Today’s meal is a big ol’ steak: The Big One, a 32-ounce porterhouse that’s a slab o’ beef of Western-style proportions. The challenge can be found at Bill Johnson’s Big Apple (3757 E. Van Buren, 602-275-2107), an Arizona steakhouse with a rich history. Sit back while I indulge ya’ll. Bill Johnson,…
The beer geek is a simple creature, really. Plop a few bottles in front of him this holiday season and he’ll call it good. But when the holiday five-pack just won’t cut it, here are some gift ideas that’ll make your beer geek piss-drunk — with happiness…
Yesterday we met Clint Manning, the mixologist who developed the expansive menu of margaritas at Canteen Modern Tequila Bar. Today he shares with us the recipe for one of his more unique creations, the Serrano-Mango Margarita. “With margaritas, it’s sometimes tough to make sure they’re not too sweet,” Manning says…
Having been open a scant two months, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar (640 S. Mill Ave., 480-773-7135) is still the new kid in town, though it sure doesn’t seem like it. One glance at the line snaking out the door of the tequileria each weekend will have you thinking the place has…
Cookie exchanges are a staple at every holiday office party, including the offices of Chow Bella. But the contributors to this blog are a cutthroat bunch, and with an inordinate amount of trash talk thrown about, our cookie exchange quickly became a cookie showdown. Check back here each day through…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Tom Crowley, the esteemed bartender of the Cork and Cleaver who, 32 years later, is now mixing drinks at 1889 Saloon. Today he shares with us the recipe for his favorite drink, known simply as Tom’s Drink. “When I go out to the local watering holes, I…
Having served drinks at the Cork & Cleaver for 32 years, Tom Crowley could be considered as much a part of the venerable Phoenix steakhouse as the front door. So when a motor in the produce cooler short-circuited, creating a smoldering fire that caused major smoke damage to most of…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met April Lohrenz, the babe at Tempe’s Spitfire Grill and Tavern who’s also a swim instructor. And a dental hygiene student. And a mom. Today she shares with us the recipe for her Lemon Drop martini, which she developed after having the drink botched by nearly every bartender…
April Lohrenz wears many hats. There’s the promoter hat, which she wore while working years ago as a promoter for Budweiser, travelling all over the country to promote the beer company at hydroplane speed boat races. There’s the student hat, which she currently dons as she studies dental hygiene at…
Christmas is everyone’s favorite holiday, but true beer fans know that the most wonderful time of the year is made even more wonderful with a pint in your hand. Winter warmers and other dark, comforting brews take over around the holidays to help carolers and Christmas tree shoppers thaw out…
Yesterday we met Monte Fuller, the scuba diver/pilot/fireman who also happens to work behind the bar at Iruna. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Ginger Limonada, a cocktail Iruna’s owner calls “too easy to drink.” We have to agree — it’s a subtly tart, smooth drink that’s…
Monte Fuller may just be the ultimate man. Not only is the svelte, deep-voiced bartender a former scuba instructor, licensed pilot and on his way to becoming a firefighter; he also makes a damn good drink. The former general manager of Martini Ranch, he now exhibits his skills at Iruna…
Read: all of Zach Fowle’s battles in “Feasts of Fury.” We begin with a burger. A foot tall it stands, each of its nine third-pound patties thick and glistening with gristle, cheese spilling out from every layer like molten gold. Hefty slices of tomato, pickles, onions, and lettuce sit softy…
Yesterday we met Casey Petty, the man behind the bar at Metro Brasserie. Today he shares with us the recipe for his Maple Manhattan, a drink he crafted to capture the essence of fall. “It’s not really a manhattan,” Petty says. “I just want people to know there’s whiskey in…
Casey Petty of Metro Brasserie (7114 E. Stetson Dr., 480-994-3663) says that 99 percent of the people who come to the French eatery in Scottsdale once end up coming back again. We’re willing to bet he has more than a little influence on those numbers. The young, outgoing guy has been…
Last week we met Alicia Jorgensen, the woman behind the bar at the new Beckett’s Table. Today she shares with us the recipe for Miss Katie’s Pimms Cup, a drink crafted by owner Scott Stevens and named for his wife, Katie. The cocktail’s made with Pimms No. 1, a gin-based drink…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Veterans of the food industry will attest that while it’s one thing to begin working in an established restaurant, it’s another thing entirely to be part of the crew that opens a new one. The experience can be stressful, especially at an eatery as hyped-up as Beckett’s Table (3717 E. Indian…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
In October, Tempe12 began hosting monthly eating contests exclusively for fraternities and sororities, dubbing the series The Greek League Eating Contest. Each house sends a representative to be teamed up with one of the sexy 12 in a battle of food supremacy. The first event is taking place at Lobby’s…
