It’s pretty sad what people think is punch nowadays. What once was a delightfully strong alcoholic blend of juices, spices, tea, sugar, and liquor is now pretty much thought of as an artificially flavored fruit drink for children. Well, John Christie over at Second Story Liquor Bar in Scottsdale is…
The Scottsdale Culinary Festival officially began all 2014 festivities last night at Casablanca Lounge. As you walked up the stairs, you were met with a group of faux paparazzi blinding you with flash photos and screaming compliments at you in 40s accents. Some people would smile when they realized what…
You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley’s emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our 2014 Big Brain finalists. Leading up to the Big Brain Award announcement and Artopia on April 25, Jackalope Ranch and Chow Bella will introduce the finalists. Up today: Alexandra Bowers. Alexandra Bowers…
If you’re going to make a film based on a zany idea, say, a man who wants to have an orgy with his friends’ girlfriends in order to heal from his mother’s recent passing, you’re going to take a lot of care to not make it a gimmick. You’re going…
You read that right, folks. There’s now a diet and exercise regiment originating out of California to prep gals for a weekend of bikini tops and cut-off shorts. We’re all for getting in shape and eating right, but focusing on dropping poundage so you can slip into revealing outfits for…
The Spot: Jade Bar 5700 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley 480-948-2100 www.sanctaryoncamelback.com…
When we read up on King of Herrings while deciding which films to go see at this year’s Phoenix Film Festival, the peg of a “Tom Waits tips-his-hat-to Woody Allen world” pretty much promised an entertaining, artsy ride into grittiness. However, limiting what King of Herrings does to just those…
The cronut fad has seemingly passed, but some little critters still can’t get enough of Dominique Ansel’s fad fusion pastry. Over the weekend, Ansel’s bakery closed after a video chronicling the New York bakery’s serious mouse infestation surfaced. Whether this is the official death knell of all things cronut obsession,…
It’s no secret: Here at Chow Bella, we’re all about pie. We’re already eager for Pie Social 2014, so you can keep your cute little cupcakes as long as we can have some flaky, buttery crust packed with sweet and savory fillings. But pie can be a harsh mistress for…
Everyone who plans on ever dining out should be forced to serve, at least for a month or two. Then maybe folks would have a little more compassion for the fine ladies and gentlemen who take care of them from the greasy spoon diners to the upscale steakhouses. While we…
You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley’s emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our 2014 Big Brain finalists. Leading up to the Big Brain Award announcement and Artopia on April 25, Jackalope Ranch and Chow Bella will introduce the finalists. Up today: Stephanie Teslar. Stephanie Teslar has really outdone herself. While curating the cocktail…
Think of your favorite dinner at a local Mexican joint — the guacamole uses lime juice, the margarita uses lime juice, and your favorite street taco is typically topped with a slice of lime, too. Many drinks and dishes in town use the green citrus, but recently, cartels in Mexico…
With 90-degree temperatures looming in next week’s forecast, the season for sipping heavy, flavorful stouts is almost over. In fact, at a recent trip to Lost Leaf, several of the dark beers were sold out, further cementing the fact that it’s time to switch to IPAs, Hefes, and Pilsners. Just…
Take it easy this Passover and let the “veggie whisperer,” Charleen Badman, and her crew over at FnB make your dinner this year unforgettable. Family-style appetizers that have classics and new favorites, kosher style entrees, and some fantastic desserts are all on the menu for the dinner on April 14…
The Phoenix Film Festival kicks off a week long of movies and parties tonight with the screening of Steven Knight’s Locke. With Tom Hardy as the lead and only visible actor in the film, which takes place in real time over an hour-and-a-half drive through the U.K., the film has…
You submitted nominations for awards given to the Valley’s emerging creatives and the results are in. Introducing our 2014 Big Brain finalists. Leading up to the Big Brain Award announcement and Artopia on April 25, Jackalope Ranch and Chow Bella will introduce the finalists. Up today: Phoenix Spokes People. Anna…
There’s a lot of great stuff from local and national talent to see at this year’s Phoenix Film Festival, and Chipotle is bringing some food for thought to the screen with its animated short The Scarecrow coupled with the documentary GMO OMG. The two-minute short, which has been available online…
Barrel aging can transform a cocktail from its typical flavor to a smoother, richer, and more cohesive final product. As the cocktail mixture sits in the barrel, it develops much like a bourbon does as it barrel ages. While cocktails typically spend much less time in barrels than the spirits…
Another month, another handful of painful goodbyes to Phoenix dining institutions have left us near heartbroken. However, with some exciting new restaurants hitting the scene this month as well, it almost makes up for having to let go of some favorites — almost…
One of the most requested food bank items from families in need, according to Feeding America, is milk. The nonprofit gives only a gallon per person per year to the 37 million people it serves. Now through an online and mobile campaign, Feeding America, in conjunction with local dairy farmers,…
The Spot: Taco Guild 546 East Osborn Road, Phoenix 602-264-4143 www.tacoguild.com…
The guiltiest pleasure of all Internet interactions for us is the Craigslist Missed Connection section. So many awkward encounters and many more horribly skewed perceptions of what’s going to attract the opposite sex makes it irresistible scrolling material on any long, boring day at work. Sure, maybe we’re hoping that…
