Lester Gonzalez Cowboy Ciao 7133 E. Stetson Drive Scottsdale See Also: MJ Coe Dishes on the One Thing He Couldn’t Eat and the Death of Cupcake Wars This is part one of our interview with Lester Gonzalez, executive chef at Cowboy Ciao. Check back on Tuesday to learn more about…
Addiction is a terrible thing, as evidenced by the fact that Starbucks addicts are so far down the rabbit hole that they couldn’t help themselves from plunking down $450 for an etched steel gift card sold through luxury online shop Gilt. USA Today reported that only 5000 of the cards…
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. It’s kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won’t all…
If you haven’t made it to the Biltmore Fashion Park’s latest addition UNION — a mix of 18 small, distinctive boutiques run by local vendors — mark your calendars to visit on Monday, December 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. for Terra Madre Day. This international event is a celebration…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where 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. There are some really cool stocking stuffers for aspiring…
On the off chance we haven’t provided you with enough holiday gift-giving ideas for every conceivable kind of food and drink-oriented person in the universe (did we overlook the gluten-free, nut-allergic grill-master on the Paleo diet?), we thought we’d hook you up with local food maven Natalie Morris, who is…
Not only is Nosh Arizona planning on hosting tastings for its wine — one day, the restaurant that describes itself as “a cozy, small plate gastro pub and Pico-winery,” hopes to make its own. See also: November Openings and Closings Opening later this month and located at 4080 West Ray…
The Valley’s own Julia Baker, founder, executive chef, and CEO of Julia Baker Confections, is no stranger to success. The Le Cordon Bleu grad and Paris-trained chef is currently making sweet Christmas gifts for Elton John, designing Robert Redford’s birthday cake, and recently, got ink in the holiday gift guide…
T. Cook’s chef Todd Sicolo (formerly of the Arizona Biltmore Resort) wants to come to your house and cook a Christmas Eve dinner for you and five of your friends — and he might even help do the dishes. See also: Chef Todd Sicolo Leaves Arizona Biltmore for Royal Palms…
What? Not done with your holiday shopping? Yeah, neither are we. But we’ve been making lists — and checking them twice — and we’ve got some suggestions for the nice people on your list. Today, Chow Bella’s Gift Guide for the wine lover. See also: – Chow Bella’s Gift Guide…
Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out what’s on our plate. See Also: The Handlebar and Grill: Happy Hour Report Card Latke Lowdown: Guest Critic Eric Schaefer Pits Abe’s Against Goldman’s Crafeteria The weekend is always cause for celebration, and to…
Ah, the holidays. Christmas is all about love, sharing, sweetness and light — and keeping the antacids handy. In keeping with the spirit of the season, Chow Bella presents “Eating Christmas,” in which some of our favorite writers nosh on the real lessons we learn this time of year. Today,…
The Victoria, BC upscale hotel Inn at Laurel Point is running a national gingerbread house competition to support what else, Habitat For Humanity an organization devoted to constructing homes for the less fortunate. See Also: -Where to See Sweet Gingerbread House Displays in Phoenix -Kahlúa Gingerbread: How to Make It…
Flavoring spirits by soaking herbs, spices and fruits in them is nothing new. In fact, the practice is almost as old as distilling itself. But in the last four or five years, since cocktails went craft, infused booze (flavored with anything and everything, including meat) is big and getting bigger…
At Hotel Valley Ho’s Café Zuzu, diners don’t have to wait until New Year’s Eve to toast the holiday season with champagne. On Monday, December 10, the restaurant will host its annual Champagne Chef’s Table. The evening begins with a Belvedere cocktail reception in the lounge at 6:30, followed by…
See Also: AndyTalk: Potato Latkes Can Be Trendy … Really – Six Ways to Celebrate Hanukkah in Metro Phoenix I want to share a recipe that didn’t work. Actually, part of the recipe worked, and part didn’t. I’ve been nibbling at the good part for a couple of days, but…
The Guilty Pleasure: The McRib Where To Get It: McDonald’s, scores of locations Valleywide Price: About $2.50 What It Really Costs: Several more days of patience. Some foods transcend being a guilty pleasure, and turn into cult classics. The king of them is McDonald’s McRib. Since the sandwich wouldn’t sell…
Whether you’re a local looking to enjoy the holidays here in town, a snowbird celebrating while you’re temporarily here, or an out-of-towner visiting family and friends in Phoenix, The Saguaro hotel has a way for you to get in the holiday spirit the week leading up to Christmas. There’s something…
While a jumbo tub of hot buttered popcorn is one of our most frequently indulged guilty pleasures, we think a good movie deserves a little better company than junk food. Try out our movie and meal pairings for yourself or feel free to suggest one of your own favorites in…
What? Not done with your holiday shopping? Yeah, neither are we. But we’ve been making lists — and checking them twice — and we’ve got some suggestions for the nice people on your list. Today, Chow Bella’s Gift Guide for the Bachelor. Oh to live the bachelor lifestyle, where 20…
Editor’s Note: In this special edition of “Battle of the Dishes,” we asked our favorite mensch, Eric Schaefer, to do some latke research for us. Latkes are the culinary poster child for Chanukah, the Jewish festival of lights that is of relatively minor religious significance but gives us Jewish kids…
Khyber Halal is a culinary crossroads of sorts. A unique mix of the familiar and the unexplored, this casual spot in Phoenix features foods from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India, where each nation’s cuisine is as diverse as the restaurant’s staff of family members. “Pakistani dishes take longer to prepare, are…
