I always wonder what people are actually doing when they refer to “the F-word.” I mean, they all know what it means. Why don’t they just say it? It seems to me to reveal a kind of double-standard. When you are watching one of those clips on the news where…
I’m in search of a frozen time-travel moment back to Lanikai Beach, where my flip-flops were just steps away from Island Snow, where Barack and I get our shave-ice fixes.
Kick Ass Kakes, the cake-centric shop in Central Phoenix owned by artist-chef Jay Murphy — who made CNN news in January for his lifesize Lady Gaga cake — is expanding its sweet offerings. In early August, Murphy, a graduate of Parsons School of Design and Scottsdale Culinary Institute, opened The…
From the heartfelt to the mouth-watering to the ridiculously funny, nearly everyone can remember their favorite food movie or food-centric film scene. Which ones strike a chord with Valley chefs and restaurateurs? A few you might expect, some you may not, and a few that go way back — way…
When it comes to market-fresh cocktails with high-quality ingredients, beverage consultant Kim Haasarud knows her way around a bar. As the woman behind Liquid Architecture, a beverage consultancy, she’s helped top restaurants, hotels and spirit brands create one-of-a-kind liquid cuisine. The master mixologist and author has worked with Maxim, P.F…
Locally owned American coffee houses are going to some extreme measures to counteract what are being called “laptop squatters,” or people who camp out for long periods of time without spending more than a few dollars on coffee and food. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Luigi Di Ruocco, owner…
The Spot: Virtú Honest Craft 3701 North Marshall Way, Scottsdale 480-946-3477 www.virtuscottsdale.com…
Last week we kicked off a contest to win a copy of mixologist Kim Haasarud’s latest book, 101 Tropical Drinks. All you have to do is share your best cocktail recipe and you could be one of two people to take home the book and get a front row seat…
Once upon a time, I could eat anything. I traveled the Valley of the Sun, nibbling here and there, happy in my gluten-filled world, blissful in my celiac-disease ignorance. I had many favorite dishes that I would return to again and again…
Obed de la Cruz of the de la Cruz family, a name synonymous with Mexican food in the East Valley, is bringing his family’s recipes to Central Phoenix in the form of a new restaurant. Obed — whose family owns El Sol Mexican Cafe & Bakery and El Zocalo Mexican…
A new build-your-own pizza and salad concept has planted its pepperoni in the Valley. Called Fired Pie, the fast-casual local restaurant chain comes courtesy of Fred Morgan, Rico Cuomo, and Doug Doyle, three restaurant industry vets who, according to FastCasual.com, worked together for more than 15 years at California Pizza…
This is part two of our interview with Brian Peterson, executive chef and part owner of Cork in Chandler. Today we get the story on how this former Chicago guy learned to love living in the Valley and what he still thinks the Phoenix food scene is missing. If you…
In 2004, failed presidential candidate John Edwards famously made a speech about “two Americas,” a reference to the socio-economic divide that plagues our country. But this is not a column about politics; it is a column about food. So you’re probably asking yourself, “What the hell is Eric talking about…
A Michigan mother says she found a live worm inside her son’s Capri-Sun juice pouch last week. And despite what you see in the video below, in which the worm can be seen wriggling inside a plastic bag, Kraft Foods says it can’t be sure the object in question isn’t…
Beer: Surette Brewery: Crooked Stave Artisan Beer Project Style: Saison ABV: 6.2 percent Another day, another new brewery in Phoenix. This week’s rookie has landed on shelves after a relatively short flight from Denver, but tasting their beers might make you think they came from Belgium. Chad Yakobson, brewer and…
It takes a special kind of person to respond with bright enthusiasm to a request for an order of gusanos de maguey, but, hell, he may have thought it takes a crazy sort of person to make such a request so far away from southern Mexico. But perhaps years of…
Bombay Spice Grill, the healthy fast-casual restaurant chain of Indian food owned by JNK Concepts (Roka Akor) is on the move. After five years, the company, which currently has Bombay Spice Grill locations in Chicago and Tempe, is closing its original Bombay Spice Grill & Wine off Tatum and Shea…
A new and decidedly unique pizza has hit the Valley’s thriving food truck arena — and this one comes stoned. Saffron Jak Original Stone Bread Pizza, billed by owners Jayson and Jaymes Khademi as “the only stone bread pizza in Phoenix,” features a rotating menu of globally inspired, stone-cooked pies…
Only five years ago, now-commonplace ice cream flavors like sweet corn or craft beer would have caught anyone off guard. But with the introduction of bacon to the dessert course a few years ago, the line separating sweet and savory was forever demolished. These 10 ice creameries craft artisanal versions…
The weekend might be over, but there’s still plenty of dining and drinking left to do this week. On Friday, join New Times on a Back to School Pub Crawl at Tempe Marketplace from 8 to 11 p.m. Fermenting 101: Arizona Homebrewer’s Basics Today This October, you can join the…
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 FnB co-owner Pavle Milic shares his five favorite spots to…
Brian Peterson Executive Chef Cork Today, we share part one of our interview with executive chef Brian Peterson of Cork in Chandler. The upscale neighborhood wine bar has gone through quite a transformation since it opened in 2008. Peterson dishes on how it’s managed to find its niche. Come back…
