Gustavo Arellano, the scribe behind the syndicated column ¡Ask a Mexican! (and also editor-in-chief of New Times’ sister paper, OC Weekly), is on a quest to find out just how Mexican food got to be el norte’s most American one. He’s explored the Aztecs’ contribution to world cuisine, the latest…
For fans of Fuego Bistro, the tiny Latin-inspired eatery in north Central Phoenix, or its more casual spinoff in the Camelback Esplanade, Fuego Tacos, owner Jeff Ward has some surprises in store — two of them, in fact. Ward is planning to open two additional Fuego-themed restaurants in the next…
The time has come to showcase some of the unnecessary hideousness Pinterest has to offer. Let’s be real… There is a lot of stuff on there that just shouldn’t exist. Beginning with KitchenAid mixer decals. I didn’t realize what a phenomenon this was until I started paying attention. I just…
It would appear that the food industry has a problem being honest with consumers when it comes to labeling. Fish are mislabeled, lean finely textured beef is only grudgingly being labeled, and so on. But most of that pales in comparison to the financial ride consumers are taking on Kobe…
Opening a restaurant in a former Mexican joint that sat empty for 10 years in a dying shopping center is one gutsy move. But that’s exactly what Bill Sandweg did when he opened Circle H Barbecue at Seventh Ave and Camelback, a few blocks north of Copper Star Coffee, his…
Last week, I covered a great drink that takes a little while to make properly, the Daiquiri. In so doing, I mentioned the other great drink that takes a long time to make well, the Ramos Gin Fizz… and then swept it under the rug. Sure enough, a commenter noticed…
This week we’ve been talking with Brian Kingdeski of The Spot in Gilbert. Open since January, the neighborhood eatery specializes in home cooked classics and friendly service. Their quirky, 13-foot-wide space and beach cruiser delivery system add to the charm. Today, Kingdeski’s going to break down one of the restaurant’s…
I feel like I’m out of my mind writing a Budget Beat article about a place serving $9 sandwiches. But hear me out. This ain’t just any sandwich I’m talking about. These are some of the best sandwiches you’ll find, definitely worth the extra bucks. Second, the restaurant serving them…
The 34th Annual Scottsdale Culinary Festival began on Tuesday, and we chose to kick the weeklong celebration off the same way we would any soirée — with a few drinks. Not your simple liquor-plus-mixer drinks, mind you. There was a time when the cocktail was as essential to living as…
Whether it’s decided to jump its throned-ass on the bandwagon of a peaking trend or still smarting from being bumped out of its number two fast food spot by Wendy’s, Burger King has announced it will roll out forty of its own food trucks throughout various cities starting today…
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. Spills, the occasional fire — wait, there’s no baking soda…
Starting off the Scottsdale Culinary Festival for 2012 was last night’s invite-only Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame cocktail party presented by the Scottsdale League of the Arts held at Technique Restaurant at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Old Town Scottsdale. It was a nice juxtaposition of chefs-to-be…
Some spice blends are versatile and flavorful enough to define a type of cuisine. China has its signature five-spice. France is known for herbes de Provence. In the U.S., we have our own regional spice mixes, like Cajun seasoning and the many varieties of BBQ rubs. East Africa — specifically…
Coffee is simple, but preparation can get complicated, so most restaurants leave espresso up to the cafe across the street. Luckily for us, restauranteur Joe Johnston likes a challenge and stuck the E61 Bar – where a chrome 1965 espresso machine is the daily driver – right inside Liberty Market…
I recently saw two grown men in a college science class get into a heated debate over which Pop-Tart flavor was the best. One man insisted that strawberry was the best, the other that brown sugar cinnamon ruled supreme. The debate raged for at least 20 minutes and it was…
The Spot: Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen, 50 W. Jefferson St., Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ 85003. (480) 719-5005. www.copperblueslive.com The Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday The Details: Eleven appetizer selections are divided into three categories ranging from $4-6. At the low end are choices like the…
Although we’re pretty sure the hazards of being shrunk to miniature size outweigh the benefits (finding clothes, taking to long to answer text messages, that darn cat that keeps peering in our dollhouse window), we’d love to eat meals that look like the ones from Israeli artist Shay Aaron. Creating…
Finding decent Mexican food on the cheap in Central Phoenix isn’t difficult, but finding amazing service from a staff that makes you feel like family is a little bit more of a challenge. Good thing we found Juan’s Authentic Mexican Food. Located on Thomas Road just west of 16th Street,…
Like Valley chefs and restaurateurs, most of us enjoy the pleasure of thumbing through the printed pages of our favorite cookbooks. But thanks to the internet supplying all matter of drool-worthy food images and kitchen content at our fingertips, many of us turn to the interweb for culinary inspiration as…
Yesterday we began our talk with Brian Kingdeski of The Spot in Gilbert. The neighborhood restaurant and hangout serves “food you’ll like” in a comfortably tiny and welcoming setting. The Spot may be a baby in the restaurant world, but Kingdeski’s no new kid on the block. He’s been working…
Looks like the building at 1575 East Camelback Road (southwest corner of 16th Street and Camelback Road in Phoenix) will have not one, but two styles of cuisines by the end of the month. The home of Fuji Buffet, the space has been split in half to allow a new…
The CDC is tracking a sushi centered salmonella outbreak that has sickened 116 people so far. Of that number, 12 were sick enough to be hospitalized. The CDC has only interviewed about half of the people affected by this outbreak but among those people 91% reported eating sushi prior to…
