It is de rigueur these days to talk about terroir driven wines, wines that evoke a sense of place based on the geographical sites that give certain characteristics based on microclimate and soil type. It’s also trendy to talk about “non-interventionist” winemaking, letting the wine make itself with as little…
If you don’t consider museum cafes to be a worthwhile dining destination, then it’s likely you’ve never eaten at Palette, the cafe at the Phoenix Art Museum. It’s one of downtown Phoenix’s better dining spots despite the fact that the menu items bare corny names that change (thought the food…
Spring is a common time for folks in the Valley to think about getting chickens to begin their own “backyard flock.” Hence, that whole “spring chicken” saying. Even an article in the New York Times recently highlighted rules of owning chickens in the city. Owning chickens is fun and rewarding…
Chandler Greek Festival Friday, May 2 This Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Chandler will host the spring Taste of Greece Festival with three days of food, dance, and fun. The event will feature live entertainment on all three days and plenty of Greek food including stuffed grape leaves and the sweet,…
Well, it seems a few other people have realized that we need food and drink festivals to get us through the doldrums of summer because this week we got news of two new beer festivals, both of which will launch this summer — and even better yet, both will be…
Despite spring being a great season for Valley restaurants with tons of out of towners coming in and giving the scene a cash boost, not all restaurants made it through the season. However, in a very springy way, there was much more growth in the restaurant scene this month than…
If you’ve been to a wine, beer, or spirit event recently, you know that by the time all the tasting is finished, you’re pretty much past the point of classy sampling and have embarked on a drunken descent of nonsense and not really tasting anything anymore. Oh, come on, that…
If you’ve been around long enough to remember Gregory’s World Bistro — it closed in 2004 — then you probably won’t be surprised to hear that Tuesday night’s dinner at The Gladly, which featured chef Gregory Casale, was a sold out event. To a whole generation of today’s tops chefs…
There’s a new wine bar in town — specifically, in the Ahwatukee Foothills neighborhood. Brought to you by the folks behind the area’s Loco Patron, Unwined Cafe aims to be the neighborhood’s go-to spot for drinks and dinner. Located in a shopping center on the northeast corner of Chandler Boulevard…
The Guilty Pleasure: Mountain Dew Baja Blast Where to Get It: All over the place pretty soon. Price: Varies by a number of factors. Expect the same price as regular Mountain Dew. What it Really Costs: The usual soda schtick of empty calories and liquid candy. Plus loads of caffeine…
We won’t get into the questionable historical significance of the 5th of May in Mexican culture, because if we’re being honest, we’re just using it an excuse to have one too many margaritas on an otherwise completely average Monday. So if you will also be partaking in some Cinco de…
Doughnut lovers, get excited because Maryland-based doughnut chain, Fractured Prune Doughnuts, is now open in Chandler. The doughnut shop allows you to choose from more than a dozen different glazes and toppings so you can build your own doughnut creation. Think marshmallow glaze and graham cracker topping or maple glaze…
Make Mom’s day by taking her to one of these 15 Valley dining spots. There’s a brunch for every budget and type of eater, including outdoor buffets for moms who love to soak up the sun and spectacular views from Phoenix’s best resorts for moms who love to feel pampered…
Did you have breakfast yet? Okay, good, us neither. So that means you can go over to Einstein Bros. and buy a bagel sandwich and get a free one for us, too, right? Today only, Einstein locations are offering a free applewood bacon and cheddar egg sandwich when you buy…
The Spot: Notorious Burgers 8777 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-94703180 www.notoriousburgers.com…
It’s been almost exactly a year since longtime Valley chef Eddie Matney last made headlines for something besides his cooking. This time, it’s because the chef’s five-year-old Scottsdale restaurant, Eddie’s House, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to settle a claim with the Arizona Department of Revenue, Phoenix…
A couple of years ago, my future husband and I were gifted with a bottle of wine from a small Arizona winery. It was delicious, and we were very impressed. About a month ago, my husband contacted the winery to join its wine club and ask whether we could visit…
Fox’s hit television show featuring celebu-chef Gordon Ramsay, restaurateur and winemaker Joe Bastianich, and Michelin-starred chef Graham Elliot will return for its fifth season in May. The show, which searches for the country’s best home cooks, will feature 30 contestants from 14 states competing to win the title of MasterChef,…
It’s been a big year for chef Gio Osso and his new restaurant, Virtu Honest Craft. The restaurant was nominated for the James Beard Award Foundation’s “Best New Restaurant” award in February — and that’s on top of a heaping pile of love from local and national media alike. You’d…
Chandler is a sprawling suburb, so, based on square mileage alone, it makes sense that it would have a solid dining scene. Whether you realize it or not, this Southeast Valley city really has it all: a variety of awesome ethnic restaurants, a great local brewery, and an award-winning wine…
In the world of Kickstarter food inventions, not every proposed product idea is golden. However, when we stumbled on The Goose, it became obvious why the egg-centric project received over $20,000 more than its asking goal. The one-of-a-kind invention is a low-tech kitchen gadget that helps you perfectly scramble an…
Beer: IPA Brewery: Odell Brewing Co. Style: American IPA ABV: 7 percent Near the top of the list of things that make me sad — along with starving puppies and the fact that Tobey Maguire is still making movies — are missed opportunities to educate someone about beer. Recently, this…
