Avalon can thank Sin City burn out for its new chef, Charles Stotts. The Minnesota native says his culinary career took off in Las Vegas; after a while, though, he wanted the first flight out.Stotts was Chef de Cuisine at Avalon and stepped up when Travis Watson left for Culinary…
Kathy “Meetup” collects things in sixes: Chinese serving spoons, typewriter-key wine charms, aqua dessert bowls. As a natural hostess, she gathers these often-unrelated, yet always-entertaining details with a certain sort of dinner party in mind. She created Table for Six a year ago in order to share food and conversation…
Meeting like-minded foodies/winos/beer-a-philes is a little easier these days. While Meetup.com has been around for a while, it often mistaken as a schmoozy dating site. Fortunately, it’s a little bit different. And whatever you’re into, there’s likely something for you. Within 25 miles of downtown Phoenix, there are more than 1500…
Last week, culinary students from The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Phoenix were busy preparing for the American Culinary Federation’s Southwest Regional competition.This week they returned with a third place title. A half point behind the Hawaii team (who won the national title last year), the five…
Yesterday Christopher Mayo of Metro Brasserie dished on Scottsdale cuisine, his hopes for rabbit and his various kitchen gigs. Today he shares his Croque Monsieur recipe. A classic french lunch dish, the Croque Monsieur (pronounced “krohk muh-syuh”) dates back to a Parisian cafe menu in 1910. While it is not…
Christopher Mayo may be a fresh face at Metro Brasserie (he was named executive chef when Matt Taylor left in November), but he’s certainly no food-scene virgin. At the tender age of 20, Mayo opened Grilled Expedition at Desert Ridge. Later he split for culinary school in New York, then to the kitchens of Daniel…
Just a second — Catherine Hayes is fluffing the decorative pillows in the outside dining area. She comes here, to Modern Steak, nearly every day. Hayes and her team at Hayes inc. were behind the architecture and design of the recent addition to the Fox Concepts empire. Hayes’ Phoenix-based firm is…
There’s no secret ingredient here; just nine culinary student teams competing for The America Culinary Federation’s Western Regional title. On Saturday, the Arizona team from the International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Phoenix will duke it out in three stages: cold-food preparation, skills salon and cooking. If the…
Yesterday we talked with Chef Jamie Santoro of That Italian Place. Today she gives us the rundown on her lasagna. She says the recipe has been in the family for years and it’s a popular dish with the Ahwatukee regulars. Here’s the scoop:…
Chef Jamie Santoro has been in the same Ahwatukee kitchen for ten years. She actually might be the only constant in a venue that’s been a bagel joint (Beyond Bagels), a lunch spot (Mary Ann and Richie’s) and finally a dinner restaurant (That Italian Place). “I’ve been able to watch…
The Chow Bella staff can not stay out of the kitchen. In anticipation of the Super Bowl, we’ve used our culinary talents to compete in a showdown of dips. Last week we brought you Nothing Left to Lose Beer Cheese Dip. Today’s offering: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Artichoke Dip. If…
In yesterday’s Chef Chat, we heard from Chef Gio Osso of Estate House. Just in time for stormy weekend, he gives us the rundown on one of his favorite warm dishes: Prosciutto-Wrapped Halibut. Here’s how it’s done…
When Chef Gio Osso graduated high school and told his parents that he wanted to go to culinary school, they weren’t surprised. He wouldn’t eat as a child unless he could stir a few ingredients in a pot with his wooden spoon (all from his high chair). Years later, after…
It’s hard enough to wake up in the morning (and find a vein for the caffeine drip), let alone have time to make a healthy breakfast. For those who enjoy mouthfuls of mushy, warm cereal bright and early, or late in the day, this is your month. Introducing Jamba Juice’s…
Working out of her mad-lab apartment kitchen, Gabi DiFerdinando never thought her cake hobby would make more than a few good birthday presents. More than 30 cakes later, she’s starting to change her mind…
They likely won’t match the millions raised by last week’s telethon, but local efforts to provide relief to Haiti are equally heartfelt. Here’s a list of just a few participants. If you know more, email us at claire.lawton@newtimes.com and we might do an additional post. 1. In partnership with Wildflower Bread Co., Tempe’s…
There may not be enough beer in the Valley for Cardinals fans to drown their sorrows. But if you happen to be rooting for one of the better luckier teams still in the playoffs, here are four local bars fans of these teams can call home. Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewing…
Holiday party invitations can come with a BYOB- or “everyone bring their own hors d’oeuvres”-type tag line. Other invites, however, leave party-goers wondering what exactly to bring. While wine tends to be a go-to item, selecting a bottle can be a daunting task. Enter these five gift ideas, which do…
