. 3

Top Five Phoenix Food Stories of the Week

Every week, there's a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you're like most people, you probably just don't have the time to get to all of it. It's kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won't all fit in your mouth ... or in this ca ... More >>

CLOSED: The Roosevelt Tavern

See also: Matt's Big Breakfast: New, Bigger Location Now Open Chef and restaurateur Matt Pool's been a busy man lately. Last week, the chef-owner of Matt's Big Breakfast, the popular breakfast and lunch spot in Central Phoenix, opened the restaurant's new and bigger location a few doors north of ... More >>

Pie Social 2011 Winners Announced

​Don't know about you, but we're still on a sugar high after the second annual Chow Bella/Roosevelt Row Pie Social. And with good cause. Hundreds of pies were consumed Saturday afternoon in downtown Phoenix, as some of the best chefs in town squared off in an extraordinary display ... More >>

Five Favorite Breakfast Joints in Phoenix

http://www.etsy.com/shop/rebeccaheartsny Mom always said breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and who are we to argue? Whether you're just waking up or never went to sleep, a big plate of something delicious is vital -- and we're full of ideas about where to get it. Here are Chow ... More >>

CNN's "Phoenix in Five Stops" Highlights The Usual Suspects

Matt Pool of Matt's Big Breakfast. What about sending visitors to The Roosevelt or Giant Coffee? ​If you live here, none of CNN travel reporter Brendan Newnam's restaurant recommendations will come as a surprise -- FnB, Matt's Big Breakfast, Rita's Tacos, Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe. Yadd ... More >>

Eat Out in Phoenix and Support Japan Disaster Relief

​Eating out is no guilty pleasure when it's for a good cause. And what better cause than the tragic trifecta of catastrophes in Japan? Phoenix area restaurants are supporting disaster relief efforts and you can help by opening your mouth. Follow the jump for some prime spots to dine and don ... More >>

Giant Coffee Ditches Cash-Only Payment Policy

Chrystall Kanyuck ​Is it a big deal if a coffee shop doesn't accept plastic? Perhaps it shouldn't be, but when the cafe is in CenPho (where there's plenty of stylish competition, and people take their hangouts very seriously) and the java joint happens to be owned by Matt and Erenia Pool ( ... More >>

Closed for Business: Verde

​Verde turned out to be the little Mexican restaurant that couldn't. Couldn't make it for more than seven months, that is. Sadly, Joseph Aguayo and Matt Avila's affordable Downtown eatery, where handmade tortillas were the focus, closed Sunday. Word on the streets is that they weren't ... More >>

Will Giant Coffee's Cash-Only Philosophy Work?

Photo by Chrystall Kanyuck ​ You read the headline right. Giant Coffee, Central Phoenix's newest gourmet coffee house, doesn't take plastic. And that's caused a bit of a stir on Yelp and among foodies around town. Owner Matt Pool doesn't mind.   "I think using a debi ... More >>

72: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup at The Roosevelt

​Hungry yet? We're working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella's 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley -- in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, J ... More >>

Giant Coffee Opens Alongside Bunky Boutique

​There was a lot going on this weekend, but one of the biggest buzz-creators was Saturday's long-awaited opening of Giant Coffee, the third downtown hangout created by Matt and Erenia Pool of Matt's Big Breakfast and The Roosevelt. Saturday's grand opening party was held in conjunction with t ... More >>

Outer Bounds of Sound 12/13 At Revolver Records

​"The music in there is terrible," says a customer to Revolver Records co-owner Steve Zimmerman, referring to the warbling tones of saxophonist Lol Coxhill  spinning on the turntable as doom-metal one man band Via Vengeance sets up.  The bands gathered to perform at the record store's Su ... More >>

Food Network Star Guy Fieri Rock n' Rolls into Town

Food Network star Guy Fieri is taking his show -- and his rock and roll attitude -- on the road with The Guy Fieri Road Show, a 21-city tour that combines Guy's love of music and his passion for food. The tour will hit the Mesa Arts Center on Friday, December 18, with tickets ran ... More >>

Lots Going on Downtown This Weekend . . .

​This week's Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, taking place downtown, seems to have spawned all kinds of fun activities planned for this weekend. On Friday night from 6 to 10 p.m., the free Green Streets Festival will take over Roosevelt Street between 4th and ... More >>

Friday: Butter Burger Night at Welcome Diner

​Fans of the Big Butter Burger at Matt's Big Breakfast can rejoice.   This Friday night, Matt and Ernie Pool's homage to the all-American classic will be the featured flavor of the week at Welcome Diner, as owner Sloane McFarland continues his series of weekly culinary one-off ... More >>

Coming Soon: Giant Coffee

​One of the neatest things I saw when I was out and about on First Friday wasn't actually a painting or a photograph, although you could call it a work of art. Giant Coffee isn't open just yet, but Matt and Ernie Pool of Matt's Big Breakfast (get it?) opened up their new coffee shop fo ... More >>

All Aboard for the Best Eateries Along the Light Rail

Food PHX

Virgin Territory

Bird Alert

The feathered fiend demands travel records from Sheriff Joe, decries Prop 100 hooey, and hangs with some art-geek meshuggenehs

Dueling Mormons

Marshal Jeff Flake goes toe-to-toe with Russell Pearce, and a former New Times staffer's popped for armed robbery

Matt's Big Hassle

Three years ago, Mayor-elect Phil Gordon promised to make it easier for small businesses to renovate old buildings. But the problems faced by one indie restaurateur show that, if anything, it's harder than ever

Morning Ritual

Meet Cute

Dueling luncheonettes