A few months back, the New York Times magazine published a special Food Issue, with an intriguing essay by Michael Pollan, an “open letter to the Farmer in Chief,” explaining why the President-elect should consider national food policy a matter of national security. It inspired the Brockmans, a farm family in…
It can’t all be appetizing news. Today’s big story is downright nauseating. The fundraiser that Mesa’s new Pizza Fusion restaurant held in conjunction with its grand opening — which was intended to help Frank and Tracy Smith, who were seriously injured in a car accident that killed their two young…
If you’re steeped in the culinary world — whether professionally or just as an enthusiast — you’re probably already familiar with Phoenix Knife House, the go-to shop for chefs in need of a good blade. But this Thursday, there’s a special reason to stop by. It’s the second annual Kikuichi…
Cardinals go to the Super Bowl, Arizona gets a windfall of PR. Totally expected. But publicity for a local chef is certainly an unusual perk for the Phoenix culinary world. Turns out, executive chef Beau MacMillan, from Elements at the Sanctuary on Camelback, is the lucky one getting the national exposure…
Polly Levine and her friend Marilena Sacks had long fantasized about owning their own cafe — nothing unusual about that. But three weeks ago, they finally realized their dreams when they opened Chestnut Lane Cafe. Tucked into the tiny Camelback Road (4225 E. Camelback) spot that housed Kohnie’s until last summer, Chestnut…
A free wine tasting, a champagne toast, a bottle signing by winemaker Robert Pepi Jr., and complementary hors d’oeuvres from Fleming’s Steakhouse are four good reasons to hit up tonight’s grand opening party for WineStyles in Peoria. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Located at Park West, the new open-air…
Citrus Cafe, the long-running French bistro in Chandler (2330 N. Alma School), just reopened two weeks ago after a brief hiatus. Now it’s called Andrew’s New American at Citrus Cafe, and as the name suggests, chef-owner Andrew Paparella is ushering in some changes. Paparella, who purchased the restaurant in May 2007,…
Eat pizza, save the planet. That’s the thinking behind Pizza Fusion, an Earth-friendly pizzeria with franchises across the country. The restaurant serves certified organic food, operates out of LEED-certified buildings, and even uses hybrid cars for pizza deliveries. The newest Pizza Fusion, at 5735 E. McKellips in Mesa, is hosting…
JNK Concepts, the company behind Bombay Spice, is replacing the 16th Street and Glendale Ave location of the healthful Indian restaurant with another one of its concepts, San Gabriel Mexican Cafe, opening Monday. Currently, Illinois has the only other branch of the eatery. Meanwhile, Bombay Spice will continue to operate at…
In the name of welcoming back the students at Glendale Community College, as well as celebrating their first anniversary, the folks at Cheba Hut in Glendale (5925 Olive Ave., Ste. #2, at the southwest corner of 59th Ave. and Olive) are offering a sweet deal on Friday, January 23: four-inch…
Finally, something to cheer about. In a city where preservationists have new reasons to gripe all the time — sharp mid-century homes getting razed to make way for McMansions, architecturally significant buildings being bulldozed so somebody can slap up another generic bank or strip mall — there’s good news about…
Chef Michael DeMaria’s Tempe restaurants, Trattoria M and Aroma Market, might be facing delayed openings, but Heirloom, his new spot at North Scottsdale’s DC Ranch, is coming together really quickly. Opening night is next Tuesday, January 27. “We took over the Flo’s space and demoed it a month ago, over…
Here at New Times, we’ve long been vocal about our love for the Cornish Pasty Co., and how we wished the popular Tempe eatery would serve its savory, flaky English pies all across the Valley. And guess what? They just opened a second location in Mesa last Saturday. The place looks great — bright…
Unforgettable mole poblano, mouthwatering carnitas, and naughty flan drenched in Almendrado tequila were already reason enough to head to Los Sombreros in south Scottsdale, but now the charming Mexican restaurant has a revamped menu with some new additions (old faves remain, of course): Los Sombreros Jan Menu.doc Look for the fig…
Move over, cupcakes. I’ve found a new tiny dessert to obsess over. Lisa G Cafe & Wine Bar just started serving miniature pies every Friday and Saturday night, available individually or as a “pie flight.” The flavors change frequently, but I recently got a taste of the most recent ones: Nutella with vanilla…
After months of delays, including a publicized December opening that just didn’t work out (ah, the restaurant biz), Avalon finally opened its doors for dinner last night. Located in south Scottsdale, adjacent to the 3 Palms Oasis Resort, Avalon serves “contemporary American coastal cuisine.” Executive chef Travis Watson, a Scottsdale…
Inquiring minds want to know. I’m one of those people who pays attention to bylines and actually reads those goofy contributor bio pages in the front of magazines. So when I came across a local food blog called Eater AZ — where there are no bylines — the first thing I…
No, the house that Johnny Chu built is not closing, as far as I know. But Fate is definitely in the midst of a name change, now that Chu’s effectively out of the picture. The signs out front have been taken down, and although employees still say “Thank you for…
So, the Cardinals beat the Eagles, and now Arizona residents get an unexpected perk for seeing their football team head to the Super Bowl: free fish tacos. Tomorrow, January 21, Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill will give you a free taco anytime from 2:30 p.m. to close. Either plan on a…
Before the election, the stretch of Roosevelt around 6th Street seemed unusually busy, no doubt due to the Obama campaign headquarters located in an old house, amid the art galleries and shops. Brilliantly, pastry guru Tammie Coe — whose shop is right across the street — came up with Obama logo…
How nice of them. The folks at Humble Pie are celebrating their own one-year anniversary by giving us the deal: half-price pizzas, available all day long, on Tuesday, January 20. That way, if you’re undecided about whether to get the one with Schreiner’s sausage, roasted fennel, mozzarella, and tomato sauce,…
These days, restaurant competition is so tough that chefs can’t just write a menu, keep it static, and ride the wave. The good ones know you need to stay on top of what’s fresh and in season, and find a way to work as much of it into the rotation as…
