Payton Curry

Suds (Mostly) Trump the Grub at Brat Haus

At Scottsdale's Brat Haüs, the Food Complements the Beer, Not the Other Way Around

Brat Haüs is the Scottsdale version of a beer hall: clean, comfortable, and with an outdoor area peppered with picnic tables, potted plants, and strings of bistro lights that usually fills up before the two, tiny indoor spaces do. See also: The Secret Is Out on New India Bazaar & Cuisine and Milag ... More >>

Payton Curry Consults for Starfire Golf Club, Bringing Farm-to-Table Philosophy to Golf Course Fare

Payton Curry is still making pickles and stuffing sausages at Brat Haus, but his consulting business called Curryosity took on a new client a few months back, and now the fruits of Curry's labor will be unveiled. See also: -- Payton Curry Dishes on Marketing Bullshit and the Futility of Eating Kal ... More >>

Chocolate-dipped Bacon S'mores & Coconut Cake at Beckett's Table

When you want unpretentious yet high-end modern American fare, supposedly the place to go in town is Beckett's Table. Not only does the restaurant boast that great reputation, but it's also well-known for one particular dessert: chocolate-dipped bacon s'mores. Countless people have told me to try th ... More >>

Brat Haüs: It's Brats and Beer, But Very Good Brats and Beer

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. 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 item ... More >>

Python Bratwurst and Beer, Plenty of Beer, at Brat Haus "Haus Party"

See also:Payton Curry Dishes on Marketing Bullshit and the Futility of Eating Kale in the Summer See also: Payton Curry Dishes on the Maricopa County Health Department and His Vision for Brat Haus See also: Here's a Sneak Peek at Payton Curry's Menu for Brat Haus Hang on to your horses, suds guzzle ... More >>

Payton Curry Dishes on Marketing Bullshit and the Futility of Eating Kale in the Summer

This is part one of my interview with Payton Curry, chef and co-owner of Brat Haus, scheduled to open July 2. Come back on Tuesday for part two. Payton Curry Brat Haus 3622 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 602-738-1274 With his tousled curls, blue eyes, and rosy complexion, Payton Curry looks a ch ... More >>

Here's a Sneak Peek at Payton Curry's Menu for Brat Haus

With a "coming soon" announcement first reported in January, Brat Haus, an artisan sausage and craft beer concept from restaurateur Dave Andrea (formerly with Old Town Tortilla Factory, Wild Noodles, and Fat Slim's BBQ), has been keeping diners' curiosities fed with several events and social media u ... More >>

Five Awkward Moments in the Phoenix Food Scene, 2011

  ​Well, folks, 2011 has come and (just about) gone and we're left to chew the fat. It was a year filled with great new restaurants and some fun moments -- and some awkward ones, too. Let's look back on a few high low points in what's now Phoenix food history.     ... More >>

The Desert Botanical Garden Gets a New Restaurant and Chef Payton Curry

​paytoncurry.comChef Payton Curry​Like a present inside of a present, the Valley's getting two amazing announcements for the holidays this year. The Republic reports the Desert Botanical Garden is opening a full-fledged restaurant with a focus on local fare and the chef leading the cuis ... More >>

Payton Curry Says Caffe Boa's Challenge is High Turnover, Not His Name -- Explains Why He Left Tempe Restaurant

paytoncurry.com​Last week, Caffe Boa owner Jay Wisniewski said local celebu-chef Payton Curry, Caffe Boa's executive chef for a year and a half, was "getting expensive" after business started to decline at the Tempe location -- and that there was a "backlash" among diners who, in addition to ... More >>

Caffe Boa Owner Jay Wisniewski Says, "You Don't Need a Big-Name Chef to Have a Great Restaurant"

Owners Jay and Christine Wisniewski of Caffe Boa​Update: After this piece was published, Wisniewski called to clarify that Payton Curry wasn't overpaid, but was getting expensive. Charleen Badman, Bernie Kantak, Silvana Salcido Esparza -- who needs 'em? Jay Wisniewski, owner of Caffe Boa, th ... More >>

New Chef Competition Show for Bravo Now Casting: Will Valley Chefs Represent?

Attention Valley chefs: Time to pull out the can of whoop-ass for a potential new TV series.​Payton Curry, step it up. Bernie Kantak, I'm callin' you out. Silvana Salcido Esparza, time to kick some ass. Seems as if the producers of the Emmy award-winning Top Chef are putting together a potent ... More >>

Follow Friday: Three Phoenix Chefs You Need to Follow on Twitter

briansolis.com​Have you ever walked into a restaurant, eaten a completely fantastic meal (or a really lousy one, for that matter) and wondered what kind of person made it?  What kind of chef are they? Do they have a sense of humor, would they give you cooking tips, or is that person a ... More >>

Payton Curry, What Are You Listening To?

Payton Curry​Payton J. CurryThe chef recently launched a pop-up concept at the Welcome Diner. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Cat Power Radio. It's been one of those weeks for me. I don't do radio at all. What's the last song played ... More >>

Pavle Milic, Ty Largo and Other PHX Foodies Fight Fat

girlgetstrong.com ​Dieting -- much like pimpin' -- ain't easy. When you make the decision to cut back on, say, cheeseburgers, it seems like that's all you see. Every commercial on TV features the glorious sizzle of a patty mid-grill; every billboard tempts you with glistening lettuce and tom ... 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. Coming Soon: Payton Curry's "Curry-ousity" Food Nerd Alert! Oxford English Dic ... More >>

March 23 In Blogs: Arizona Boycott, Kate Benjamin, Sharon Van Etten, Payton Curry, and Conservatives

​​​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:

Friday at Devoured: Palette to Palate

Roasted Corn Cocktail and Shrimp Ceviche from the Barrio Cafe​To kick off this year's Devoured PHX Culinary Classic the Phoenix Art Musuem hosted Palette to Palate, a pairing of chefs, artists, and spirits, in the great hall of the museum for a crowd willing to spring for the $45 (plus fees) ... More >>

Sunday at Devoured: Payton Curry, Bite Me Brownies and the Latest Pop-Up

Erica O'NeilPayton Curry, former head chef of Caffe Boa, chats with current head chef Matt Smith during the sausage grinding demonstration at Devoured. ​Devoured is history for another year -- and we're full.We got started early Sunday morning. We highly recommend this method as a solid way to go ... More >>

Sunday: Guerilla Gourmet and a Mystery Restaurant Debut at Devoured

Reindeer's not in season now, so Payton Curry's working with Berkshire pork.​Two newcomers to the dining scene will make a splash at Devoured this Sunday, tipping the anticipation scales to the culinary festival's second day. Few details are available yet -- like, a name? a location? a ch ... More >>

This Bites

Can Caffe Boa Survive Without Its Celeb Chef?

​ ​It was big news the other day when chef Payton Curry -- one of the Valley's better known culinary rock stars, who even has groupies -- announced his departure from Caffe Boa/Boa Bistro. It got a lot of people gabbing about how well Boa would fare in his wake. Can the place survive ... More >>

Chef Payton Curry Says Farewell to Caffe Boa

Jamie PeacheyChef Payton Curry was the talk of the town with his Christmas "reindeer menu."​After nearly a year and a half as executive chef at Tempe's Caffe Boa and Mesa's Caffe Boa Bistro, chef Payton Curry is leaving to launch his own restaurant."I want to do what Charleen Badman's doing, and w ... More >>

Local Restaurant Peeps' Predictions for 2011

What cuts of meat will you be eating in 2011?​Helen Yung, Sweet Republic co-ownerI think it'll be the year of gourmet food trucks. It started this year but will make a huge jump in 2011, with well-regarded restaurants joining the game.Craig DeMarco, Postino ownerMy short list: ... More >>

Payton Curry Plays Reindeer Games

Payton Curry Serves Rudolph

​If you don't like eating things with a face (or a shiny, red nose) you may want to steer clear of this week's feature story on local celebrity chef and controversy enthusiast Payton Curry. This holiday, Curry's got reindeer on the menu. Don't tell the kiddies. Food Critic Michele Laudig on P ... More >>

Caffe Boa Serves Reindeer Tasting Menu for the Holidays

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is about to land on your dinner plate, not your rooftop.​It wasn't enough to eat the Easter Bunny. Now Caffe Boa chef Payton Curry is ready to cook Rudolph for Christmas dinner.That's right, he'll be serving a six-course holiday tasting menu featuring caribou -- a.k. ... More >>

Caffe Boa's Delicious Mangalitsa Head Cheese

​Oh, Payton Curry, you rocked my taste buds last night. The Caffe Boa chef didn't know I was joining a friend for an off-menu culinary stealth mission at the Tempe eatery, but he nevertheless got creative and it showed, both in presentation and flavor. Dinner started off with ... More >>

29: Payt-N-Bake Chicken at Caffe Boa

​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 b ... More >>

Local Chefs Teach Free Cooking Classes at Whole Foods

Payton Curry of Caffe Boa is one of nine local chefs teaching free classes.​Saturdays this summer are about to get a lot more interesting thanks to area Whole Foods stores. Various locations in the Valley will be included in the Summer Chef Series, which features a head-turning r ... More >>

Payton Curry on Mom's Chicken Soup and "Yo Yo" Dinners

​Executive Chef Payton Curry of The Original Caffe Boa on MillAve. and Caffe Boa Bistro is best known for championing the farm-to-tabledining philosophy in Arizona. What is the best dish your mother ever made? My mother makes the world's greatest chicken noodle soup. It's something that I cr ... 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 >>

Chef du Moo Farm Dinners coming to Superstition Farm

Jess Harter Superstition Farm owner Casey Stechnij and chef Jennifer Johnson. ​East Valley chefs Jennifer Johnson and Payton Curry will team up for the next two dinners in the monthly Chef du Moo series at Superstition Farm in southeast Mesa. This month's four-course, farm-to-table feast, ... More >>

Chandler Barbeque Throwdown, Tommy Lasorda at Whole Foods and Homemade Peeps in Today's Eater's Digest

An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. ​ The first annual Downtown Barbecue Throwdown in Chandler is goin' down this Saturday March 20th from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m. The Throwdown is billed as a fierce competition where pros as well as amateur chefs will com ... More >>

Downtown Tempe Urban Garden Debuts Tomorrow

An illustration of what the garden will look like, from partner GreenZona.​At some point in the future, it's slated to become a Marriott Hotel, but for now, an empty lot in the middle of downtown Tempe is getting a new life as the Downtown Tempe Urban Garden, a community food source operate ... More >>

So Much for Tutto . . .

No photos to share right now, dear readers, just a little rant. The other night I ended up eating dinner at Tutto, the Italian restaurant that Joseph Gutierrez opened in the space that used to be Digestif. I didn't have an agenda, per se -- just was curious to try a few things. In short, I really mi ... More >>

Sweetbreads at Tempe's Caffe Boa

​ For my dad's annual visit to Arizona last weekend, I wanted to take him out to a nice dinner at someplace where the food would be great and the atmosphere would be comfortable -- anything too trendy wouldn't suit him one bit. So we hit up Caffe Boa in Tempe, which I've always liked (and wh ... More >>

Chef Talk: Payton Curry's Fall Panzanella Salad and Spezzatini of Pork

At Caffe Boa, executive chef Payton Curry (whom we profiled yesterday in Chef Talk) uses farm-fresh, local ingredients in his dishes, and these two recipes are no exception. The Fall Panzanella Salad features products that are in season right now, so if you want the freshest dish available, hea ... More >>

Chef Talk: Payton Curry, Caffe Boa

Nicki Escudero Payton Curry​Thanks to Payton Curry, the 30-year-old executive chef at Caffe Boa, the Valley's dining scene is becoming more local-oriented due to his "locavore" approach. And to think that he almost didn't make the move to the Valley. "I was scared shitless," Curry say ... More >>

New Urban Garden Ready to Launch in Downtown Tempe

Downtown Tempe's getting a little greener thanks to a new Urban Garden designed to provide fresh produce to local chefs and residents. The project's helmed by Caffe Boa owners Jay and Christine Wisniewski, head chef Payton Curry and the Phoenix Permaculture Guild. Curry, who's been a champion of the ... More >>

Chef Payton Curry Hosts Locavore Wine Dinner

A week ago, chef Payton Curry wasted no time in rolling out a totally revamped menu at Tempe's  Caffe Boa, where he just started working a couple weeks ago. Now he's already getting into the swing of special events, with the first of many locavore wine dinners to come. On ... More >>

Payton Curry Rolls Out New Menu at Caffe Boa

Caffe Boa owner Jay Wisniewski told me that new chef Payton Curry would eventually be changing up the menu at the upscale, wine-centric Tempe restaurant. I guess in Curry's world, "eventually" happens fast. Fresh from his departure from the now-shuttered Digestif, he's already launched a brand-new ... 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 >>

Chef Payton Curry to Leave Digestif for Expanding Caffe Boa

Chef Payton Curry (left) with former Digestif GM Pavle Milic at last year's Eats3​The imminent departure of chef Payton Curry from Digestif is the big news from this weekend.After cooking at the restaurant through the Crave Arizona weekend (October 22 to 24), he'll join Caffe Boa, r ... More >>

Digestif Moving; Kasperski Selling Restaurant Spaces

Digestif is downsizing. Later this month, chef Payton Curry will be working the display kitchen at the former Sea Saw location on Stetson Drive, pending the sale of restaurateur Peter Kasperski's two SouthBridge restaurant spaces, the current Digestif and the half-finished space that would hav ... More >>

Digestif: Pavle Departs, Payton Gets on Camera

Digestif's chef Payton Curry (left) and GM Pavle Milic hug it out over some fresh mozz at last year's Eats3 Pavle Milic, general manager at Scottsdale's groovy Digestif, was a man with a plan. But in the words of John Lennon, "Life is what happens while you're busy making plans." So al ... More >>

West of Western Culinary Festival

Eye Candy from Eats3

Digestif selling homemade charcuterie to go