Coney dogs, customizable burgers, and hand-cut fries smothered in chili and cheese are coming to Tempe — by way of Detroit — courtesy of David Najor. The Michigan native, whose started his career working for his family’s grocery stores in Detroit, came to the Valley a year and a half…
The Fry Bread House, the Phoenix restaurant that, in 2012, won the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics award honoring legendary, family-owned restaurants across the country, is moving. Opened in 1992 by Cecelia Miller of the Tohono O’odham Nation, the place the Beard Foundation recognized for its “timeless appeal” currently is…
There are flashier country bars in the Valley — ones that try to impress with sprawling stages, dozens of high-def televisions, and more neon lights than Times Square. The Western keeps its cool without ever going over the top. The newest project from partners Tucker Woodbury, owner of The Vig…
Baseball fans in need of a little pub and grub pre- or post-game may want to check out downtown’s new Coach’s Corner Grill. Located at 333 East Jefferson Street, just steps away from Chase Field, the sports-minded spot comes courtesy of two of the owners of Coach & Willies, the…
Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. There might not be a cooler culinary gift during the summer than ice cream. From…
Fans of mobile eats backed with a bit of booze may want to clear their calendars for what might be the first alcohol-centric food truck event in the Valley. From 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday, August 17, Food Truck Caravan, the ongoing Saturday night meet-up of food trucks at Fifth…
Looks like Tempe’s got not one, but two new spots for wallet-friendly Mediterranean food served up Subway-style. Following the arrival of Hummus Xpress in January, Tzikii Pita Grill, at 7510 South Priest Drive (Priest and Elliot Road), opened its doors in late March. Featuring eats like a family-recipe chicken shawarma,…
Editor’s note: As this column went to press, The Western indicated it would be developing a new menu. Some dishes described below may not be available. Visit our food blog, Chow Bella (www.phxfood.com), for updates. This column has been edited since its original publication. The Western in Scottsdale is part…
Lobster Cobb salads, artisan pastries, MJ Breads, a coffee program featuring Cartel beans, and an avant-garde floral boutique are coming to the Camelback Corridor by way of Chestnut Fine Foods and Provisions. Described as “incorporating the refined culinary influences of Los Angeles, New York and London,” the new artisan eatery…
On Sunday, the Gilbert location of Gelato Dolce Vita, the three-year-old spot of top-notch gelato in the SanTan Village mall, closed its doors. Owners of the store, Walter and Marti Bergamaschi — who attended Gelato University near Bologna and apprenticed in two different shops before bringing their expertise in Italian…
Two words for pro cooks and chefs who know what the hell a supermarket is and could use a little extra scratch in their wallets: casting call. That’s right. On the heels of dumping racist butter-slinger Paula Deen, the Food Network is trolling for fresh meat for a yet-to-be-named cooking…
For over 20 years, Baby’s Kay’s Cajun Kitchen has been a fixture at the Town & Country Shopping Center, the 50-year-old retail and restaurant hub at 20th Street and Camelback. But on Saturday, August 31, the family-owned restaurant of Cajun eats will be closing its doors and leaving its Town…
Following a whirlwind of executive chefs and a trip to renovation land for the summer, the Royal Palms Resort & Spa has announced a new bar concept to accompany the re-opening of its new and improved T. Cook’s Lounge on Monday, September 9. Called The Mix Up Bar, the upscale…
This September, East Valley hot dog fans will be getting a little more Willy — Pittsburgh Willy’s that is. Randy Walters, owner of Pittsburgh Willy’s, the five-year-old hot dog, sandwiches, chili, and pierogi joint inside Chandler’s Merchant Square Antique Mall, is opening a hot dog-only spinoff in downtown Chandler. “I’ve…
Ask who has the best tamales in the Valley and chances are you’ll find yourself in an endless debate involving countless national and international variations of the wrapped snack. Ask who has the best tamales oaxaqueño and the discussion stops with Elizabeth Hernandez, owner of La 15 y Salsas, the…
On the subject of who has the best tamales in the Valley, the debate never seems to end. Given the countless national and international variations of the wrapped snack, the issue won’t resolve itself anytime soon. But when it comes to tamales oaxaqueño, the discussion stops with La 15 y Salsas,…
On the heels of the announcement that Sportsman’s Fine Wines & Spirits in Phoenix is shuttering at the end of August comes news of a more positive sort — its salvation via Valley chef-legend Mark Tarbell, whose restaurant, Tarbell’s, is right next door. A combination wine bar and liquor boutique,…
Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Last month, in the health section of U.S. News & World Report, Dr. David Katz,…
I sat the square box on my dining room table and took a deep breath. Tentatively, I pulled the cardboard top away from the base. A classic Margherita. A few, straggly pieces of basil. Another gut-wrenching disappointment. It never used to be this way. A year ago, I never would…
Ready to pig out, Sunnyslope? Waldo’s BBQ, the 20-year-old company started by pig farmer and Snowflake resident Clay Caldwell, has opened its third location at 9706 North Seventh Street (Mountain View Road and Seventh Street), in the former home of Vaqueroscarne Asada. Called Pig-N-Out, the newest Waldo’s will have something…
What happens to cooking reality show contestants after the spotlight fades? If you’re David Martinez, who was on the third season of Fox’s MasterChef in 2012, and Tyler Burke, who competed on Food Network’s Iron Chef America in 2009 as a culinary school student, you team up for a pop-up…
Like a piece of shiny tin foil covering a piece of frozen store-bought ravioli, on-edge owners Amy and Samy Bouzaglo of Amy’s Baking Company have managed to (negatively) capture the attention of just about the entire world over the past few months — and in ways that make us want…
