Some snooty conquistador way back when once noted that in Mexico, avocados and guacamole were “butter for the poor.” My, how times have changed! Guacamole — a literal and linguistic mash-up of the Nahuatl (Aztec) words ahuacatl (avocado) and mole (mixture) has gone so upscale, customers now routinely shell out…
As the likable smart-ass behind the food scene blog EATERAZ and the guy who puts on both the Arizona Taco Festival and the Arizona BBQ Festival (all with considerable help from his equally likeable and possibly more smart-ass partner Dave Tyda), Rick Phillips is known for being a magazine publisher…
Edward Farrow has forsaken his executive chef-general manager position at The Café at MIM for a similar gig at SLAM — the acronym for the St. Louis Art Museum. In fact, he’s packing up his stuff and hitting the road for Missouri on Thursday. See also: — Edward Farrow of…
Tucson’s downtown restaurant scene is on fire, and it’s about to get even better. James Beard Award-winner Chris Bianco plans to open a second Pizzeria Bianco on East Congress Street, right next to HUB Restaurant and Ice Creamery. See also: — Popular Flagstaff Restaurateurs Expand to Tucson (Not Phoenix) and…
This is part two of my interview with Vincent Guerithault, chef-owner of Vincent on Camelback and Vincent’s Market Bistro. If you missed part one, where Guerithault talks about being an apprentice, famous people he’s cooked for and where he buys his macarons, read it here. Disclosure: I dated Vincent in…
Vincent Guerithault Vincent on Camelback, Vincent’s Market Bistro 3930 East Camelback Road 602-224-0225, www.vincentsoncamelback.com See also: — Taste Maker #53: Vincent Guerithault — James Beard Award-Winning Celebrity Chef Teams Up with Phoenix’s Justin Beckett for Special Dinner (Spoiler Alert: Reality TV) This is part one of my interview with Vincent…
The Wine Country Brunch has been a super-popular event at the Scottsdale Culinary Festival for 25 years, and by the looks of things, Sunday’s elaborate affair at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center was no exception. See also: — Eat, Drink (and Drink and Drink) and Be Pretty at Last…
If you’re one of those people who bakes a pie to cheer up a friend, makes your specialty carrot/red velvet/whatever cake for everyone’s birthday, and routinely pulls together all manner of adorable goodies for your children’s school programs and bake sales . . . well, bully for you (and the…
This is part two of my interview with Helen Yung, co-owner and ice cream designer/maker at Sweet Republic. If you missed part one, where Yung talks about growing up in Hong Kong, investment banking, and the dish she thinks is overrated, read it here. See also: — Chou’s Kitchen in…
Helen Yung Sweet Republic 9160 East Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale 480-248-6979, www.sweetrepublic.com See also: — Sweet Republic Makes U.S. News and World Report’s List of America’s Best Ice Cream — Tastemaker 88: Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung This is part one of my interview with Helen Yung, co-owner and ice cream…
In a time that doesn’t seem too long ago, Americans approached wine with a sense of dread. Stumbling over French names, listening to the intimidating patter of the sommelier (who had what looked like an ashtray hanging from his neck), smelling the cork, sipping and giving a nod of approval…
This is part two of my interview with Jacques Qualin, chef de cuisine at J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician Resort. If you missed part one, where Qualin talked about head cheese, being an apprentice, and working for Daniel Boulud, read it here. See also: — Hana’s Lori Hashimoto Dishes on…
If you loved Matt Taylor’s memorable Southern cooking at Metro Brasserie and Noca, here’s a bit of good news: His new lunch and dinner menus — loaded with Southern-inspired dishes he’s given a decidedly eclectic spin — roll out Wednesday at Market Street Kitchen. See also: — Matt Taylor Joins…
Jacques Qualin J&G Steakhouse The Phoenician Resort 6000 East Camelback Road, Scottsdale 480-214-8000, jgsteakhousescottsdale.com See also: — Matt Pool on Chris Bianco, Andreoli Italian Grocer, and Phoenix as a Food Town — Chef Kevin Binkley a Finalist for James Beard Award This is part one of my interview with Jacques…
Bartender Kenta Usuzawa, who has pushed beverage of various sorts as bartender, sommelier, and/or bar manager at Tapino, Petite Maison, and Tottie’s Asian Fusion (both locations), took the entrepreneurial plunge last week, quietly opening his own restaurant — Barrelhouse American Kitchen & Cocktails — at the northwest corner of Warner…
Chef Chris Curtiss, who has spent the past 19 months implementing a house-made pasta program for Sam Fox’s NoRTH Fattoria Italiana, is leaving Fox’s organization to work for James Beard Award-winner Michael Mina at Bourbon Steak in the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess. See also: — Chris Curtiss Dishes On His First…
Ramen may not be brain food, but it’s been fueling starving college students on a budget for many years. And now a new noodle shop is coming to Tempe — in walking distance of ASU and just a chopstick’s throw from Mill Avenue. See also: — Pallets, a Vietnamese, Chinese,…
This is part two of my interview with Noca chef Claudio Urciuoli. If you missed Monday’s interview, in which he dished about Olive Garden, truffle oil and the weirdest thing he ever ate (which pretty much tops everybody else’s), read it here. See also: — Noca Owner Eliot Wexler on…
Claudio Urciuoli Noca 3118 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix 602-956-6622, restaurantnoca.com See also: — Noca Re-Opens with New Look, New Breads and New Cocktail Program — Noca Serves Up Wallet-Friendly Lunch with Nocawich This is part one of my interview with Claudio Urciuoli, the executive chef at Noca. Come back Tuesday…
If you’re any kind of food geek at all, you’re already familiar — by fork and good press — with local celebrity chefs such as Chrysa Robertson, Chris Bianco, Kevin Binkley, Greg LaPrad and Charleen Badman. But what you’re far less likely to know are the names and faces of…
This is part two of my interview with Matt Pool, owner of Matt’s Big Breakfast and Giant Coffee. If you missed part one, where Pool explains what he learned from Chris Bianco and defends Phoenix as a food town, read it here. See also: — Chris Bianco’s Italian Restaurant Gets…
Matt Pool Matt’s Big Breakfast 825 North First Street 602-254-1074, mattsbigbreakfast.com Giant Coffee 1437 North First Street 602-396-7215 See also: — Chili Challenge: TexAZ Grill vs. Matt’s Big Breakfast — Matt’s Big Breakfast: New, Bigger Location Now Open This is part one of my interview with Matt Pool, owner of…
