The glossy second draft of a Book o’ Cocktails is big and better, featuring drinks that are revisited, revised, and reinvented. H.G. Wells inspired images, dotted with nods to Dr. Who and illustrative styles of bygone eras, give a feel of what’s to come in your glass. The tour guide is…
What comes to mind when you think of St. Francis? First and foremost, you might think of the exterior of the CenPho restaurant — mid-century design by the institutional Harold Ekman, whose architectural firm once occupied the building’s top floor, above a dental office. Or maybe you recall the famed…
Inhaling deeply: the bread basket is under-developed and overly-proofed in Phoenix; we believe the market has a lot of room to grow. it can be daunting to find good bread and pastries consistently. The few truly great bakers with storefronts often have limited hours and styles. The old favorites may…
A “Bols-vardier,” you ask? Really, you should order one. It’s quite good. The recipe riffs on a classic Negroni while the name plays on that of the Negroni-derived cocktail the Boulvardier. But don’t call it a “Bols-vardier” because, at this juncture, your bartender will either think one of two things,…
It was a normal Saturday evening in Downtown Chandler, save for the 2,000 or so who lined up for the return of the Chandler Craft Spirits Festival on April 25. Dr. A.J. Park was full of spirit — and spirits — and we tried everything craft, local, and ridiculous…
Hands on the clock, as measured by those in the mixology world, move quickly. By now the barrel-aged negroni is the stuff of legend, and for me, the stuff of habit. At Citizen Public House in Old Town Scottsdale, I haven’t not ordered a barrel-aged negroni in years. Not, at…
The light rail may not yet extend to Chandler, but a booze train is heading straight for Dr. A.J. Chandler Park in the city’s downtown later this month. It’s the return of the Chandler Craft Spirits Festival on Saturday, April 25, at which more than 50 spirit and restaurant vendors…
A question for the ages: Just how many abandoned absinthe fountains are out there? Disenchanted by the apparatus (tragically, just picture those heavy fountains metal-plated Lady Absinthe lifts tirelessly above her head), some barkeeps may have even banished her to the highest shelf, by the 40-year-old scotch, as I’ve seen…
According to Pinal County authorities there are now 38 suspected cases of salmonella poisoning linked to two separate events held at The Windmill Winery in Florence. The food poisonings have been linked to an event on March 18 and a wedding on March 19. On April 1 the bride’s mother…
Arizona Distilling Company took yet another leap in legitimacy this past weekend when they came up big at the San Francisco Spirits Competition, winning a distinguished Double Gold medal for their Desert Dry Gin. The Double Gold billing is second only to spirits which, from the Double Gold group, go…
Welcome to the indecisive mind of a reporter: it’s never a matter of how would I introduce a guy like Travis Nass — a sort of fabled mixologist, tucked away in a cabin-in-the-woods-like setting, a couple turns on a dirt road wandering from Paradise Valley’s, let’s say, “lustre,” manning the…
One of the questions I like to ask bartenders is what they throw on the stereo while they’re opening or closing — when no one, save for their co-workers, are listening. Because what really speaks more to the essence of a bar: the curated playlist for paying customers — you…
Want firm proof that Phoenix’s cocktail scene is growing? The hot new openings are cool, sure, but if you read last week’s Spring Cocktail Guide with The Clever Koi’s Joshua James, I’m going to connect some dots…
Like many restaurant teams in town, the guys at The Clever Koi may not have slept much recently, with a weekend of Devoured under their belts and media types knocking on their doors to ask about Spring menus. All the same, Joshua James, co-owner and Beverage Director, was dressed for…
I’ll have to begin by saying that I was completely oblivious to orange wine — yes, I’ll explain myself here in a moment — until nearly a season ago while surfing Instagram, a wonderful place where I learn new things from my favorite tastemakers (I like the personal and off-the-cuff…
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…
You might be under the assumption that when the summer heat arrives, the farmers markets shut down. You’d only be partially right. Some crazy folks keep the veggies coming all summer long. Lucky us. Here are six spots in the Valley. Know of others? Please leave word in the comments…
Until a few months ago you couldn’t get Seven Cups tea, the finest nearly anywhere, in Metro Phoenix unless you ordered it online or knew a friend visiting from Tucson, willing to stop by the tea house on their way to Phoenix. Things changed when Cartel got a Scottsdale location…
The Market: Since the only farmers markets west of Peoria may very well be in California, we were happy to see the Peoria Farmers Market spring up in January — one shouldn’t have to travel too far to have access to organic fruits and vegetables. The Parking: Located at the…
Dates grow abundantly in the Valley, but for most of us, date shakes are synonymous with road trips to San Diego. We stop at Date Land along Interstate 8 to gas up, use a clean gas station bathroom and consume sweet and chewy dates in the only way some of…
Coffee is simple, but preparation can get complicated, so most restaurants leave espresso up to the cafe across the street. Luckily for us, restauranteur Joe Johnston likes a challenge and stuck the E61 Bar – where a chrome 1965 espresso machine is the daily driver – right inside Liberty Market…
The Market: The Roadrunner Park Farmers Market is a weekly slice of American suburbia right here in north Phoenix. As early as the sun rises, youth baseball teams are rounding the bases and girls’ soccer teams are busy at practice. Later on families sit down to picnic tables for lunch,…
