Burger joints aren’t exactly known for serving the best desserts. But when it comes to the top places in town, why shouldn’t they serve up the sweet stuff to match those juicy gourmet burgers? That question led us to The Grind. Known for its unique coal-fired oven that cooks patties…
The Parlor is not any ol’ pizzeria. Named Arizona’s Best Pizza by the Food Network last year, the restaurant is no stranger to awards, and it’s also known for its modern design aesthetic, which is warm, inviting, and maintains a cool vibe without shoving chic down diners’ throats. The same…
Longtime Phoenicians (and by longtime, we mean old-time) may recall the International Food Bazaar at Town and Country Shopping Center, the dark warehouse of a food court that allowed your mom to eat Chinese food while your dad pigged out on Mexican. Unless you head to the aisles of Lee…
Sam Fox: Love him or hate him, chances are you have some opinion about this Valley-based restaurateur. Not everyone likes the idea of one guy cranking out 12 (yes, 12!) restaurant concepts in 14 years. But even if not all of them are winners, at the very least Fox is…
It’s that time of year: time to enjoy the Valley’s great restaurant patios before the summer heat gets totally unbearable. One of the best places in town to sneak away for a quick retreat is The House at Secret Garden, featuring a lush garden seating area surrounded with trees. There’s…
Dessert isn’t supposed to be healthy, but that doesn’t mean that it has to be entirely bad for you, either. Pomegranate Café’s large selection of pastries and desserts expertly toes this line, bringing the best of both worlds: indulgence and health-consciousness. All desserts are made in-house from organic ingredients, all-natural…
Latin American cuisine often gets grouped together in one big category, but since the region spreads across two continents, it should go without saying that the culinary traditions are incredibly diverse. Located on the Western coast of South America, Peru offers very different tastes than the Mexican cuisine that Arizonans…
Most restaurants won’t sell you the spice blends that they use in their renowned dishes, but that’s one of the many things that sets Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House apart. The staff is passionate about the ingredients used, especially their medicinal properties, so the food they serve is as…
In this town, the Bianco name is synonymous with amazing pizza. In fact, Food & Wine recently named Pizzeria Bianco as one of the 25 best spots for pizza in the United States. With Pane Bianco, Chris and his brother Marco brought us incredible sandwiches with focaccia bread baked on…
By nature, most spices have unique flavors that only lend well to specific styles of cuisine or types of ingredient. Take coffee, for example. When used as a seasoning, it works best with full-flavored meats like beef and pork, and it doesn’t play well with vegetables. On the other hand…
Everyone knows that Arizona has incredible Mexican fare, but who knew that Glendale is home to an award-winning German restaurant? Located in historic downtown Glendale, Haus Murphy’s serves traditional specialties like Bacon-infused Paprika Schnitzel, Krakauer Wurst, and Hackbraten. The interior is decorated with German flags, beer signs and steins, and…
Attention, Food Network fans! This Sunday, Giada de Laurentiis, the Italian-American chef, host of Giada at Home, and author of six cookbooks, including Everyday Italian and Giada’s Family Dinners, is coming to Kierland Commons in Scottsdale. The event kicks off with a Q&A in the Center Plaza at 11:30 a.m.,…
When you think of coffee, chances are that you think of the beverage — and probably Starbucks — and stop there. But coffee has uses beyond being a deliciously addictive caffeine fix to be guzzled down at all hours of the day. Coffee is also a spice that can add…
Whether you’re looking for the perfect way to celebrate a special occasion, or just want an excuse to enjoy a decadent and delicious night out, there’s a dinner this spring for everyone, including wine lovers, tequila aficionados, and fans of farm fresh ingredients. Some dinners are on weekdays, others are…
There’s one chef in all of Arizona who’s currently nominated for a James Beard Award. Up for Best Chef: Southwest, Kevin Binkley is making our state proud. But with entrees priced around $40, not everyone will be rushing to Binkley’s to see what the buzz is all about. Luckily, the…
To me, one of chocolate’s best properties is the fact that it doesn’t need to be super sweet to feel incredibly indulgent. A blissful chocolate is smooth, rich, dark, and simple. My current favorite is Chocolove’s Orange Peel, and I expected the Scottsdale Culinary Festival’s only dessert event would satisfy…
Some spice blends are versatile and flavorful enough to define a type of cuisine. China has its signature five-spice. France is known for herbes de Provence. In the U.S., we have our own regional spice mixes, like Cajun seasoning and the many varieties of BBQ rubs. East Africa — specifically…
Phoenix isn’t exactly a culinary hub, and the Valley’s restaurants don’t always get the kind of attention as those in New York, L.A., and Seattle. But we have our fair share of star chefs, and if there was a leader of the pack, it might just have to be Chef…
Are you the kind of person who rushes home from the grocery store to eat a tiny nibble of every single thing you bought? It’s okay; I’m like that too. If you are, you might think a tasting event featuring lots of bites from many restaurants is for you. But…
Since opening at the end of last year, Distrito and Old Town Whiskey, the two restaurants in Scottsdale’s The Saguaro, have been causing quite a buzz in the Valley. Much of that is due to Chef Jose Garces, the man behind the menus, who is best known for winning the…
Spice blends can be magical. With just the right amount of this and that, a well-crafted blend is greater than the sum of its parts. However, with up to 20 spices working in tandem, the individual pieces inevitably get lost and are impossible to distinguish. A blend definitely has its…
With James Beard Award-winning Chef Nobuo Fukuda at the helm, it’s no wonder that Nobuo Teeter House has one of the best restaurant reputations in town. However, it seems like every time someone says, “Their food is absolutely incredible,” the high praise is followed by, “…but so expensive.” Served tapas-style,…
