“A lot of people say it’s the water. It’s not the water, it can be done.” New York Flavor owner Bill Olear would love the chance to make New York pizza. Too bad his cute and comfortable fast-casual eatery is too small, not to mention the fact that his lease…
Food festivals have been a point of contention here at Chow Bella and among our treasured readers. Our resident food critic even put the question of their worth to local chefs, and though the response was generally positive, there were some notable dissenters. Let me suggest that’s because we don’t…
When it comes to finding the flavors of their city, many an ex-Gothamite has been dragged to joints all over the Valley touting real a New York vibe and authentic Big Apple fare. Bill Olear didn’t find his New York in any of them. “Most places take a nostalgic view…
Welcome to Vine Geeks, where Brian Reeder and Pavle Milic of AZ Wine Merchants take the drinking game quite seriously. Pay attention — you might just learn something. One of the consistent columns I’ll be writing as the resident ‘vine geek’ will be about different wine regions around the state,…
We absolutely love cookies (who doesn’t?) and we love cookies even more when they show up on our doorstep. Which is why we’re super happy that the business of cookies by mail exists. And we’re even more stoked that we have more than one bakery in town to deliver those…
Thousands of people, lots of restaurants, and the plastic cups — my god, the plastic cups! For many parts of the country, food festivals are in full swing this time of year. We’ve most likely had a taste or two at several, but what do those on the other side…
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…
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…
Local food blogger Dominic Armato is a gastro-geek on a mission. He wants to build a grassroots coalition of people who are passionate about food, and to that end, he has launched a discussion board called PHXfoodnerds.com His aim is to bring Phoenix food-lovers together for food-related events, impromptu restaurant…
This is potentially the ultimate in truth in advertising, perhaps even the anti-Fauxbe beef. Brazilian fruit juice company Camp wanted to take their claims of being “made with 100 percent fruit juice” one brilliant advertising step further. Advertising firm Ageisobar spent two years developing molds that would allow them to…
The Spot: Cork, 4991 S. Alma School Road, Suite 1, Chandler 480-883-3773. corkrestaurant.net Hours: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday The Details: There’s nothing average about the four-star restaurant’s new happy hour. It’s an extensive, mouthwatering menu unto itself, beginning with $5 snacks like the duck fat French fries…
Fava beans — quite possibly the spookiest legumes of all time. Remember Hannibal Lecter, who scared the bejeezus out of Clarice (and the rest of us) when he deadpanned, “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti”? And then that little slurpy noise he made after?…
If you happen to find yourself around the food of Puerto Rico and the unmistakable smell of garlic has made your nose twitch with curiosity, you are most likely about to encounter mofongo. Satisfyingly flavorful and fill-you-up-fast, the classic dish from made from fried green plantains mashed together in a…
Larry White, Jr. Lo-Lo’s Fried Chicken & Waffles 10 W. Yuma Street, Phoenix 602-340-1304 and 2765 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-945-1920 www,loloschickenandwaffles.com This is part two of my interview with Larry White, Jr. (Lo-Lo), the owner of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles. In case you missed it, you can read part…
Message to loaded fries everywhere: Game. Oinkin’. On. Think you’ve stuffed yourself silly on chef Bryan Dooley’s top-notch ‘cue at his hoppin’ little joint in Cave Creek? Not like this. Now cue the ringing of that cowboy triangle dinner bell, we’re gonna eat…
Live music, art exhibits, after-hours events — if you haven’t been to the Icehouse lately, the huge and happenin’ 34,000-square-foot space and former ice-storage building near Fifth Avenue and Jackson Street in downtown’s warehouse district, maybe it’s time you paid a visit. And if you need some incentive, a “new…
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…
We had so much fun chucking Chow Bella contributors Ando Muneno and Lauren Saria into the ring over Alton Brown, food trucks and movie theaters with food, we put them back at it again. This week’s topic: Pho, Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Pho joints have been growing in popularity throughout…
Have you ever polished off a $6 burger at Carl’s Jr. and said to yourself, “By Jove, what I need now is another smaller burger made of ice cream”? Probably not, but the food scientists at Carl’s Jr. certainly did and, by their will alone, have brought The Brrrger into…
Okay, so you took Chow Bella’s advice and went out to a local farm to pick some peaches. Now you’ve got a crap-ton of them, they’re getting softer by the minute and you’d like to use ’em before you lose ’em. Enter chef-owner Justin Beckett of Beckett’s Table, who has…
Beer: Noche Dulce Brewery: Borderlands Brewing Co. Style: American porter ABV: 7.1 percent There’s an old joke that says the best thing to ever come out of Tucson is the I-10. But, while hilarious, it’s only mostly true. The craft beer revolution is sweeping over Tucson in a big way,…
Chow Bella won first place in the opinion blog category at the Arizona Press Club’s annual awards event, held Saturday night at the Duce in Phoenix. The winning entry included New Times’ food critic Laura Hahnefeld’s First Taste review of Crescent Ballroom’s restaurant; Chow Bella intern Lauren Saria’s McRib battle;…
