We’re going behind the scenes and getting up close and personal with some of the Valley’s favorite chefs, learning what it takes to make one of their best-known dishes. Welcome to The Trail.
Are you as excited as we are for Pie Social 2014? You will be once you get a load of this year’s celebrity chef lineup. This year, 16 chefs will craft pie masterpieces to compete for the title of best in show. The fifth annual event, hosted by Chow Bella…
Beer: Scotch Ale (Kilt Lifter) Brewery: Moylan’s Brewery & Restaurant Style: Scotch ale ABV: 8 percent When I was little, I had a hamster named Roxy. She was a great little hamster, playful and gentle, and the two of us used to hang out for hours, she running around in…
Things have been quiet on the Crazy Amy front, but this weekend, the infamous couple exploded back onto the national scene in a big way. According to a 911 call to the Scottsdale Police Department, Amy’s Baking Company owner “Samy” Salomon Bouzaglo threatened a customer with a knife on Saturday…
As of this week there’s a new dining option for those looking for New American food in the historic downtown Glendale neighborhood. Cuff, a new restaurant from chef Tom Harvey, has opened to the public and is currently serving lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday…
You might think making cheese is a dirty job but it’s surprisingly easy and with just a trip to your local beer-making store you’ll have everything you need to make your own gouda, chèvre or gruyère. The artisanal craft of making cheese is a handy skill to have because, who…
In the mushy-yet-magical coulee that is my imagination, Pumpkin Spice exists as a rejected sixth Spice Girl. Yoga-pantsed, Ugg-booted, and sexy-baby-voiced, poor P.S. just literally can’t even function as a flavor. Pumpkins are a thing. Pumpkin Pie Spice is a thing. But “Pumpkin Spice” is a myth that we seem…
Later this week the fourth and largest location of Postino Wine Cafe will open its doors to the public. Dubbed Postino Annex, the new restaurant and wine bar is located inside the historic Art Annex building at 615 S. College Avenue, just steps from the heart of the Arizona State…
Rania’s Kabob Grill Today There’s going to be a gastronomical throw-down tonight in Gilbert, at Rania’s Kabob Grill. The restaurant is hosting the latest installment of the Chef Off series, which pits two East Valley chefs against each other in a competition to win over diners and take home the…
If you know anything about Belgium, it might have something to do with waffles or fries, but it’s even more likely that you know the Belgians are serious about their beer. From Trappist breweries to small craft set-ups churning out bottles of fancy heritage brewing styles , Belgium is pretty…
I find the classic French 75 a perenially enjoyable cocktail. It’s a simple but elegant affair of champagne spiked with gin and a splash of lemon. It’s sort of a Tom Collins with an extra kick. See also: The French 75: Not French, But It’s So Good, Who Cares? While…
So you’re going to rent a beach house with your significant other’s family? Brave soul. I just made this trip, and made it home in one piece, albeit sandy. Since I’m a pastry chef, of course, I was asked to make goodies for everyone. A generic list of available kitchen…
Do you dream of starting up your own small business that centers around food? Whether than means a bakery or a food blog, University of Arizona has a new educational series that might just help you achieve that dream. Now through late October UA’s Continuing and Professional Education program is…
Heads up, Tempe night owls and bar-goers. There’s a new dining option located off Mill Avenue that’s going to be serving pastries, crepes, and more until 2:30 a.m. on weekends. The restaurant and bakery called Delice Bistro opened Thursday at 690 South Mill Avenue, at Centerpoint on Mill…
As September wraps up, that can only mean one thing, it’s Oktoberfest time. Grab your lederhosen and your mug-shaped hat and prepare to stuff your face with beer, bratwurst and pretzels. Here’s our list of the Oktoberfest activities going around in Metro Phoenix…
The Guilty Pleasure: Two new flavors of Oreos. Where to Get It: Caramel Apple flavor at Target. Pumpkin Spice flavor everywhere. Much like pumpkin spice flavor in general these days. Price: About $3 a box. What it Really Costs: The usual danger of a box of processed cookies suddenly disappearing…
All right brunchophiles, it’s time to dust off the old two wheeler and get back on your saddle because temperatures are finally cooling off and that means pretty much every weekend should be filled with both biking and brunching. Over at Phoenix City Grille, you can choose to combine the…
When Market Street Kitchen opened in 2012, the owners tapped two of the Valley’s best known and well-loved chefs to helm the kitchen: James Beard Award-winner Robert McGrath as executive chef and Matt Taylor as chef du cuisine. It seemed like the prefect recipe for success until, less than a…
Roosevelt Row Chile Pepper Festival Saturday, September 27 Head to the A.R.T.S. Market in downtown Phoenix this Saturday night to be a part of the third annual Roosevelt Row Chile Pepper Festival. The event will feature chile-infused dishes from 20 teams of local chefs and restauranteurs, all of whom will…
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…
Once upon a time, there was a city. It was not the largest city, or the smallest. It was not the richest or the poorest. But this city had a reputation, nonetheless. It was known throughout the land as dry and inhospitable — heated to unimaginable temperatures for several months…
It’s a very, very confusing morning for beer and coffee lovers. No, we’re not talking about coffee stouts, which are, in fact, delicious and nearly in season again. We’re talking about Starbucks taking that whole thing, flipping it, and reversing it with their new Dark Barrel Latte. The new latter…
