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Six Phoenix Food Trucks, Rated

Six Valley Food Trucks, Rated

The Phoenix food truck craze is over. Not that we still don't enjoy food trucks. Their offerings at lower commitment levels than those of their dine-in brethren make them the most accessible and cheapest culinary adventures in town. But gone is the hype of the new. With more than 30 food trucks cur ... More >>

Whole New World

Piggly's at the Fair Opens in Mesa, Deep Fried Oreos -- and Just About Everything Else

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 >>

Nobuo at Teeter House Holds Six-Course Dinner with Shochu Pairing

Gin is in and rye is fly, but American cocktail enthusiasts are beginning to pay attention to lesser known spirits produced in other countries as well -- say, Peru's pisco, Brazil's cachaca and Japan's shochu. Although shochu, a clear spirit many people compare to vodka, has been popular in Japan fo ... More >>

Fernet Branca -- The "It" Liqueur For Bartenders and Cocktail Nerds

If you're a devout cocktail devotee, you've surely heard of Fernet Branca, the in-your-face Italian liqueur that makes its cousin Campari look like a cherry lollipop by comparison. There's bitter, and then there's Big Boy bitter. That's Fernet Branca, an acquired taste that aficionados like to say ... More >>

20 Best Ethnic Restaurants in Phoenix: Best of Phoenix 2012

We've spent the last year in the laboratory putting Phoenix under the microscope to reveal hundreds of specimens of the best culture, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and nightlife the city has to offer. And we're finally ready to publish our results. Nerd alert! Now presenting Scientific Phoen ... More >>

Top Five Must-See Shows This Weekend

Curious about what's going on around town this weekend? Need some suggestions where to rock, dance, or krump in the Valley of the Sun? Don't fret: These are our Five Shows to See This Weekend.

The Highest Sugar High: Simplest Sugars Spotted Around Earth-like Star

Scientists with the European Southern Observatory have discovered a very simple form of sugar circling a star that's very much like our own sun. ESO researchers made their observations with a radio telescope called the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The sugar they found is called ... More >>

Foreign Exchange

CéU at the Musical Instrument Museum, 6/19/12

CéU Musical Instrument Museum Tuesday, June 19, 2012 It's easy to see international artist CéU's mass appeal. Her music can evoke images of a smoky lounge full of Mad Men types sipping scotch, or she can put you on some sandy beach with a caipirinha in one hand and a bikini-clad babe on your arm. ... More >>

Ana Tijoux at Puente's Noche de Mujeres, 5/13/12

Ana Tijoux Puente Arizona Headquarters Sunday, May 13, 2012 While most of us celebrated this Mother's Day with flowers, sentimental cards, and family dinners, Latina rapper Ana Tijoux spent the afternoon receiving a crash course in Arizona's twisted political landscape and Sheriff Joe Arpaio's regi ... More >>

Beefy Red Chile Tamales from The Tamale Store

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 Valley. This week: Red Chile Tamales from the Tamale Store ¿Como se dice?: The holiday sea ... More >>

Five Wishes for the Valley Food Scene in 2012

In the last few years, thanks to an explosion of TV shows, celebrity chefs, blogs, and social media outlets, our knowledge of and accessibility to various kinds of cuisine, cooking methods, and ingredients has increased tremendously. And while the Phoenix dining culture has evolved as well, there's ... More >>

Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale

Zach Fowle ​Beer: 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. Style: Chile beerABV: 9.4 percent Literally and figuratively, chile beer is hot right now. From San Diego to Delaware, brewers are snatching up hot peppers and throwing them into the boil to see what new flavor combinations ... More >>

Three Treats from Urban Cookies (Besides the Usual Cookies and Cupcakes)

​We stopped by Urban Cookies a few weeks ago for a treat and were excited to learn that they offer more things than just stellar cookies and creative cupcakes. Three treats, after the jump.

Peruvian Restaurant In Tucson Planning to Open Second Location in Scottsdale Promenade

​Bye-bye Rumbi's, hello Inca's. ​Rumbi's Island Grill, part of a chain in Utah, Idaho, Colorado, and Arizona, has said, "aloha" to its location in the Scottsdale Promenade (next to Subway and Picazzo's Organic Italian Kitchen), and will soon be a second home for Inca's Peruvian Cuisine ... More >>

Art of the Menu: New Website Features Well-Designed Restaurant Menus From Around the World

DJ StoutMenu for Maudie's Tex Mex in Austin.​Menus are calling cards for restaurants. There's no denying that their designs -- from colors, to typefaces, to imagery -- can tell us a lot about who they are, perhaps even evoking a little emotion. The Official Manufacturing CompanyMenus for Spir ... More >>

Biltmore Offering After-Dark Dinner Deals Through July 31

Biltmore Fashion ParkBlack Chile's enchiladas are part of the Biltmore's "After Dark" deal.​We're thrilled that Arizona now has two Restaurant Weeks -- one during the spring season and another in fall. But it kind of sucks that you have to wait around for months just to partake in the event's dini ... More >>

Vegan Eats at Pomegranate Cafe, The Expatriate Mainer's Brunch Review For Harlow's/Joe's Diner/5th Ave. Cafe/St. Francis, OOO (Orange Olive Oil) Cupcakes

A round-up of tasty morsels from Valley food blogs. http://4legsgood.wordpress.com/The Scramble Special at Pomegranate Cafe​Valley vegan blog Four Legs Good shared their love of the recent brunch at Pomegranate Cafe in Ahwatukee. They tried the scramble special consisting of "vegan chorizo; tofu; ... More >>

May (and early June) 2011 Restaurant Openings and Closings

James Waldon The scene inside Black Chile Mexican Grill at the Biltmore ​ Here's our list of restaurants the month of May brought and since we were at it, we figured we would throw in what early June has tossed on the table. We also lost a few restaurants friends -- thankfully we have ... More >>

Into the Woods

April 25 In Blogs: SB 1070, SanTan Wheelie Jam, Maroon 5, Kitchen 56, and Gabrielle Giffords

​​​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:

Ask a Mexican on Racial Identification and Tortilla Shovels

P-Nut of 311 on Perry Farrell, Secret Summer Events, and Rocking a Boat

Alison Dyer​I don't know how much there really is to do out in Omaha, Nebraska, but being a city girl, I'd imagine that living there would give people plenty of time to bounce artistic ideas off of one another and get creative. Out comes 311. The five-piece rock/rap band's sound is undeniably one- ... More >>

Measles: Apparently That's Still Around

www.aspiresrelationships.com​State and county health officials have confirmed a case of measles in Maricopa County.Authorities say the disease was contracted by a man living in the area who recently traveled abroad. They say he spent time in the community before being diagnosed, and county health ... More >>

Mark Your Calendars: Festival Announcements Galore

Feather headdresses were the hot accessory of 2010 music festivals.​While music festival season is pretty much wrapped up for the year up, there's still plenty to get excited about since next year's festivals are being planned.Announcements have been rolling out one after another this past week. B ... More >>

Wigwam Resort to Host Sunday Farmer's Market

​This weekend kicks off a new farmers' market that will take place on the front lawn of the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa every Sunday. The market will emphasize on producer-only farm products and will have 15 vendors set up, offering goods ranging from preserves (Cotton Country Jams) and honey ... More >>

12: Rustica Pizza at Cibo

​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 sectio ... More >>

Erasmus "Razz" Kamnitzer of Razz's Restaurant & Bar, Part 2

Erasmus "Razz" Kamnitzer is self-proclaimed "old school" when it comes to cooking. "Everything came naturally to me; I grew up in the business," Razz says of his time in culinary school. "Things that you don't normally see, they were common things to me. I was fortunate enough to travel a lot, to ... More >>

August 26 In Blogs: Joe Arpaio, Phoenix Poetry Series, Sepultura, Upside-Down Tomatoes, and Hells Angels

​​​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:

Soccer City West

Last chance to hear the vuvuzela concerto

2010 World Cup

Fresh Sweet Corn and Watermelons, The Perfect Pair and RWB Cupcakes in Today's Eater's Digest

tidymom.net​ Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Farm Fresh ProduceTake a trip out to Queen Creek this week and visit the Queen Creek Olive Mill, Arizona's only working olive farm and mill. But making olive oil isn't all they do. The Oli ... More >>

American Negro Aim to Bridge the Gap Between Indie Hip-Hop and Mainstream Rap -- And They're Doing It "Imageless"

2010 World Cup

Rito's Mexican Food: Celebrating Over 30 Years of Super-Secret Success, But Why?

​Nothing. No flashing "open" neon sign, no guideposts, no outdoor banners screaming, "Curt Schilling Loves Our Green Chile Burro!" or "Guy Fieri Got the Brush-Off Here!" For over 30 years, Rito's Mexican Food has been hidden in an off-the-beaten-path neighborhood in Central Phoenix, with only in-t ... More >>

May 14 In Blogs: ACLU, Ghost Lounge, Cielo Kitchen, and The Gringo Mask

​​​​​​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: Feathered Bastard: ACLU's Anti-SB 1070 Lawsuit; Bud Selig Waffles; Sarah Palin Weighs In; Er ... More >>

American Gods Show Their Love for Hamsters, and Other Local Music News

American Gods​Local metal band American Gods has a thing for hamsters. That's right--hamsters. The group has a song called "Hamster Stomp" on their current album, Ec-10, but don't think the group is serious about crushing those cute little furry animals--a bad-arse pic of one of the rodents graces ... More >>

May 10 In Blogs: SB 1070, Cypress Hill, Calabria Italian Kitchen, and Fireworks

​​​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: Feathered Bastard: 9500 Liberty a Must-See for Those Concerned by SB 1070 Joe Arpaio Arrested Elvis ... More >>

A Report from Juarez, Mexico, the Bleeding Front Line in the War on Drugs

Wonderful World

African musician does justice to Jimi

Big-Time Tennis, Anyone?

Surprise! West Valley town lands another big fish.

The Mexican on unjustly claiming cultural heritage and linguistic mix-ups

Latin Lover

Collector finds high culture in low places

Memoirs of an Eggplant

A tastefully spicy sequel

Aimless and Andes

The world slows down at Mesa's Peruvian Palace

Best Central And South American Grocery Store

Pan Americano

Cooking the Books

Former guv develops taste for education