Sure, I like gourmet burgers. But every once in a while, I long to worship at Mary Elaine’s altar again.

See also: Ten Favorite Metro Phoenix Craft Beer Bars Mat and Sharry Englehorn know and love craft beer, and in their travels through California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado (where they’ve hoisted their fair share in the name of research), they concluded one thing: Phoenix doesn’t have nearly enough places to…

See Also: Chef James Porter Leaves Big Earl’s BBQ James Porter Petite Maison 7216 E. Shoeman Lane, Scottsdale 480-991-6887 www.petitemaisonaz.com This is part one of my interview with James Porter, chef-owner of Petite Maison. Come back tomorrow for part two, when Porter explains why Deadliest Catch is better than anything…

See also: Chef Peter DeRuvo to Head Kitchen at New Davanti Enoteca Add another familiar name to the talented lineup who’ll be working at Davanti Enoteca, slated to open in early August. Wine sommelier Dave Johnson — best known for his stints at Atlas Bistro and the defunct Sol y…

See also: Sleepy Dog Saloon and Brewery Pairing Up with Food Trucks See also: FnB Line Cook Minerva Orduño Launches Muñeca Mexicana Product Line Dan Medlen knows dough. He’s been baking for Tammie Coe for the past eight years and, more recently, hauling his mobile oven to Sleepy Dog Saloon…

See also: Urban Grocery Closes on May 12 See also: Aaron Chamberlin Will Open Farm-Focused Cafe in Urban Grocery Space Got a small farm or ranch in Arizona? Or an interest in local food and methods for marketing and distributing it? Or maybe a burning desire to learn more about…

See also: District American Kitchen: Happy Hour Report Card See also: Humble Pie: Happy Hour Report Card The Spot: Crudo, 3603 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602-358-8666, www.crudoaz.com. The Hours: Dinner, 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at Crudo. Happy Hour: 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at…

See also: Johnny Chu, Tastemaker 2012 This is part two of my interview with Johnny Chu, chef-owner of SoChu House Neo Asian + Martini Bar. If you missed part one of the interview with Johnny Chu, read it here. Is your cooking more influenced by one Asian cuisine another, or…

See also: Johnny Chu Opens SoChu House with a Hip Ambiance and Plenty of Cocktails Johnny Chu SoChu House Neo Asian + Martini Bar 2801 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 602-340-9777 This is part one of my interview with Johnny Chu, chef-owner of the just-opened SoChu House Neo Asian + Martini…

See also: Local Restaurants Featured on Mystery Diners See also: Phoenix Area Restaurants Featured on Mystery Diners Find a Mixed Bag of Reactions See also: Kim Brennan of Big Earl’s Greasy Eats Pushes Back Against Cave Creek Conservative Columnist, Defends Mystery Diners Episode and Plans White Trash Bash Those of…

Kim Brennan, owner of Big Earl’s Greasy Eats in Cave Creek, isn’t ashamed to admit she was a stripper in another life. In fact, she’s proud of herself for being smart enough to save her money, build a house, and start a business in her adopted hometown. But Brennan, who…

See also: Humble Pie: Happy Hour Report Card See also: Sierra Bonita Grill: Happy Hour Report Card The Spot: District American Kitchen and Wine Bar, Sheraton Hotel, 320 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix. 602-817-5400, districtrestaurant.com. The Hours: Breakfast 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.; Lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner 5:30…

See also: Well, Gastro my Lounge This is part two of my interview with Stephen Jones, the executive chef of Blue Hound Kitchen and Cocktails. If you missed part one the interview with Stephen Jones, read it here. What’s your favorite food smell: A whole roasted suckling pig. What’s your…

Toss the gin and tonic. And don’t settle for a mediocre margarita. We’ve got 11 fresh summer cocktails that will have you dreaming of July all year long (really). Bottoms up. Tennessee Peach at Del Frisco’s Grille Who doesn’t love fresh, juicy peaches in the summer? So just imagine them…

See also: Well, Gastro My Lounge! See also: Winner of Arizona Cocktail Week is Lead Bartender at Blue Hound Stephen Jones Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails Hotel Palomar, CityScape 2 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix 602-253-6633 www.bluehoundkitchen.com This is part one of my interview with Stephen Jones, executive chef of Blue…

See also: Cowboy Chow files for Bankruptcy See also: Cowboy Ciao’s Marianne Belardi Says Goodbye After Fifteen Years Chow Bella reported last week that Peter Kasperski of Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz World Wine Bar filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy under Cowboy Ciao LLC on June 29th. In the comment section…

Remember the big deal of graduating from the Kids Table to the Grown Ups Table at family gatherings? Chef Justin Beckett has resurrected the notion that with age come privileges — in this instance, a three-course, family-style dinner with wine (that’s the grown up part) at Beckett’s Table every Wednesday…

See also: Sierra Bonita Grill: Happy Hour Report Card See also: Los Olivos Mexican Patio: Happy Hour Report Card The Spot: Humble Pie, 21050 N. Tatum Blvd., 480-502-2121, www.humblepieusa. There are three other Humble locations in metro Phoenix (the newest in Kierland Commons) with more to follow. The Hours: 11…

See also: Christopher Gross’ Parnassienne au Chocolate Chocolate Tower This is part two of my interview with Christopher Gross, chef-owner of Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge. See part one of my interview. What the average person doesn’t understand about chefs is: We’re not artists. If an artist doesn’t want to…

See also: Christopher Gross Makes Pig Feet You’d Walk a Mile For See also: Chris Curtiss Dishes on His First Phoenix Gig and Why Food Network Sucks Christopher Gross Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge Biltmore Fashion Park 2502 E. Camelback Road, Suite #102, Phoenix 602-522-2344 www.christophersaz.com This is part one…

See also: Hana’s Lori Hashimoto Dishes on Brazilian Lobster, Magic Knives and Keeping It All in the Family See also: Round Two with Lori Hashimoto Food-istas like to say that ankimo — the huge one-pound liver of the monkfish — is the foie gras of Japan. After it’s been marinated,…

See also: Marianne Belardi Says Goodbye After 15 years See also: Cowboy Ciao Somm Throwdown On Friday, June 29, Peter Kasperski, owner of Cowboy Ciao in Old Town Scottsdale, filed Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona. According to records, he owes $1.1 million to the Arizona Department…