Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Whether it’s a farmers market find, some local love at the grocery store, or a…
There’s a whole market out there for exotic breeds of chickens. As in livestock that can cost you anywhere from $50 a bird to thousands of dollar for a pair. But the king of the expensive fowl would have to be the Indonesian chicken breed Ayam Cemani, which will run…
Whether it’s a bad breakup, a morning board meeting, or a late night of drinking, there are moments when doughnuts simply call to us. Try as we might, when this deep-fried fusion of sugar and dough speaks our name, nothing else will do — not muffins, not croissants, and sure…
This time of year, conversations at Chow Bella staff meetings tend to turn to who’s eaten what and 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. I keep meaning to travel around…
The Guilty Pleasure: Smothered Burrito Where To Get It: Taco Bell, locations nationwide Price: $2.99 (or $3.99 with steak or chicken) What It Really Costs: Dairy-induced heartburn. Of all the fast food items I’ve seen, few have had the rabid following of Taco Bell’s cult classic Enchirito. I never understood…
Chandler-ites who enjoy live music, comfort food, and craft beer might want to meet their new neighbors this week — interestingly enough, in the form of a bar and restaurant called Nabers. Celebrating with a grand opening at 11 a.m. this Friday, August 16, Nabers is located at 825 North…
Chef Aaron Chamberlin has brought in some extra firepower at St. Francis, his American restaurant (recently featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives) in Central Phoenix. Chamberlin, who also owns Phoenix Public Market Café in downtown Phoenix, has hired chef Jay Bogsinke (District American Kitchen, La Grande Orange, Chelsea’s Kitchen, Zinc…
For eight years, notable farm-to-table chef Greg LaPrad made Quiessence at the Farm at South Mountain a destination restaurant with an ever-changing menu of sophisticated, rustic fare. But this June, LaPrad said goodbye to his South Phoenix home, leaving to open his own restaurant, Overland Trout, in Sonoita, Arizona. That…
This is part two of our interview with the man behind the deep-fried barbecued eats of Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food. Today, chef and owner Brian Webb dishes on what’s really inside his new Filipino steamed buns and talks about the potential for Filipino food as a culinary trend. If…
The most opinionated person on the planet is not Simon Cowell, Sheriff Joe, the editor of this blog, or any number of insane Arizona politicians. It’s someone you and I see every day, who interacts with our children and is often our friend on Facebook. It’s the parent of school-aged…
It’s pretty safe to say the croissant-doughnuts have jumped the shark even faster than Shark Week jumped the shark. Don’t believe us? Maple bacon “Cronut” burgers exist. We think that says enough. So we’re moving on to the next deep-fried doughnut thing and we (ok with some help from video…
Beer: Pilsner Urquell Brewery: Plzensky Prazdroj Style: Bohemian Pilsner ABV: 4.4 percent For good or for ill, there is no brewery that’s affected beer consumption worldwide more than Plzensky Prazdroj. One hundred and seventy-one years ago this November, the Czech brewery introduced pilsner, a beer style with qualities so unique…
Nothing says summer like the flavor of fresh, vine-ripened tomatoes, but you might not be expecting to eat the fruit-once-mistaken-for-a-vegetable for dessert. You can try an unusually sweet twist on the classic pairing of tomato soup and grilled cheese at Urban Cookies Bakeshop, available today through Sunday, August 18. The…
Later this month Chow Bella and Changing Hands are co-presenting a book signing and cocktail event with professional mixologist Kim Haasarud, author of 101 Tropical Drinks and the “101 cocktail” series. On August 22 at Tempe’s Changing Hands bookstore, you’ll be able to catch Haasurud as she shakes up a…
After seven years, The Gelato Spot, the family-owned Italian frozen treat chain, has made the decision to shutter its location at Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale. The remaining four locations continue to operate and currently are showcasing a rotating selection of signature flavors from 12 Valley chefs through…
Brian Webb Chef/owner Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food www.heyjoetruck.com This is part one of our interview with Brian Webb of Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food. The food truck hit the streets right as the food truck craze took off in Phoenix and has been bringing the cuisine of the southeast…
In July, chef-owner David Antonelli announced he was giving Voltaire Restaurant, the 30-year-old fine-dining spot of classic French cuisine in North Scottsdale, a much-needed makeover. “January, February, and March are busy months for us, but we can’t survive on three months of activity,” Antonelli said in a heartfelt letter to…
Gelato shops seem to come and go pretty quickly, but the ones that stick around prove their worth with smooth, creamy, cold treats that are so decadent and unique they can transport you to Italy with one bite. The array of flavors, each with its own decorative flair, make gelato…
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, Georganne Bryant of Frances and Smeeks shares her favorite spots…
Just because your weekend is over doesn’t mean you have to starve. This week offers plenty of events to keep you fueled till Friday comes around. Monday Night Chef’s Table Tonight you can kick start the week with a four-course wine-paired dinner at ZuZu at the Hotel Valley Ho. The…
Two decades ago, beer was king around these parts, with nearly half of Americans saying they preferred to drink beer over wine or liquor. But Gallup’s new survey of alcoholic preferences shows that number — and annual domestic production — was down 20 percent in 2012. If you look at…
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…
