The week ended on a sad note for us here at Chow Bella, when we received word that a beloved member of the Phoenix food community has fallen ill. Her name is Lisa Giungo, but you might know her simply as “Lisa G.,” and remember her namesake CenPho restaurant, Lisa…
More than a few craft bartenders I know have a certain disdain for shots. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a mixed drink with an X-rated name or the bottle of the moment. They sniff that shots are vulgar, more suited to the realm of nightclubs and frat parties than Serious…
Sometimes you just have to get the real deal. Sometimes you just can’t take one more stand-in, substitute, sort-of-like, kinda-similar wheat-free thing. Sometimes, when you get the real deal, it’s even better than the wheaty version, and there is a sublime feeling of the pieces of the universe falling in…
The Spot: New India Bazaar and Cuisine, open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m…
McDuffy’s Grille, the Chandler sports bar with a long history in the Valley, has shuttered. Originally opened just off Tempe’s Mill Avenue in 1988, McDuffy’s, describing itself as “a great neighborhood sports grill where you can come watch any game you can think of” was known for its walls of…
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…
In most cases, when food and sex mix, we’re not really into it. But in this case, things have a taken a turn toward the educational, and we think we’ll make an exception. The definitely NSFW video below highlights alarming differences between porn sex and real-life sex in a creative…
All summer long, I have searched the Valley for the best burgers that this place has to offer — from Gilbert’s Agritopia to the west side of Phoenix. Despite the wide range of burger joints I tried, there were still places I, unfortunately, was unable to get to. Rehab Burger…
Guacamole seasoning pouches of the Old El Paso variety are nothing new, but seeing one with a celebrity chef’s name attached to it is worth more than a passing glance. Let’s grab some avocados and get mashing…
When it comes to farm-to-table food, St. Francis chef/owner Aaron Chamberlin knows a thing or two. Really, we can say that for sure because we’ve been in the kitchen when he’s working his fresh-food magic. So if you’re passionate about this stuff or just interested in learning what it takes…
Welcome to Crunch, where Chow Bella contributor Nina Gruber is exploring healthy eating options — and reporting back. This week: the Raw Food movement. Most of us eat a little bit of raw food every day: a salad here, some carrots there, maybe some dehydrated kale chips. But some people…
Another Phoenix food truck has found a brick-and-mortar home. On the heels of Sit…Stay from Short Leash Hot Dogs and Mamma Toledo’s Pies, which opened a shared brick-and-mortar space at 110 East Roosevelt Street on Roosevelt Row in July, Pizza People, the mobile kitchen of artisan pies, has announced its…
Bootleggers in North Phoenix is a kind of barbecue pit gone the way of a gastropub. It’s a place where a half-pound of sliced brisket can be paired with a well-crafted Old Fashioned served up in a mason jar; cold-smoked chicken wings can be chased with gourmet jelly shots; and…
Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? Here are a few things we have on the books. Arizona Great Fifty-Eight Arizona beer fanatics, get geared up for a pretty special event. On Saturday, August 10, World of Beer in Tempe is tapping 58 beers brewed right here…
Like most chefs, I crave farm fresh eggs for my professional culinary needs as well as my hungry-belly needs. Have you compared the golden yolk of an organic free-range egg with that of a mass-produced egg? With the proliferation of urban farmers and backyard coops popping up, fresh eggs seem…
Cronut-mania is sweeping the country! They’re everywhere and everyone loves them! Or at least that’s what the media (psh) want you to think. However, a new poll by YouGov, an online research and consulting organization, suggests that just isn’t true. In fact, its research indicates that the majority of Americans…
Given the handful of decent barbecue joints in the Valley, chasing the aroma of smoked meat is a little like finding relief during a Phoenix summer: There are moments of satisfaction, but for the most part, it’s a losing battle. So it is both surprising and fortuitous that a place…
Chef-owner Christopher Van Arsdale, the one-man show behind Scottsdale’s BYOB Café Monarch, has left the restaurant he started six years ago. Located at 6934 East First Avenue (First Avenue and Goldwater Boulevard), the 1200-square-foot restaurant, which Van Arsdale decorated himself, was known for its intimate setting and Mediterranean-inspired dishes, many…
Rosé wine is a very divisive topic. A recent New York Times article, Rosé: In Demand, but Not Demanding reports, “If you feel the need for a good, strong bath of cynicism, gather a few sommeliers in summer and discuss rosés. They could give teenagers a few lessons in eye-rolling,…
If you’ve ever had a hot pot, then you know it’s as much about the show as it is the rich, flavorful, and totally unique culinary experience. This Chinese classic is served in clay pots, metal pots, and even big metal bowls, but no matter what kind of pot, it…
Oh, brother. Amy and Samy Bouzaglo, the high-strung owners of Amy’s Baking Company and the couple behind the best/worst episode of Kitchen Nightmares ever are now hawking catchphrase T-shirts. Who asked for these? Did you? I’m pretty sure I didn’t…
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. America’s recession hit the restaurant industry hard, with elements such as reduced traffic, staff layoffs,…
