This fall, the Valley’s growing cold-pressed juice craze will include noted restaurateur Sam Fox, who’s opening a walk-up stand of organic juices, coconut water-based refreshers, and nutrient-rich smoothies at the Scottsdale Quarter. Created with the help of executive chef Michael Stebner and alternative medicine man Dr. Andrew Weil of True…
What do the stars of this year’s Valley dining scene look like so far? Like many across the country still adapting to the effects of the recession (so long, fine dining) and reacting to a culture more informed about food than ever (11 seasons of Top Chef and counting), they’re…
The countdown to Best of Phoenix is on. Mark your calendar: This year’s issue will be on newsstands September 26. What better way to warm up than by asking some local “experts” to list their own personal bests? This week Country Velador, pastry chef at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale, shares…
Want free cupcakes and doughnuts? Well, you’re in luck because you can find both this week in Phoenix if you know where to look. Hint: We know, so read on. “Voulez-Vous Diner Avec Moi Ce Soir?” Chef-Off Monday, August 26 This month’s West Valley Chef Off series pits reigning champ…
The hottest thing in NYC right now is the Ramen Burger. And yes, that does sound slightly reminiscent of something Saturday Night Live’s city’s correspondent Stefon would have said — except that this is not a joke. Out of Brooklyn and on the heels of the now-infamous Cronut™ comes an…
Every week, there’s a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you’re like most people, you probably just don’t have the time to get to all of it. So, here’s a recap of some of the top stories from the week that…
I had fun writing about triple sec last week. It was one of those articles that almost asked more questions to me than it answered. After all, triple sec is but one liqueur of literally hundreds out there. Why should triple sec have all the fun? Let’s take a look…
The Phoenix dining scene has its fair share of hip, casual restaurants with refined taste — Windsor, Tuck Shop, and The Parlor, to name a few — and soon enough Nook will open its door in Arcadia with hopes to be on that list. First, they need to gather a…
The Spot: Olivastro, Open Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m…
Food lovers and culinary literature nerds will know the name Michael Pollan. The best-selling author was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2010 and received a James Beard award for best magazine series in 2003. Pollan has written four New York Times best…
This time of year, conversations at Chow Bella meetings tend to turn to who’s eaten what — where. With the summer travel season in full swing, we bring you Food Tours, our writers’ suggestions of what to eat and drink out of town. Santa Fe, New Mexico, has an epic…
Heads up, beer hounds: Arizona’s newest brewery, Huss Brewing Co., is opening its doors at noon today. Huss Brewing Co. comes courtesy of husband-and-wife team Jeff and Leah Huss, who spent over three years working to bring their dream of owning a brewery to life (Jeff is a graduate of…
Arizona State University students in Tempe starved for good-for-you eats like salads, wraps, and the occasional mint and pineapple smoothie need to look no further than their own campus. Freshii, the Chicago-based, healthy fast food chain with 75 locations in eight countries, opened its first Arizona location at 1290 South…
It looks like All-American brew might not be so great after all, though to be fair, they aren’t the only brands of beer with a habit of landing folks in the emergency room. A recently study done at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, found that several malt liquors (not…
The chocolate chip cookie is no fad. This beloved American treat is a go-to sweet treat, and cookies in the pastry case always sell. Chocolate chip cookies come in so many different shapes, sizes, thickness, sweetness levels, shades of browning, and textures. They are their own chemistry experiment, for as…
The Guilty Pleasure: Fiery Doritos Locos Tacos. Where To Get It: Taco Bell, locations nationwide. The Price: $1.39 for regular, $1.69 for supreme. What It Really Costs: Orange fingers. By now, even the most casual observer of fast food trends has witnessed the rampant popularity of Doritos Locos Tacos at…
The aromas of the Valley’s barbecue scene just got one food truck stronger. Joining other ‘cue-centric mobile kitchens like AZ Barbecue, Tom’s BBQ Pig Rig, and Q Up BBQ, One-Eighty Q, the newest barbecue food truck, hit the streets in late July. Here’s what barbecue hounds can expect…
The Arizona State Fair is just around the corner and while we’re dusting off our heavy-duty eating pants, the more culinarily inclined ought to get their ovens at the ready. Whether you’ve got a tried and true family recipe with Bisquick mix or just a favorite cookie mix, there’s a…
Beth Goldwater’s cheesecake is easily one of the best in town. Crafted from a recipe she took a year to perfect, it is bulky in appearance, yet lighter and less dense than you might expect, and its dark brown, thin cookie crust serves as a buttery and crumbly base for…
The weekend is coming up fast and we don’t want you caught on the couch. Prior planning is key, so here are a few dining and drinking events to look forward to around the Valley. Beat the Heat Winter Fest Friday, August 23 It’s almost cruel to be talking about…
It’s been nearly a year since New York City fast food employees staged a walk-out in protest over their low wages. It ignited a slow but steadily growing movement within the fast food service industry that’s been making its way across the country, as several cities have seen one-day work…
If you are passing through the doors of Bertha’s Cafe for the very first time, you probably have come for Beth Goldwater’s cheesecake. A poorly kept secret among Valley dessert hounds — those who can tick off their favorite spots for bread pudding without so much as a pause for…
