I have a pastry chef crush on Marisa Lown of Gertrude’s, the new(ish) cafe at the Desert Botanical Garden. Her pastry is straightforward, creative, and thoughtful. Marisa is bringing a unique touch and an expert hand to sweets here in the Valley, and I can’t wait to see what she…
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. It’s tough not to talk travel without talking about food — especially when those on…
If you love beer, brats, and B-movie classics, forget about all of your Sunday summer plans. This June and July, Brat Haus in Old Town Scottsdale is offering a sweet cinema package deal while serving up some silver screen nostalgia to everyone who grew up in the 1980s and ’90s…
For the last year the folks at Curalate, a photo/social media-centric marketing and analytic suite, have struggled with one of the great questions of the hipster generation: What is the perfect Pinterest photo? You might be inclined to argue that garnering hundreds of likes and repins has to do with…
The Spot: Pallets 1011 North Third Street 602-254-1168 www.palletsfoodandbar.com See Also: – Roaring Fork in Scottsdale: Happy Hour Report Card – The Most Popular Spirit in the World is Chinese Firewater Baijiu — And It May Be Coming To The States – Hotel Palomar’s One Year Anniversary Party in Downtown…
If you don’t frequent Arizona Mills Mall, I can’t blame you. With five or six different blaring types of music within earshot, pushy sales people prowling the halls, and the exposed blue-light-flooded mouth of a stranger who fell for the very public “20-minute tooth-whitening,” the place is an overload nightmare…
In a tiny corner of my mind lives a memory of total peace. A timeless golden glow where my parents are young and happy and laughing with their friends, drinks in hand as they sit outside next to the water, and my sister and I and an army of other…
This Wednesday, June 5, Cartwright’s Sonoran Ranch House will serve a special menu in tribute to Legends in Levis: Old Time Cowboys. It will be the first in the Cave Creek restaurant’s “Arizona History Dinners” series, scheduled to run biweekly through the end of October. See also: – Eric Flatt…
In one week, Phoenix downtowners will have a new place to get their sushi on: Squid Ink Sushi Bar. See also: – New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix – Sam Fox’s New Seafood Spot, Little Cleo’s, Opens at The Yard in North Central Phoenix The Peoria…
We’re counting our blessings that gelato has less fat than ice cream because there’s a good chance we’re going to be eating a lot of it this summer. On Monday night at Gelato Spot in Scottsdale, a dozen local chefs unveiled artisanal gelato flavors, each of which represents the signature…
This is part two of my interview with Michael O’Dowd, executive chef and co-owner of Renegade by MOD in Scottsdale. If you missed part one, where O’Dowd dished about what he’s up to at Renegade and how he feels about comfort food, read it here. See also: Late-Night Italian Restaurant…
Thanks to food television and the Internet, becoming educated on the cuisines of other countries is easier than ever. See also: – Café Ga Hyang: Fantastic Korean Food — And It’s Open Late – Old Town Sarajevo Is a Bread and Meat Lover’s Dream But often, finding the restaurants that…
You really do have to wonder if Mill Avenue mogul Julian Wright (who owns La Bocca Urban Pizzeria, Canteen Modern Tequila and The Handlebar on that street) ever sleeps. The restaurateur and CEO of Fork & Dagger Restaurant Group just opened Gringo Star Street Bar (also on Mill) not much…
On Wednesday, June 5, all four Arizona Chompie’s locations will participate in “Everyone Can Eat Like a Kid Day,” when diners of all ages will be able to order from the menu usually reserved for thos 10 and under. See also: – Matzo Ball Mayhem: Scott’s Generations vs. Chompie’s…
You probably know that most packaged foods contain more than one serving size. But have you ever stopped to think about what a single serving size actually looks like? Here’s a hint: really, really small. Watch this video and, if you’re like us, you’ll quickly realize you’ve been eating enough…
More than a few people consider Quiessence the best restaurant in this town and a big part of that repuation has to do with the talents of chef Greg LaPrad. For eight years he’s made the South Mountain restaurant a destination for diners and we couldn’t be sadder to see…
If you find yourself with a Jack and Coke in hand this summer, you’re not doing it right. In the wonderful world of cocktails, weird is the way to go. Whether that means you stumble into the back-alley entrance of a speakeasy or you take your drink muddled, shaken, and…
James Beard Award winner and host of Emmy Award-winning Check, Please! Arizona on PBS, Robert McGrath has landed a unique summer gig as executive chef for a brand new eco-resort in Nevada. Situated in the wilderness, in the middle of a wild mustang preserve in the northeastern part of the…
Michael O’Dowd Renegade by MOD 9343 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale 480-614-9400 See also: — Ex Kai Chef Michael O’Dowd Opens Renegade by MOD in Scottsdale this Friday This is part one of my interview with Michael O’Dowd, executive chef and co-owner of Renegade by MOD. Come back Tuesday when O’Dowd…
When you’ve been crankin’ out wings for over 35 years, sometimes you just want to do something different. See also: – Sam Fox’s New Seafood Spot, Little Cleo’s, Opens at The Yard in North Central Phoenix – New Breakfast Spot, Snooze AM Eatery, Coming to Central Phoenix That’s what Ron…
Summer is in full swing — and so is summer festival season. You might have to drive a bit for strawberries, lavender, and corn, but getting there is half the fun, right? Road trip! Food connoisseurs and amateurs alike can fill their schedules until September with the list of festivals…
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? And who better to begin with than writer and dietitian Sharon Salomon?…
