Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Like it or not, it’s hard to deny that Chipotle has become an incredible restaurant success story. Quality, if…
For the second year, Chow Bella is hosting “Eating Christmas,” during which some of our favorite writers (and artists) will read pieces about food and the holidays. Join us at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, at Crescent Ballroom, 308 North Second Avenue. Admission is free, but we’d love it…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. In case you hadn’t figured it out by now, I’m Jewish. What that really means is that in between…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. As much as I hate to admit it, U.S. Representative Michelle Bachmann is right: The end times are upon…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. What would you do if you were responsible for the long-awaited expansion of a Midwestern legend into a city…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Who do you believe when you’re reading about food? If you’re like me, the answer would be “not many…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. There are a lot of terms tossed around in the world of food that are overused and meaningless. Some…
Ramen may be all the rage in the Los Angeles and New York food scenes, but I’m quite certain that I know the next Big Thing. It isn’t Cambodian food, or Bolivian or even Australian (Outback has that covered, right?). It’s Canadian. That’s right. Canadian food will be huge in…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Cooler weather is upon us! October is the month during which I check the five different weather apps on…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. My favorite use of the word “falafel” comes from an unlikely source. In 2004, in the heat of the…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Whatever happened to fine dining? Sure, you can have a James Beard-worthy meal at a number of Valley restaurants,…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Olive Garden is the poster child for corporate restaurant mediocrity. Dumbed-down food posing as “authentic,” catering to the masses…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. The Vitamix is a $400 blender. Read those words again: The Vitamix is a $400 blender. It sounds insane…
In 2004, failed presidential candidate John Edwards famously made a speech about “two Americas,” a reference to the socio-economic divide that plagues our country. But this is not a column about politics; it is a column about food. So you’re probably asking yourself, “What the hell is Eric talking about…
The most opinionated person on the planet is not Simon Cowell, Sheriff Joe, the editor of this blog, or any number of insane Arizona politicians. It’s someone you and I see every day, who interacts with our children and is often our friend on Facebook. It’s the parent of school-aged…
Introducing “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Last week, I professed my love of White Castle hamburgers, a food that sits on the lowest rung of the…
Introducing “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. (And this week, New Jersey.) Enough with “sliders” already. Brisket sliders. Ahi sliders. Jewish sliders. (Looking at you, Chompies.) Short…
Introducing “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. I recently Googled “Is 40 considered middle-aged?” and was answered in the affirmative. It’s worth noting that Google was proud…
Introducing “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Is there any better value in food than a hot dog at Costco? No, I say, there is not. Because…
Introducing “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. Everyone has an annoying tendency. It’s human nature. I annoy you. You annoy me, often more than I annoy you…
Introducing “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. The future of Phoenix food might just be a tall, lanky white kid named Travis Tolmachoff. Many people have dreams…
The countdown to Best of Phoenix is on. Mark your calendar: This year’s issue will be on newsstands September 26. What better way to warm up than by asking some local “experts” to list their own personal bests? This week, Eric Schaefer lists the five restaurants he misses the most…
