Recently on Pinterest I came across the idea that one could actually clean nasty old cookie sheets to the point where they looked new. Immediately I envisioned myself sharing my own image like the one below: Before I go on, I have to tell you that I know how to…
Like a Cuban cigar, a decent Cuban sandwich can be tough to find. A take on mixto sandwiches in Cuba and an invention of cigar workers in Tampa’s Ybor City in the early 1900s by Spanish, Italian, and Cuban immigrants fleeing poverty to seek new lives in America, the main…
Cilantro and its distinct flavor are to food (and food blogs) what abortion, immigration, and gun control are to a presidential election.
“Hello and welcome to India Grill. Light or dark?” “…?…” “Light or dark?” There’s a first time for everything. And if you happen to have the good fortune of coming upon Tempe’s India Grill, this curious question (not “table or booth”) will be asked of you at dusk, alluding to…
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…
For Mother’s Day, we wanted to give the doting partners a foolproof plan for what to prepare (with the help of the kids, of course) on Mother’s Day morning while you’re letting her sleep in. Just remember, it’s the thought that counts and if you remember only one thing: You…
Do you crave long hours, low pay, and near-constant verbal abuse while you’re filmed under unflattering lights? Then, boy, does Fox have a job offer for you! Celebrity chef and professional firebrand Gordon Ramsay has a new season of Hell’s Kitchen coming out, and a casting call for his show…
Ah, the roads of life. Sometimes exciting, sometimes treacherous, and sometimes just plain boring — unless you happen upon a decent little Indian restaurant on your way along the exciting or treacherous ones. That’s usually a nice surprise. And so it is with India Grill. On West Elliot Road, the…
Vine Geek Brian Reeder co-owns AZ Wine Merchants in Scottsdale. Wine is subjective. Every wine is different. It all depends on your taste. Price doesn’t equal quality. It’s all the same anyway. Just drink what you like. Blah. Blah. Blah. We’ve all heard the nomenclatures. The bullshit lines that every…
Most restaurants won’t sell you the spice blends that they use in their renowned dishes, but that’s one of the many things that sets Chakra 4 Herb & Tea House apart. The staff is passionate about the ingredients used, especially their medicinal properties, so the food they serve is as…
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…
Thanks to Philadelphia restaurateurs Pat and Harry Olivieri, hungry meat lovers have been enjoying what is now known as the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich since the 1930s. The original sandwich was lacking the crucial “cheese” component, but that was remedied later with the addition of mild provolone (Cheez Whiz didn’t make…
Since chef Robert McGrath called it quits last October, things have been rather quiet at Renegade Canteen, the upscale restaurant in North Scottsdale — until now. Owners John Rosso and Steven Goodhue have selected Donald Fawcett as the establishment’s new executive chef. Originally from the Midwest, Fawcett’s last two gigs,…
The Chef: Christopher Gross The Restaurant: Christopher’s Restaurant The Animal: Pig The Dish: Pied de cochon Chef Christopher Gross can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear — or a pig trotter for that matter. And he does it often, featuring pied de cochon (the pretty French word…
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. Miss a question? Go here. Maybe they gave us some great recipes, showed us how…
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…
Sunday, June 17, may be the last day of the season for the Valley landmark known as the Wrigley Mansion (better hurry and schedule that Sunday brunch), but before it re-opens on Wednesday, September 12, a new executive chef will have completely changed its menu. “We’ve been wanting to change…
Last week, Popchips released a series of faux dating ads staring Ashton Kutcher in a number of roles and targeted for the ever-popular viral market. One of those ads, featuring Kutcher in brownface and aping an Indian accent, went viral in all the wrong ways. After an uproar on social…
Seems like Arizona’s brewers are finally getting some of the respect they deserve. At this year’s World Beer Cup — the largest commercial international beer competition on Earth with 799 brewery entrants from 54 countries — Tempe’s own Four Peaks Brewing Co. took home two gold medals and a bronze…
The Spot: Mabel’s on Main, 7018 East Main Street, Scottsdale. 480-889-5580. mabelsonmain.com The Hours: 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday The Details: The Mabel’s happy hour keeps it simple: One menu flips from regular prices straight into “Matinee” prices, which are around 50% off. These discounts include both drinks and…
On Monday, we began our conversation with Isabella Mannone-Bertuccio of La Fontanella, the classic Italian restaurant in Arcadia, which opened its doors in 1982. This year the restaurant will be celebrating its 29th year in Phoenix. We headed over to get the full story behind the restaurant — a story…
From Jamaica to Panama, the entrants in Chow Bella’s first-ever Mother’s Day essay contest took us on a whirlwind tour of maternal culinary inspiration. And boy, are we hungry. Thanks to all who entered, and particularly to Gayle Shanks, co-owner of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, who graciously judged all…
