Our Quick PHX guide this year showed you a lot of dining, partying, and entertainment options this year, but not everything made the cut into the little pocket guide. From happy hour to day drinking and cocktails, we have some spots that deserve honorable mention for slinging some of the…
AZ Wine Lifestyle magazine, formerly known as Arizona Vines and Wines, will return to print this winter under new ownership. The quarterly magazine, which has been in publication since 2008, and website have been sold to John and Michelle Johnson. Former owners Josh and Rhonni Moffitt announced late last year…
Arizona Spring Restaurant Week is just around the corner, the 10-day event during which bargain-seeking diners come out in droves to restaurants all over the city and state. Overall, there a lot of yawn-inducing menus on this year’s list, but I’ve found a few that could be genuinely interesting –…
Add this to the reasons your Starbucks barista secretly hates you: barista elbow. Apparently, making complicated lattes and other coffee drinks is more than just annoying (what’s so bad about regular coffee?); it also can be bad for your health. An increasing number of coffee shop employees are developing elbow,…
It turns out the third time was not the charm for Arizona’s only James Beard Award finalist this year. The annual culinary awards were held Monday night at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. Much to the disappointment of many Arizonans, chef Kevin Binkley…
The Oscars of the food world will take place today in New York City when the James Beard Foundation honors the country’s best food and beverage professionals at the 24th annual James Beard Awards. The event will take place at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center and will…
Beer: Snapshot Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co. Style: Berliner Weisse ABV: 5 percent If we’re ranking sour beer styles by “intensity of flavor” and “likelihood of making an inexperienced craft beer drinker puke,” the Berliner Weisse would be right near the bottom. Its tartness is generally mild; its carbonation high;…
“The West’s Most Western Town” will lose one of its most famous Western-themed destinations when the decades-old Pinnacle Peak Patio closes its doors for good. The restaurant, which opened in 1957, began as a general store but has grown into a popular tourist destination, known for its “no necktie policy”…
We have talked buttercream, in 8 Steps to Making Perfect Buttercream, and I have received a lot of questions about how to perfect that lovely vehicle to get the buttercream to your mouth. No, not spoons or fingers — cake. Even if you aren’t going to become a professional baker,…
Not everyone is a cold brew addict. That’s fine. Espresso certainly has its place in my heart, but it’s not the most conducive to at-home coffee connoisseurs–right? Wrong. The moka pot came to me a few years ago when I thought drip coffee or French press were pretty much the…
Joe’s Real BBQ Wednesday, May 7 Every year Joe’s Real BBQ takes a day to thank customers for their support in the best way a restaurant can: by offering free food. This year that day is Wednesday, May 7 and during the day the restaurant expects to serve some 5,000…
“Can I share with you my worldview? All of humankind has one thing in common: the sandwich. I believe that all anyone really wants in this life is to sit in peace and eat a sandwich.” — Liz Lemon, 30 Rock “Sandwich Day” Truer words were never spoken. From brown…
Chris McKinley Chef, co-owner The Local www.iamthelocal.com If you’ve been to The Local, then chances are you’ve already seen chef Chris McKinley. He’s usually in the open kitchen, sporting some unexpected item of clothing, like bright red pants or fancy-looking shoes or a newsboy hat. It’s also not uncommon to…
What? You didn’t realize it was Cinco de Mayo until this very moment? Well, you’re probably going to be craving tacos about right . . . now. And you’re in luck, because there are a few places around town where you can cash in on taco deals today. Oh, and…
Okay, so we don’t have a Chinatown in Phoenix. But that doesn’t mean you can’t find delicious and authentic Chinese food here. You just have to know where to look. Some of the city’s best Cantonese restaurants might be hiding in plain sight, and if you’re on the hunt for…
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…
This weekend is one of the more popular drinking holidays of the year, the Kentucky Derby. On Saturday, folks everywhere will hoist mint juleps, preferably in silver cups. See Also: How to Make the Best Mint Julep, Ever Of course, it seems like there’s always someone who’s not too keen…
I have a new reason for looking forward to Saturday nights and it has nothing to do with drinking large amounts of wine or watching movies with my dog (although those are also very plausible Saturday night plans). It’s because a few weeks ago I found Taco Mich, a not-so-great…
At this point, we’ve spilled the beans on what your sommelier, your server, your bartender, your pastry chef, and your hostess really don’t you want to do. And while those service industry professionals are entitled to rant and rave about the day-to-day dilemma that is serving food and beverage to…
It’s been almost a month since we told you the well-loved Phoenix taco spot, Tacos Atoyac, closed its doors indefinitely without giving notice or reason to its loyal following. We were far from the only ones saddened to hear the news, which makes us all the happier to be able…
I ate a lot of ramen and Chinese food this month (check out our Ultimate Ramen Battle and Best Chinese Restaurants list to read about that) but somehow still managed to get to quite of few other types of restaurants as well. Some of the best things I ate and…
Governor Jan Brewer signed Senate Bill 1397, nicknamed the “Liquor Omnibus” bill, into law on Wednesday, and though you might not realize it yet, the new law could directly impact you — particularly if you like to drink craft beer. That’s because one of the biggest changes the bill will…
