The Guilty Pleasure: Where To Get It: Oregano’s Pizza Bistro, 9 locations valleywide Price: $5 (cheap!) What It Really Costs: Snobby friends will see your Foursquare checkin and respond, “Oh God, you ate where?!” One of my favorite things about Phoenix foodies is their love/hate relationship with Oregano’s. As far…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. Just as I was enjoying the sunny 80-degree days…
The Guilty Pleasure: Fast Food Trifecta Location: Tatum & Cactus Price: About seven bucks. What It Really Costs: Burning extra fossil fuel. What could be more American than that? I wish I could explain my fascination with fast food. It must be the instant gratification. Or maybe that it’s the…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. I don’t know what’s been going on, but I’ve…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
I couldn’t help but notice that this week, it seems like everyone has some form of plague. I should know. I’m still sniffling and stuffy. My prescription is a nice Hot Toddy. See Also: -Need a pick-me-up? Irish Coffee is just the ticket. The Hot Toddy is more of a…
One of the finest examples of a regional guilty pleasure in the desert Southwest is the green chile cheeseburger. While it’s more of a New Mexico specialty (where the green chile shares State Vegetable honors with the humble pinto bean), fine examples have found their way west to the desert…
The (Not At All) Guilty Pleasure: Vegan Burger Where To Get It: Pig & Pickle, 2922 N Hayden Road (at Thomas Rd), Scottsdale Price: $8 What It Really Costs: One little test of willpower. It’s a lot of fun writing about guilty pleasures all over town. I’m a dedicated carnivore,…
I’m a little sad that winter holiday merriment is coming to a close, but I’m secretly relieved. The constant revelry has taken its toll. I’m digging myself out from under a truckload of cookies. I’ve been breakfasting on leftover hors d’oeuvres for days. My housework backlog is a mile long…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. When we Chow Bella folks were discussing our New…
One of the biggest drinking days of the year, New Year’s Eve, is fast upon us. To us bartenders, the 31st is derided as the biggest amateur night of the year. Lots of people partake in potent potables at quantities they aren’t used to drinking. The next morning, seemingly everyone…
If you’ve lived in the Phoenix area for any length of time, it’s probably happened to you. You’ve gone out with your friends for an evening of merriment, specifically the liquid kind. After frolicking, you’re famished. You want a burrito the size of your head from your local Filiberto’s. Even…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. It’s getting into the time of year to keep…
A favorite part of winter for me is the appearance of Candy Cane Joe-Joe’s chocolate sandwich cookies at Trader Joe’s. I know I’m not the only one who hides a few boxes when cold weather wanes. The Joe-Joe obsession has clearly not gone unnoticed by competitors. Since Trader Joe’s introduced…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. This time of year, festive gatherings can sneak up…
Last year, food bloggers everywhere had a story that was literally on the tongues of many people in the country: A chemical used in the making of the McRib is also found in yoga mats. This is completely true. Azodicarbonamide is found in the ingredients listings for both the McRib…
The Guilty Pleasure: Mary Mint Showboat Sundae Where To Get It: Mary Coyle Ol’ Fashion Ice Cream Parlor, 7th Ave and Missouri Price: $6.75-$8.75 What It Really Costs: Ignorance is bliss. Very delicious bliss. While we may not get snow around Phoenix, there are still signs that winter is upon…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. There are some really cool stocking stuffers for aspiring…
The Guilty Pleasure: The McRib Where To Get It: McDonald’s, scores of locations Valleywide Price: About $2.50 What It Really Costs: Several more days of patience. Some foods transcend being a guilty pleasure, and turn into cult classics. The king of them is McDonald’s McRib. Since the sandwich wouldn’t sell…
The Guilty Pleasure: Combo Sandwich Where To Get It: Chicago’s Taylor Street Deli, Scottsdale Road north of Loop 202 Price: $6 ($7 with peppers, highly recommended) What It Really Costs: You might want to get your shirt dry-cleaned after eating. One of my favorite regional guilty pleasures that has found…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. A simultaneous perk and hazard of the bar industry…
What? Not done with your holiday shopping? Yeah, neither are we. But we’ve been making lists — and checking them twice — and we’ve got some suggestions for the nice people on your list. Today, Chow Bella’s Gift Guide for the Aspiring Bartender. You’ve noticed lately that your friend gets…
