We remember going to Mangos a lot about a decade ago. We remember really liking it. But since then, we haven’t really heard much about the little family-run Mexican joint in downtown Mesa. About 400 burritos later in life, we decided to stop in to our old favorite AZ-Mex joint…
As the chefs competing in Smeeks and Chow Bella’s fourth annual Caramelpalooza — coming 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION — get out the candy thermometers, we’ve got our pens ready to introduce you to the faces behind the caramel. Things don’t stay the same for long at Urban…
What, you say? You’re gluten-free? Well, come sit by Judy Nichols, author of Chow Bella’s newest weekly column, “Gluten for Punishment.” If you have suggestions or questions, leave them for her in our comments section. Enjoy. Don’t hate me because I’m gluten-free. It’s not by choice; it’s by diagnosis. About…
Thirty-year-old Jake Lau, owner of Hao Bao, the mobile kitchen of Chinese soul food, says if there’s one thing about food trucks, it’s that there’s a huge spectrum of unpredictability. See also: – Paradise Melts Food Truck Is Up and Running: Where to Find It – Hey Joe! Sets Up…
In January, it was reported that the owners of Citizen Public House (chef Bernie Kantak, Andrew Fritz, and mixologist Richie Moe) were on the hunt for a new restaurant location. Two months later, the space — as well as the name — have been confirmed. See also: – Cold Beer…
Not even the luck of the Irish can save these tragedies of the culinary world. See also: – St. Patrick’s Day Guide 2013 – Superbowl Eats: 16 Most Awesome/Disgusting Food Stadiums From shamrock pizza to green mashed potatoes and “Leprechaun Legs,” here are 15 St. Patrick’s Day food fails that…
This is part two of my interview with Matt Pool, owner of Matt’s Big Breakfast and Giant Coffee. If you missed part one, where Pool explains what he learned from Chris Bianco and defends Phoenix as a food town, read it here. See also: — Chris Bianco’s Italian Restaurant Gets…
Do you remember HERB? The “Home Exploring Robot Butler” we met last year? Well, apparently HERB has been rather busy, what with sprouting an additional arm and learning how to daintily separate Oreos with his less-than-dainty-looking claws. See Also: –HERB the Robot Uses “Spinning Lasers” to Help You Around the…
Beer: Indra Kunindra Brewery: Ballast Point Brewing Co. Style: Foreign Export Stout ABV: 7 percent As we learned last week, some beers taste odd due to storage issues, dirty equipment, or poor brewing technique. Some beers, however, taste weird by design. See also: – Old World Brewery – You “Must”…
As the chefs competing in Smeeks and Chow Bella’s fourth annual Caramelpalooza — coming 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION — get out the candy thermometers, we’ve got our pens ready to introduce you to the faces behind the caramel. In the kitchen, Goodytwo’s Stacey Barnes and Donna Hansen…
Since the fall of 2011, North Scottsdale folks in search of a cold beer and a cheeseburger need only to look to Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers, the upscale casual eatery from the owners of Arcadia Tavern, as an option for suds and grub in the most obvious sense. See also:…
Mexican papayas are not for the commitment-fearing yet fruit-loving person in your life. This is a fruit that requires careful thought in selection, peeling, deseeding, and cutting. Then, there’s the actual preparation. This is not your average brown-bag-lunch kind of fruit. Papaya requires love; it requires patience. And most of…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Matt Pool Matt’s Big Breakfast 825 North First Street 602-254-1074, mattsbigbreakfast.com Giant Coffee 1437 North First Street 602-396-7215 See also: — Chili Challenge: TexAZ Grill vs. Matt’s Big Breakfast — Matt’s Big Breakfast: New, Bigger Location Now Open This is part one of my interview with Matt Pool, owner of…
You would think a craft beer-focused foundation holding a contest pitting one dish against a beer or wine would be, well, a little biased. But for the past two years, the Beer for Brains Foundation Epicuriad has been thoroughly pleasing food, beer, and wine fans alike. See also: – Epicuriad:…
It’s March. The weather is as damn near perfect as it’s ever going to get, and most of us want to be outside doing something — or better yet, nothing — every gloriously balmy minute. You’ve probably already run through a mental Rolodex of restaurants with great dining patios, but…
After all the goodness Saturday’s Devoured offered, we sent two more of Chow Bella’s finest out to tag-team the more than 40 vendors at the event on Sunday. Heather Hoch and Minerva Orduna roamed the aisles of Devoured at Phoenix Art Museum to bring you the good, the bad, and…
The Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer, which does exactly what it says it does and little else, is widely regarded as one of the most useless kitchen instruments ever invented. So why then has it been reviewed more than 3,000 times on Amazon.com? See Also: –Monti Carlo Makes Banana Bread Muffins…
Cloudy skies and light rain didn’t scare away hordes of hungry Devoured participants on Saturday. And chefs from across the Valley turned out to show off their tastiest small (and not so small in some cases — we’re looking at you, T. Cook’s!) plates and nibbles. With over 45 restaurants…
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…
Sure, Phoenix is far from being a favorite city of the JB foundation, but that doesn’t mean we don’t daydream about what it would be like to experience the biggest event in the culinary world. See also: – 2013 James Beard Award Semifinalists Announced: Four Arizona Candidates Make the Cut…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, in which JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. Every now and again, a movie comes along…
