Switzerland

Q&A: Vincent Castiglia Paints Exclusively in His Own Blood (but Tried Semen Once)

Lots of artists stand out for designing some kick-ass metal covers -- like the recently deceased Storm Thorgerson, for example, who lent his art to everyone from Led Zeppelin to Black Sabbath over the course of 30 years. But when it comes to weaving together the heavy metal standard of horror, the d ... More >>

10 Favorite Bakeries In Metro Phoenix

If you're one of those people who bakes a pie to cheer up a friend, makes your specialty carrot/red velvet/whatever cake for everyone's birthday, and routinely pulls together all manner of adorable goodies for your children's school programs and bake sales . . . well, bully for you (and the rest of ... More >>

Deborah Sussman's Care Package

Chow Bella has a valentine for you. For the rest of February, we're handing out Candy Hearts -- stories of food and love from some of our favorite writers. Enjoy. In the 1940s, my father and his parents spent two long years imprisoned in concentration camps in Holland and Germany, where food was f ... More >>

Nine Baked Goods in Metro Phoenix to Pre-Order for Your Christmas Table

With all of the baking that has to be done during the Christmas season -- from cookie exchanges and decorating to making gifts and serving guests -- it can be nice (and necessary) to take a break. Ensure that everything on your holiday table for breakfast, dinner, and dessert is special by getting a ... More >>

Join the Slow Food Movement and Celebrate Terra Madre Day on Dec. 10

If you haven't made it to the Biltmore Fashion Park's latest addition UNION -- a mix of 18 small, distinctive boutiques run by local vendors -- mark your calendars to visit on Monday, December 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. for Terra Madre Day. This international event is a celebration of slow food and eating ... More >>

Perfect Popcorn By the Kernel

Swiss design students have developed what has to be the least efficient method of popping popcorn possible. It's basically the exact opposite of the Popinator, which we reported on earlier. See Also: --New Gourmet Popcorn Shop in Scottsdale Features Ex-Exec Chef of Queen Creek Olive Mill's Del Pie ... More >>

Newest and (Depending on Who You Ask) Third Ciao Grazie Opens at DC Ranch

Depending on who you ask, the newest Ciao Grazie, now open at DC Ranch's Canyon Village, is either the third location of the casual pizzeria and wine bar, or the second. According to the Republic, Maurizio and Sandra Cristiani used to own all three of the restaurants: the first Grazie in Scottsdale ... More >>

Five Must-See Shows This Week

Yeah, yeah, yeah...we get it Mondays suck (we've read Garfield). But it means the start of a new week, which means a bunch of killer shows in and around Phoenix. And here are a few of the coolest, our top five must-see shows this week.

One for the Road

Howe Gelb on Giant Giant Sand, and How an Acid Trip and Roman Polanski Birthed Tucson's Music Scene

See also: Howe Gelb Discusses Rainer Ptacek Howe Gelb doesn't like to fight fate. The Tucson-based singer/songwriter says that destiny played a big role in the birth of Tucson, the new record from Gelb's Giant Giant Sand collective. The extra "giant" was added to signify the group's swelling ranks ... More >>

Curl Power

Z-Trip Talks Growing Up in Phoenix, Johhny D., Crate-Digging, Mexican Food, Smite, and More

Z-Trip​If you ever took the time to plot out a flowchart depicting Phoenix's vastly interconnected DJ/dance scene, its incredibly likely that the name Zach Sciacca, better known as Z-Trip, would be at its heart.Practically every turntablist, mixmaster, or knob-twister in the Valley has some sort o ... More >>

Deborah Sussman's Chocolate Christmas (and Hanukkah)

Claire Lawton​Christmas comes a little early to Chow Bella this year -- in the form of some darn good holiday storytelling. Today, in honor of the first night of Hanukkah (which begins tonight at sundown) we bring you Deborah Sussman's chocolate-dipped memories. I know everybody says ... More >>

Fifteen Favorite Bakeries in Greater Phoenix

​In the 16th and 17th centuries, the skills of the pastry chef were added to those of the bread maker so that in modern Britain (as opposed to France), domestic and commercial bakers used the talents of both. Though the lines have been blurred, the benefit of combining these two trades mean ex ... More >>

The Serene Dominic Show with Make My Baby

​Some vidcasts you just have to make a leap of faith that everything will work out all right. Like when singer songwriter Lonna Kelly tells you she's just formed a girl group called Make My Baby, you book them on the show and ask questions later which is what we did. Lonna writes great songs on ... More >>

Hey Tammie Coe, Who Deserves a Pie in the Face?

​We're counting down the days to Pie Social 2011 -- 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at 408 E. Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Don't forget, you can get in on the action yourself. Here are details for community bakers. And don't forget about our celebrity bakers -- every day we'll introduc ... More >>

Five Favorite Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in Metro Phoenix

​With temperatures dropping (okay, we've got another 20 degrees to go, but you get the idea) we're in the mood for comfort food -- like grilled cheese. What are your Phoenix favorites? Here are a few of ours. 5. Triple Grilled Cheese from SwitchIf you've ever dreamed of pairing a grilled ch ... More >>

Shantidas Contu-Owen, What Are You Listening To?

Shantidas Contu-Owen​Shantidas Contu-Owen The local fashion designer was the winner of Project Ethos' VitaminWater Zero Fashionista Challenge. When you put your key in the ignition and turn on the radio, what station would play right now? Generally 96.9-FM. I'm not really loyal to any one statio ... More >>

2011 World's 50 Best Restaurants: Two Tickets to Denmark, Please

Getty Images​Those devilish Danes have done it again. Curse their delicious Nordic cuisine! (Not really. Pass the Greenland musk ox, please.) Restaurant magazine and S. Pellegrino's annual "World's 50 Best Restaurants" list is out and it seems Denmark, the land of Lego AND Hans Christian A ... More >>

The Five Most Obnoxious Food Movements

guygonecaveman.com​We truly live in a golden age of food awareness. Where once Americans ate whatever grew or grazed around them, we now find a nation of extra-regional culinary tribes; whole dietary religions based on what food we should or shouldn't put in our bodies, how we prepare it, an ... More >>

Ask a Mexican on Being a Gabacho and Switzerland

Totally Trashed

International artist showcases pretty junk at DBG

Sidebar: Bookworms

The Baker's Daughter: Chocolatier and Pastry Café Opening October 30th

Carol BlonderChristine Boerner:The Baker's Daughter​ We love to swing by Karl's Quality Bakery: fresh bread for the weekend, quiche for lunch, a napoleon or streusel to take to a friend, and always a cookie or two before we leave the premises. This weekend we are adding Karl's to our list of stops ... More >>

Scottsdale's Afro:Baile Records Preps Third Comp CD, Party

​Scottsdale's Afro:Baile Records will release their third Brazilian-tinted comp CD on September 19. The latest 12-song disc, I love Bossa Nova, has many styles of Bossa Nova, using 11 female vocalists, incorporating some jazz, soul, and acoustic elements for "a timeless groove." This vibrant comp ... More >>

10 Things Under $10: Inglorious Bastards, Deadheads, Sugar Thieves, and Punks Aplenty

Calabrese is scheduled to haunt Atomic Comics during Fright Night on Sunday.​ Discount-priced distractions are in abundance this weekend, ranging from Faux Punks and real punks to fashionistas and freaks. Looking for some inexpensive adventure? Here's our weekly list of what's going on. Wes ... More >>

The Italian Job

Can’t wait for Tarantino’s Basterds? See the original first.

Meaty Girl: German Sausage Company's Landjager

Landjager is a traditional, dried German sausage made in Southern Germany and Switzerland. Though the name literally means "country hunters," there's nothing gamey about the taste of landjager. It's a popular snack food in Germany and Switzerland (like beef jerky for the U.S.), and also a popular me ... More >>

Diablo II

Hell on Earth

By Odin’s Beard!

Viking metal fest sounds like a kick in the Asgard

She Wars

A non-Jedi mind trick

Occult Classic

Revel in the details

Reubens Accomplice

It's not a dill spear, either

The White Stuff

Ski bums seek Higher Ground

Behind the Green Door

Kreme and Jett court madness, drunkenness and death runnin' after absinthe's La Fée Verte.

BEST TEE SHIRT STORE

Shirts 'n' Things

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Slide Dish

Fame falls into focus for Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players

West Side Glory

A fantasy come to life

Best Cheese Selection

Duck and Decanter

Brothers--and Sister--in Arms

Second Helpings

When God Talks, Vassula Listens

One Night in Marrakesh

Second Helpings

Grand Prix-Fixe

Flashes

SWISS BOOM BAH