There are plenty of bottled water options that come with ridiculous price tags. From Smart Water to Fiji to Voss and more, the fancy water scene is here to stay. But for some hydrators, expensive water isn’t upscale enough for them, and that’s where spa water comes in. According to…
The Spot: Garage Wine & Tap 1534 East Bethany Home Road 602-265-4125 www.garagewinetap.com…
Imagine the scene: You’re sitting on your couch alone on Friday night catching up on the most recent season of The Taste. Anthony Bourdain is describing fried chicken for the millionth time and you’re lounging on a pizza-shaped pillow and wearing leggings covered in French fries with a waffle-print sweatshirt…
If you’re looking to flex your filmmaking muscles or catch some of the Valley’s up-and-coming movie talent, look no further than the Almost Famous Film Festival. The local nonprofit, founded by brothers Jae and Kai Staats, is celebrating its 10th year in challenging local film teams to make movies in…
Back when we were kids, the simple joy of some chicken nuggets with honey dipping sauce, fries, a soda, and a mini Beanie Baby was all we expected to find in the big red Happy Meal box. However, according to CBS Pittsburgh, one employee has been using the childhood staple…
Chandler has a new Asian fusion spot with a lot of Thai-influenced dishes and some great-sounding happy hour deals. Chao Urban Asian Eatery, which opened last weekend off Dobson and Germann roads, boasts a large, casual patio with fire pits for chilly winter dining and a full bar inside. We…
After watching an episode or two of any at least semi-professional competitive cooking show, it’s likely you’ve heard the name sunchoke dropped. Also known as the Jerusalem artichoke, this knobby, brown tuber (or thick stem) of a sunflower varietal really doesn’t look like a big deal. While culinary-types have been…
As cocktail trends delve deeper and deeper into an appreciation of spirits with the knowledge of the history of bartending, the Negroni has resurfaced as a new favorite among enthusiasts and bartenders alike. It’s likely by this time that you’ve seen a Negroni on the menu at one of your…
The Arizona Cocktail Week schedule has finally been announced and there are some events you won’t want to miss. Interestingly, the schedule skews toward a rum-and-tiki bent that we haven’t seen in past years, but there seems to be something for everyone, whether you love aromatized wine, bitters, mezcal, or…
About two years ago, we tried our first Cara Cara orange. While sweet, tangy blood oranges have have been popular the past few years, we feel Cara Caras deserve as much, if not more, hype. Orange on the outside, bright pink on the inside, this fruit is thought to be…
Gaslight Square — on the southeast corner of Indian School and 36th Street — has become a hub for culinary delights, with Crudo, Beckett’s Table, and Nook located in the same plaza. Recently, Jennifer’s Catering opened a brick-and-mortar location in the southwest corner of the plaza to add to the…
HOW TO MAKE A WEDDING DRESS | Monique Sandoval Monique Sandoval made her wedding dress the night before her big day. She sewed up the gown, which she describes as Mexican bohemian, with her step-grandmother, who taught her to use a needle and thread. She remembers the late night fondly…
Last week Arizona Distilling Co. added a spirit to their repertoire. The historic Tempe-based distillery was the first to legally produce liquor in the state since Prohibition when they released Copper City Bourbon last year. Now they’re also offering a Desert Dry Gin made with locally-sourced botanicals. We spoke with…
If you’re like Rodney Hu, Jason Grossmiller, and Jon Eagan of the Arizona Distilling Co., distilling bourbon begins with making a few good friends. After meeting in high school at Tempe’s Marcos de Niza– with Hu later taking over operations at Yucca Tap Room and Grossmiller quitting his job as…
The Spot: Phoenix Public Market Cafe 14 East Pierce Street 602-253-2700 www.phxpublicmarket.com…
Get ready to sip and sample cocktails from up-and-coming bartenders in the Phoenix scene this February. That’s right, the fifth annual Devour Phoenix Bartending Competition is back at Crescent Ballroom this year, and along with tasty samples and three live acoustic sets, the event will showcase local spirits courtesy of…
When both Scratch locations in Scottsdale and Phoenix closed last year, it left a macaron-sized hole in our hearts. After the financial difficulties of rejuvenating the old Canvas building downtown, Duc Liao and his wife, Noelle, closed their operations. Luckily for Scratch enthusiasts (and there are quite a few), Liao…
Picked before reaching maturity when the bulb and stalk dries out to a more of a husk, green garlic has a much more fresh and light flavor and texture than garlic cloves. While green garlic, which is also called young or spring garlic, looks more like leeks or scallions, it…
Every bartender has myriad pet peeves stemming from hundreds of grating customer quirks discovered during every shift. Some of these quirks are only mildly annoying, but others are downright unforgivable. If you’re the kind of person who orders an Adios MF on a Sunday night or flavored vodka outside of…
The Spot: Cornish Pasty Co. 3800 North Goldwater Boulevard, Scottsdale 480-945-1220 www.cornishpastyco.com…
Like an indie oasis in the desert of mega-cine 30-screen Real-D IMAX cinemas, Harkins Camelview 5 was almost too good for its own good. Specializing in art house, independent, and foreign flicks that you really couldn’t see in any other theater in metro Phoenix, Camelview likely served as a date…
If you’re sick and tired of those craft cocktail wait times, cart your impatient bum over to Liberty Market, where the cocktails are premixed in bottles and ready for you with just the pop of a top. While this downtown Gilbert institution is known for serving up great food, wine,…
