It’s nice to have a finely crafted drink. These days, a well-made frozen piña colada or margarita is especially delicious. But sometimes, I want to let down my hair. I want something that I can throw together with a minimum of fuss that’s still delicious and full of booze. That’s…
One can hardly discuss frozen drinks without bringing up one of the best-known items in the category, the piña colada. A trip to the Caribbean wouldn’t be complete without one. It’s so popular in its birthplace, Puerto Rico, that it was named the country’s official drink in 1978. See Also:…
The Guilty Pleasure (loosely speaking): Donut Breakfast Sandwich Where to Get It: Dunkin’ Donuts, locations Valleywide Price: $3.50 (Give or take, depending on location) What it Really Costs: Oh, where to begin… Quick-service chains are on to writers like me. There’s an easy way to garner media buzz: Take items…
Welcome back to the Blended Summer drink series. I can only start out this week’s column by saying… Oh, man, do I love this drink. It’s one that I first discovered during my days behind the stick at Trader Vic’s. I was always eager to show it off, even though…
The Guilty Pleasure: Frosty Waffle Cone Where to Get It: Wendy’s, locations Valleywide Price: $1.49 What It Really Costs: A sticky situation. Another day, another overly eager press release. This time, it’s the nice folks at Wendy’s. Apparently, someone thought it would be a brilliant idea to put their Frosty,…
DRIVE-THRU by Katie Johnson “Welcome to McDonald’s. May I take your order?” I’m 7 years old and I’m kneeling behind a low wooden chest in my parent’s cookie-cutter home in Ahwatukee. My stepfather, Jim, is on the floor with me. Hunched over in wilted work clothes, he studies a nonexistent…
If you can’t stand the heat — get in the kitchen. On Thursday, June 13, at 6 p.m. at the Lounge at Crescent Ballroom, Chow Bella writers are warming up for summer with “Fried,” an evening of true stories. Admission is free; food and drink will be available for sale…
The Guilty Pleasure: Boneless Rib Sandwich Where To Get It: Burger King, locations Valleywide The Price: $6 and up as a combo. What It Really Costs: As always with fast food, sodium city with over 1,500 mg for the sandwich alone. See also: – Why You Can Shut Up About…
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 JK Grence, who pens Chow Bella’s Last Call column, shares…
This week for Last Call, my frozen drink series continues with arguably the most popular cocktail in the state. That’s right, it’s time to make some frozen margaritas. Sounds simple enough. I’ve already written an article about “regular” non-frozen margaritas; all I’d have to do is take one and toss…
I’ve had it. I’m sick of fellow bartenders who turn up their nose at frozen drinks. Most mixologists in town get a disgusted sneer at the mere mention of the word “blender”. Countless bar blenders have found themselves victim to horrible “accidents” wrought by bartenders who find blended drinks beneath…
The Guilty Pleasures: Two new fast food breakfast sandwiches. Where to Get Them: McDonald’s and Carl’s Jr., locations Valleywide Price: Less than $2.50 each. What It Really Costs: It depends where you go. Ever since McDonald’s introduced the Egg McMuffin in 1972, the fast-food breakfast has become big business. McDonald’s…
Around Mill Avenue, one good thing seems to deserve another. El Pollo Supremo has been serving up charcoal-grilled chicken just west of Mill for years. Not too long ago, a new joint, Bad Mother Cluckers, opened up shop just barely east of Mill, and also features charcoal-grilled chicken. Clearly, a…
I love a good Moscow Mule. But then, who doesn’t? It’s more interesting than your average vodka drink (i.e., ridiculous flavored vodka and soda or 7-Up), but accessible enough for mainstream mass appeal. See also: – Stop the Reduced-Calorie Vodka Madness! – How to Make a Great Moscow Mule -…
The Guilty Pleasure Food: Original Recipe Boneless Chicken Where to Get It: KFC, locations Valleywide Price: $5 for a two-piece meal What It Really Costs: Sodium bloat and shame. See also: – 9 Favorite Spots for Fried Chicken in Metro Phoenix Advertising executives have a harder time than ever catching…
Part of writing this column, and of bartending, is keeping abreast of booze trends. One would have to live under a rock to not know that flavored vodka is massively popular. Take a look at almost any back bar in town, and there’s a wide array of flavors from classic…
The Guilty Pleasure: Asian shaved ice. Where To Get It: Snoh Ice Shavery, 10th Street and Camelback (and other similar places) Price: $4-7 depending on size What It Really Costs: “Dude, why the hell are there beans on your dessert?” In my humble opinion, one of the most fickle parts…
Here I go again with drinks with weird names. Hanky Panky? It manages to be hopelessly outdated, yet still carries a lurid aura with it. The origin of the drink’s name is a bit more innocent. It goes back to the early 20th century, at the American Bar in London’s…
The Guilty Pleasure: Doritos Jacked and Flamas tortilla chips Where To Get It: Your favorite grocery store. Price: About $3 What It Really Costs: Red fingers from inhaling an entire bag of Flamas chips. I’m finally at the bottom of the huge bags of chips I brought back from the…
This weekend, brace your livers for impact. Sunday is Cinco de Drinko Mayo. Thankfully, I already have that base covered with how to make an awesome margarita. But first, it’s time to get out your ludicrously oversized hats for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday. If it’s time for the Derby,…
The Guilty Pleasure: More Frito-Lay mass-produced chip goodness. Where To Get It: Your favorite grocery store. Price: About $3 What It Really Costs: Explaining the new Doritos flavor countless times. If you tuned in last week, you found out my weakness for the snack aisle, and what happens when I…
I just took a look at the calendar, and realized that Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Never mind that it’s barely a blip on the radar in Mexico; around here, it’s become Cinco de Drinko, where it’s socially acceptable to get wasted on crummy margaritas and horrible…
