Chef Chat this week has brought you into Costantino’s Kitchen, where Chris Costantino is cooking up small, handmade batches of his Grandma Angie’s Tomato Basil Sauce. On Monday, we talked about how he broke into the culinary world from his past corporate life, and got the scoop on the sauce…
It seems as if Arizona hasn’t had its fill of chain restaurants just yet — even if they come in the form of anniversary presents. Togo’s Eateries, a chain of fast casual sandwich shops based in San Jose, California (once owned by the same parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and…
Today’s culinary travelogue takes us into tall-tale land, at least for this dish’s most unusual name. The story goes that a very poor man whose family was going to his home for dinner could not buy enough food to feed them. So he went to his closet, gathered some old…
Apparently, April is a good month to open a restaurant in the Valley. Everything from Somali food to a reopened classic threw a hat into the Phoenix culinary ring last month…
I’m sorry, but there are always more. As soon as I hit save on my Army of Foodies list, I came up with another five. While these Amuse Douchers aren’t always as prominent in everyday foodie structure, they are there. Thankfully, most of them will move on in about three…
The British monarchy is pretty serious about their blood sucking eel-like fish, otherwise known as lamprey. The city of Gloucester, England, was once fined by King Henry I for failing to “pay him sufficient respect in the matter of his lampern.” Another King of England was slain at the “hands”…
Beer: Tart Lychee Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Co. Style: American Wild Ale ABV: 7.5 percent To get to know many of New Belgium’s sour ales, you must first acquaint yourself with Oscar and Felix. An odd couple of beers (see what I did there?), these two act as the base…
Lately, in this In Season/Meatless Monday series, we’ve taken a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I’ve done with my CSA share, or part share. This week, I’m using roasted sweet potatoes, but you could use anything like butternut squash, carrots,…
OO.ready(function() { OO.Player.create(‘ooyalaplayer’, ‘ZndDZobjpWmaOr5dxq8n2Ry4MCtFa_gN’); });Please enable Javascript to watch this video Meat Cutting: A Lost Art? But seriously, have you ever stopped to think about just how much skill it takes to cut a huge hunk of meat into sellable steaks? Local butcher Chris McFarland has. In fact, he’s probably…
They are visionaries, highly devoted to their craft, inventing fresh ideas for dishes in kitchens all over the Valley using top-notch ingredients and seasonal fare. We love their food, expect an experience nothing short of spectacular when we dine at their establishments, and (sometimes) even giggle with delight at the…
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…
In Chef Chat this week we introduce to you Chris Costantino of Costantino’s Kitchen. After years working in the corporate world, Costantino decided to pursue what he loved most: cooking food. In 2003, he graduated from Scottsdale Community College’s culinary arts program and turned his passion into a business by…
Sunday, May 13, is Mother’s Day — which means it’s time to show Mom how much you love and adore her. Why not show her you care by taking her out to a nice brunch? Brunch a little too early for ya? That’s cool, moms also love dinner! Here’s a…
Hoping for a decline in the price of organic produce anytime soon? That probably isn’t going to happen, if a recent study published in Nature is any indication. And get rid of any notions that organic farming is, by definition, better for the Earth. The “meta-analysis” reveals that certain types…
Everyone knows that Arizona has incredible Mexican fare, but who knew that Glendale is home to an award-winning German restaurant? Located in historic downtown Glendale, Haus Murphy’s serves traditional specialties like Bacon-infused Paprika Schnitzel, Krakauer Wurst, and Hackbraten. The interior is decorated with German flags, beer signs and steins, and…
Until a few months ago you couldn’t get Seven Cups tea, the finest nearly anywhere, in Metro Phoenix unless you ordered it online or knew a friend visiting from Tucson, willing to stop by the tea house on their way to Phoenix. Things changed when Cartel got a Scottsdale location…
We’re always on the look out for new and creative food sites and this one is from a local woman. Valley resident Kristi Murphy has started Saucy Pants. She’s created a “universal recipe box” where you can add your favorite recipes to be able to refer to them later on…
In February, chef Johnny Chu, whose former restaurants included Lucky Dragon in Tempe and Fate in downtown’s Roosevelt Row district, told me that Sens, his chic Asian small-plate restaurant and lounge located on the periphery of downtown’s bustling core, has seen a drop in business. Then, earlier this month, Chu,…
With the flood of new restaurants opening up in Phoenix, restaurateurs Robert and Linda Gabrick of Carefree Station, the upscale, North Valley eatery featuring a massive patio and American-Southwestern cuisine (including the hell-hot Desert Tears), are planning to take their next venture elsewhere. Elsewhere as in Prescott…
On Thursday, we told you about the PDT Cocktial Book, the awesomely illustrated, if overly complex, book of recipes from PDT owner Jim Meehan. Today, we’ll share one of our favorite recipes from the book: Benton’s Old-Fashioned, which combines three of our favorite ingredients: maple syrup, bourbon, and bacon. Created…
Since it opened earlier this month, Crudo, chef Cullen Campbell’s establishment serving inventive raw seafood, handmade pasta dishes, and signature mozzarella, has been waiting on the completion of its bar area to give guests the total restaurant package. But starting today, Crudo fans wanting a libation or two before dinner…
Do any of you know how hard it is to find a seat in a coffee shop in Tempe during finals week? It’s almost impossible. Earlier this week, I was in dire need of a quiet place to work (away from my dogs) and after hitting up six coffee shops…
