The Scottsdale Culinary Festival’s signature event, the Great Arizona Picnic, is happening this weekend. And because this year features 100-degree temps along with picnic pickin’s from more than 80 restaurants and beer vendors, it’s probably a good idea for those who plan on attending the event’s second day of festivities…
Of the 30 or so stalls at the Epicurean Expo there were only two that were genuinely exciting, a handful that were cool, and many that made us ask,”What has that got to do with food?” The blurb for the Epicurean Expo — held yesterday and today inside the Scottsdale…
It’s pretty rare that we get to talk about clothing here at Chow Bella, which is probably a good thing — most of our writers’ wardrobes could be accurately described as “clearance rack chic.” But today — on Earth Day, no less — the good folks at Bonobos have given…
It was burgers galore last night at Scottsdale Stadium and although there wasn’t a huge turnout for the Scottsdale Culinary Festival’s very first Burger Battle it was a really fun (and filling) experience and the folks that did shell out the $55 for a ticket got their money’s worth. Zinburger,…
There’s one chef in all of Arizona who’s currently nominated for a James Beard Award. Up for Best Chef: Southwest, Kevin Binkley is making our state proud. But with entrees priced around $40, not everyone will be rushing to Binkley’s to see what the buzz is all about. Luckily, the…
Yesterday we met Rob Samuels, grandson of the creator of Maker’s Mark Whiskey and current chief operating officer of the distillery. You would expect a family with such a rich, bourbon-soaked history to know a few good whiskey recipes — and you’d be right. Rob’s father, Bill Samuels Jr., perfected…
Also read: Citizen Espresso Bar Owner Calls it Quits; Letter Says She Was Forced By Her Investor/Mom to Leave Sherry Dew wants to make one thing clear: Her daughter, Tiffany Dew, never owned Citizen Espresso Bar. “Tiffany liked to tell everyone she owned it, but that just isn’t true. My…
Eggs, bacon, French toast sticks, crispy potatoes, an OJ and a crazy apple drink is the only way to start the day when you find yourself on a Monday morning shopping mission for cheap furniture with clean lines and cheap bedding. It may not be gourmet but it wasn’t half…
The Market: Since the only farmers markets west of Peoria may very well be in California, we were happy to see the Peoria Farmers Market spring up in January — one shouldn’t have to travel too far to have access to organic fruits and vegetables. The Parking: Located at the…
2012 sure is looking like a busy year for Sam Fox. In February, the restaurateur’s company, Fox Restaurant Concepts, partnered with the largest T.G.I. Friday’s franchisee and announced plans to open several Zinburgers in 23 states. That same month, FRC hooked up with Scottsdale-based P.F. Chang’s, who acquired a 51-percent…
If you have a hankering for some Mexican food and don’t already have plans tonight, might we suggest tamales and a show in South Phoenix. The 77th Annual Friendly House Tamale Dinner is tonight from 5 to 9 at Corona Ranch Rodeo Grounds…
It’s going to be a busy foodie weekend! The Scottsdale Culinary Festival is in full swing (you can check out our coverage for all the big events you might have missed here) and since there are so many fun foodie things going down this weekend, I’m taking a break from…
The video above, set to some jaunty steel drum music, appears to depict the consumption of Burger King’s newest monstrosity. Unsatisfied with introducing the bacon sundae for testing, Burger King has decided to push their extremist bacon agenda overseas. Their next target: Japan…
Rob Samuels comes from a long line of whiskey-makers — the Samuels clan has been distilling as far back as the 1500s in Scotland and was making whiskey in America before the country was founded. Bill Samuels Sr. (Rob’s grandfather) began producing Maker’s Mark in 1954, and Rob took over…
UPDATE: Citizen Espresso Bar mom and owner responds to daughter’s Facebook letter. Here’s one family table we’ll consider ourselves fortunate not to be sitting at over the holidays. Tiffany Dew, owner and operator of Citizen Espresso Bar, has called it quits. The reason? She says it’s her investor, Sherry Dew,…
Is a trip to NYC and a dinner at the famed James Beard House on your “bucket list”? Note to self, a taste of the experience and access to James Beard award winning chefs from across the nation is right in your backyard. Well, it was last night, anyway. While…
The neighborhood around Camelback and Seventh Avenue has another restaurant to enjoy courtesy of Arizona native Bill Sandweg. Sandweg first moved into the area with Copper Star Coffee and recently ventured into full-on food with Circle H Barbecue. Circle H serves up a variety of meat: pork, beef brisket, and…
A food processor is essential to success here, but it’s not nearly as pricey as a Hadron Collider and there are more practical applications.
Restaurateur Bryan Chittenden is a busy man. Last week, Chittenden, who, along with partners Greg Donnally and Andrew Nam, own Stingray Sushi, Geisha A Go-Go, Jimmy Woo’s, and Spanish Fly in addition to the now-shuttered Drift, opened Big B’s Hangover, a hoagie spot that took over the location of the…
To me, one of chocolate’s best properties is the fact that it doesn’t need to be super sweet to feel incredibly indulgent. A blissful chocolate is smooth, rich, dark, and simple. My current favorite is Chocolove’s Orange Peel, and I expected the Scottsdale Culinary Festival’s only dessert event would satisfy…
Here’s a little something to raise a glass to. Four Peaks Brewing Company, the Tempe institution serving up handcrafted suds in a 1892 Mission-style warehouse since 1996, has been named one of the top fifty craft brewers in the U.S. by the Brewers Association — a not-for-profit trade group that…
Dates grow abundantly in the Valley, but for most of us, date shakes are synonymous with road trips to San Diego. We stop at Date Land along Interstate 8 to gas up, use a clean gas station bathroom and consume sweet and chewy dates in the only way some of…
