Whether you’re trying to show your out-of-town guest how totally bad ass downtown Phoenix can be or just hoping to get to know the area yourself, we’re pretty such you’re going to want to know about The DTPHX City Sampler. Starting on Friday, January 23 and running through Sunday, February…

Maine Lobster Lady Friday, January 23 Every summer we watch her go and wait impatiently for her return. We spend the hottest month of the year yearning for a the taste of fresh lobster in a buttery, toasted roll. Yeah, that’s right, we’re talking about the Maine Lobster Lady, who…

Westgate Entertainment District — the sprawling retail, dining, and entertainment destination in Glendale — will welcome four new restaurants to the scene this week. That means four new places for Valley locals to love and four places to accommodate the deluge of visitors who will descend on the area over…

Natalie Morris Professor Sustainable Food Systems program at Mesa Community College nataliermorris.com To those in the local food community, particularly those with an interest in sustainable food, the name Natalie Morris should be a familiar one. The trained chef turned entrepreneur created Good Food Finder, an online directory that identifies…

Now that 2014 has officially come and gone (and now that I’ve caught my breath from the holiday season), I’m ready to look back on the collection of new restaurants that joined our local scene in the last year. I ate all over the Valley in 2014, trying new restaurants…

Since the fall of 2012, Bertie’s Vintage has been serving kick-ass milkshakes and retro candy to the Arcadia neighborhood — all while also offering a side dose of awesome vintage shopping. Part soda fountain, part candy shop, and part vintage store, Bertie’s became a catch-all destination for diners and shoppers…

Barrio Urbano Dinner Friday, January 16 As of this week Barrio Urbano, located at The Yard in Phoenix, is open for dinner and serving a concise menu of appetizers and entrees. The selection includes dishes such as Toritos de Jaiba made with lump crab and goat and Oaxaca cheeses ($12);…

This isn’t the first time that the folks behind Welcome Chicken + Donuts and Sweet Republic have collaborated in the kitchen. And it’s not even the first time that the two fan favorite eateries have done an ice cream mashup. But neither of those facts makes us any less excited…

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…

Luis Milan Chef, owner Sol Diablo Cantina 560 S. College Ave., Tempe www.soldiablocantinatempe.com If you haven’t been down on College Avenue in Tempe lately, you might be in for a surprise. What was once a fairly quiet corner of the Arizona State University campus has recently become a hub of…

The fifth annual Good Food Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception were held on Thursday, January 8 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theater in San Francisco. Every year the awards recognize food producers from across the country who provide their communities with “truly good food — the kind that brings…

Fans of chef Stephen Jones’ unique blend of Southern and New American cuisines will be happy to hear that the chef is getting ready to head up a new restaurant concept. Called Yard Bird + The Larder, the new restaurant will be located inside the soon-to-open DeSoto Central Market, which…

It’s been several years since Zang Asian Bistro closed its doors in downtown Glendale but there’s finally some good news for the restaurant’s fans. The neighborhood spot has reopened its doors at 6835 North 58th Drive in Glendale, bringing the cuisines of China, Japan, Singapore, and Malaysia to the downtown…

Hey, Phoenix, remember Mike Kennedy? He’s the stand-up comedian and private investigator who was nominated for a Big Brain award last year. Well, you can catch him regularly at Stand Up Live in Scottsdale, but right now, you also can check out the funny Phoenician on national television. Kennedy is…

National Cassoulet Day Friday, January 9 through Sunday, January 11 On Friday Francophiles from coast to coast will pay homage to cassoulet, or classic French casserole, in honor of National Cassoulet Day. And to celebrate here in the Valley, look no further than chef Christopher Gross of Christopher’s Restaurant and…

Ex-Windy City inhabitants may recognize the name Sanfratello’s; the family-style pizzeria has been serving pizzas, pastas, and dinner entrees on the south side of Chicago since the 1960s. Later this month, the restaurant will open its first Arizona location. The take-out and delivery restaurant will be located at 857 Warner…

It’s already been a couple of months since Blasted Barley Beer Co. in Tempe opened its doors on Mill Avenue and though the name has always indicated that the place brewed its own beer, there haven’t actually been any proprietary brews — until now. On Thursday, January 8 the brew…

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…