Subject: Spanish Food and Cooking

• Meal Ticket sneak peek: Sens Asian Tapas & Sake Bar

  July 2, 2008

• Happy hour idea: Running of the Bulls celebration at Sol y Sombra

  July 9, 2008

• Second Helpings

  March 13, 1997

• Spaghetti Western

  August 7, 1997

• Si, Spaniard

  October 2, 1997

• Second Helpings

  March 25, 1999

• Second Helpings

  November 11, 1999

• Second Helpings

  November 18, 1999

• Best Chorizo

  La Cabana
  3100 West McDowell
  602-447-8088

  September 21, 2000

• Best Mexican Sausage

  Carniceria Chihuahua

  September 20, 2001

• Best Latin Bistro

  Havana Cafe

  September 20, 2001

• Best Tapas Bar

  Havana Patio Cafe

  September 20, 2001

• Best Gazpacho

  Iguana Lounge

  September 26, 2002

• On Tapas the World

  Ibiza Café dishes Euro flair

  December 12, 2002

• BEST CHEAP MEXICAN FOOD

  Restaurant Mexico

  September 18, 2003

• BEST MEXICAN BAKERY

  La Tolteca Mexican Foods

  September 30, 2004

• BEST FLAN

  Havana Cafe

  September 30, 2004

• BEST HANGOVER BREAKFAST

  Harlow's Cafe

  September 30, 2004

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

  December 25, 2008

• Lola Tapas' Daniel Wayne Readies New Coffee Shop

  Lola Tapas owner Daniel Wayne -- who founded the ultra-hip Lux Coffeebar, then sold it and opened the tapas joint four years ago -- is getting back into the coffee game. He tells me he just signed a lease on a 1200-square-foot space on Central Avenue, just south of Camelback (4700 N. Central), in the former Tessa's Tea location. Lola Coffee will tentatively open in mid-May. It's an incredible place to be, considering that Haus Modern Living and Movies on Central are in t

  March 9, 2009

• Restaurant Revamp: From Imagine Spain to Poco

  Change can be good. That seems to be the case for Poco, the Scottsdale Spanish restaurant formerly known as Imagine Spain (7000 E. Shea; 480-991-3170). When I checked out the place last fall (read my review), I liked the paella but couldn't stand the soulless surroundings. I wrote, "Imagine Spain does have potential -- if the proprietors can make it a place to linger, fine-tune the food, and seriously amp up the service." Now, founding partner Janet Taverner has teamed up wi

  March 16, 2009

• Prado at InterContinental Montelucia Resort Doesn’t Live Up to Its Atmosphere, Thanks to Lousy Service and Watery Paella

  April 2, 2009

• Imagine Spain Has Paella but No Passion

  September 25, 2008

• You Sling Tuh-May-Toes, I Sling Tuh-Maw-Toes

  Alas, only ladles will fly in Tempe

  August 14, 2008

• Breaking up with Cien Agaves isn't so hard to do

  January 10, 2008

• May Day

  Going tapas

  May 11, 2006

• Lady of Spain

  Tapas-notch

  December 8, 2005

• Flan Fanatic

  Custard's last stand

  August 11, 2005

• Tepid Tapas

  Putting the pain in Spain

  July 21, 2005

• South Mountain Mojo

  December 9, 2004

• Hog Heaven

  Lucy never made Ricky Ricardo puerco so pleasing to the palate

  February 19, 2004

• Veni Vida Vici

  A former Valley hot spot makes a resurgence

  October 16, 2003

• Tapas Dancing

  Bistro Madrid is a place for profound contentment

  December 12, 2002

• No Shirt, No Service

  Want to go tapas?

  July 19, 2001

• SECOND HELPINGS, 5-25

  May 25, 1995

• SECOND HELPING

  May 4, 1995

• SPREAD 'EM!

  May 4, 1994

• THE SHAM WHO CAME TO DINNER, TINKER, TINKER, LITTLE STAR

  February 9, 1994

• HAVANA WONDERFUL TIME

  December 9, 1992

• New Brunch Option: Sierra Bonita Grill

  I love a good Southwestern-style breakfast. Huevos rancheros, Southwestern eggs benedict, and anything with chorizo -- all that chile heat gets me revved up and ready to face the day. Coffee helps too, of course. So I was delighted to read Sierra Bonita Grill's new brunch menu, which looks absolutely scrumptious. It's available Saturdays and Sundays, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  How about huevos motulenos (fried eggs on a tortilla shell with ham and refried beans, topped with Hatch gre

  May 12, 2009

• Changes at Prado at the Montelucia

  He's been on board for a while, but as of today, former Digestif front-of-the-house personality Pavle Milic has officially been named the new general manager of Prado, the fine-dining restaurant at the InterContinental Montelucia resort. Another well-known local talent, Paul Xanthopoulos, has joined the team as maitre d'. Prior to this gig, Xanthopoulos held the unusual titles of "Master du Soigner" at Estate House and "Director of Romance" (a position he held for many years) at

  May 20, 2009

• Tutto Opens in Scottsdale

  Valley chef Joseph Gutierrez wastes no time. He's the new owner of Tutto, an Italian restaurant at 7114 East Stetson Drive in Scottsdale. If the address rings a bell that's because it's the old spot for Digestif, which is opening soon (but not that soon) across the street in See Saw's old spot. Talk about a land grab... Digestif closed Saturday and Tutto opened Wednesday.

  July 17, 2009

• Mojito Class

  July 23, 2009

• Mojito Class

  July 23, 2009

• It's Official: Gutierrez Restaurants in the Works for SouthBridge

  Chef Joseph Gutierrez wasted no time in opening Tutto in the recently vacated Digestif space, and there was word that he'll be opening two more eateries at SouthBridge this year. As of today, it's official. In a press release just issued by SouthBridge, there's confirmation that Gutierrez will also be opening Tapas Papa Fritas, serving Spanish cuisine in the spot once set to become Mexican Standoff, this fall, as well as an Asian-influenced French spot called Acua in the former Canal space later

  July 28, 2009

• Battle of the Gazpacho Soups

  Pita Jungle vs. DeluxGazpacho is a cold soup, originally from Spain, and is the perfect antidote to these hellacious summer days. There are so many variations on gazpacho (chunky or pureed, spicy or mild) but they're all tomato-based and raw, making them vegetarian and, more often than not, vegan-friendly.In One Corner: Delux3146 E Camelback Rd(602) 522-2288http://www.deluxburger.com/ The gazpacho soup at Delux was chunky and the goat cheese melted evenly into the cold soup, which must be

  July 29, 2009

• Mojito Class

  July 30, 2009

• Strange Fruit

  August 20, 2009

• Chef Talk: Felicia Ruiz, Lola Tapas

  Heather Hoch Chef Felicia Ruiz on her newly opened outdoor patio.​Chef Felicia Ruiz is totally adorable. Okay, we don't mean to gush, but she's that special kind of person that makes you feel automatically welcome and at ease, especially in what she calls her second home, Lola Tapas.We guess her relaxed attitude might stem from her culinary education. Ruiz never went to culinary school... big freakin' deal. Instead of spending time learning technique from decaying professional chefs, sh

  October 13, 2009

• Monday Night Martha: Baked Tortilla Espanola and Stuffed Piquillo Peppers

  ​Ah, Monday. The day when you wake up to the beginning of a brand new work week and realize you didn't do the laundry or make it to the grocery store. We doubt that this has ever actually happened to Martha. But if it did she might opt to make Baked Tortilla Espanola for dinner.It features ingredients that many of us are likely to already have on hand such as olive oil, baking potatoes, red onion, garlic, salt, pepper and eggs. And this means little shopping required.

  November 16, 2009