Three Four Things to Eat, Drink, and Bake This Weekend

Caramelpalooza is tonight in the Smeeks parking lot at 7 p.m. sharp. Again, that’s TONIGHT! Yours truly will be there judging all 18 (hopefully) delicious treats and you should probably show up, too, because there is going to be a ton of caramel and it’s free. And that’s all I…

Eliana House: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

​From now through Caramelpalooza — March 2 at Smeeks candy shop — Chow Bella will introduce you to the 18 chefs participating in the third annual caramel tasting. Today, meet Eliana House.  Eliana House pretty much grew up in the restaurant that her parents named after her, Eliana’s – one of the only…

Where to Eat and Drink Near Tempe Diablo Stadium

Los Angeles Angels: Tempe Diablo Stadium The name says Tempe, but if you’re catching an Angels game at Diablo Stadium (heh heh, we get it) and looking for a good meal, you’re much closer to a few excellent drinking and dining options in South Phoenix. We did tuck one Tempe…

Tonto Bar and Grill’s Amanda Crick: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

​From now through Caramelpalooza — March 2 at Smeeks candy shop — Chow Bella will introduce you to the 18 chefs participating in the third annual caramel tasting. Today, meet Amanda Crick , Pastry Chef at the Tonto Bar and Grill. Amanda Crick is a self-taught pastry chef who worked her way through…

AndyTalk: You Say Tomato, I Say Let’s Get Cooking

There were no tomatoes in Italian food until the late 17th or early 18th century. Indigenous to the New World, it was well after Columbus set sail that tomatoes made their way to the tables of Europe. There were no tomatoes on my own table until about 15 years ago…

Where to Eat and Drink Near Scottsdale Stadium

San Franciso Giants: Scottsdale Stadium Seeing a game at Scottsdale Stadium? Lucky you. Not only is it a beautiful little stadium (not the newest, not the biggest, but a sentimental favorite), you are without a doubt in the best ballpark ‘hood when it comes to drinking and dining options. We…

Cheese Enchiladas from Carolina’s Mexican Food

Tacos may very well be the perfect food, but let’s face it, the standard Meximerican fare can get a bit stale after a while. Taco the Town is here to highlight some of the more unusual Mexican finds in the valley. This week: Cheese Enchiladas from Carolina’s Mexican Food ¿Como…

Where to Eat and Drink Near Phoenix Municipal Stadium

Oakland A’s: Phoenix Municipal Stadium This little stadium is in a super location if you want to hike (Papago Buttes), take in the area’s flora and fauna (Desert Botanical Garden) or feed a giraffe (Phoenix Zoo). But it’s a no man’s land when it comes to food. There aren’t even…

Brendan McCaskey: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

  From now through Caramelpalooza — March 2 at Smeeks candy shop — Chow Bella will introduce you to the 17 chefs participating in the third annual caramel tasting. Today, meet Brendan McCaskey. Brendan McCaskey tells Chow Bella he “lives downtown, and loves downtown!” A Scottsdale Culinary Institute graduate, he’s…

From Potatoes to Gin, Rosemary’s on the Menu Thanks to Pinterest

I realized recently that I’ve probably been giving you the wrong impression about me and about Pinterest.  If you know only what you’ve read these past three weeks you might be inclined to think that all I’m interested in is junk food.  If you’re not a Pinterest junkie you might think…

Where to Eat and Drink Near Maryvale Baseball Park

Milwaukee Brewers: Maryvale Baseball Park While the atmosphere at this stadium is decidedly fan-friendly and flowing with Miller beer, the food offerings are strictly no-frills. And with mostly chain and fast food restaurants within sight of the ballpark, fans should plan a short drive to pre- and post-game pigouts in…

Watch This: The Story of Sushi

The Story of Sushi from Bamboo Sushi on Vimeo. Clear four minutes of your day and hit play on this amazing little video. The Story of Sushi tells a sad tale of the sushi industry and the future of our oceans if we continue on the same commercial fishing path…

Should There Be Last Call on Calling “Last Call”?

I find it kind of ironic that I decided to call this column “Last Call”. I do like the sound of it for a column title; last call is the literal last word of authority for bartenders across the country. It’s a definite sign that the night’s revelry is drawing…

Nestle is Making Thin Mint Cookie Candy Bars. Yes Please!

We need about 100 of these sent to the New Times office like right now (attn: Shannon Armour, please). We don’t even care if it’s an “Unholy Union” between the Girl Scouts and Nestle or if the Girl Scouts are “selling out,” we just want to get our hands on…

Where to Eat and Drink Near Salt River Fields

Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies: Salt River Fields 7555 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, saltriverfields.com The most important advice we can give you regarding finding food near Salt River Fields: avoid the Pavillions shopping center, unless McDonald’s and 5 & Diner are your idea of fine dining. You will have to…

BoSa Donuts to Open Another Mesa Location

Good news Mesa! You’re getting another BoSa Donuts! If only BoSa could take over all of the empty fast food buildings in town (including one somewhere near the New Times building) — then we could be constantly surrounded by their melt-in-your-mouth glazed goodies. We would be oh-so happy. Until then…

Urban Cookies’ Brady Breese: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

From now through Caramelpalooza — March 2 at Smeeks candy shop — Chow Bella will introduce you to the 17 chefs participating in the third annual caramel tasting. Today, meet Brady Breese of Urban Cookies. A self-taught baker, Brady Breese started Urban Cookies several years ago with his wife, Shaun,…

Where to Eat and Drink Near Peoria Sports Complex

Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres: Peoria Sports Complex All week long we’re sharing suggestions of where to find breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks near each spring training stadium. Have a favorite spot baseball fans should hit? Leave it in the comments. Hooters, Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle, and IHOP. There’s no…

No Bake Caramel Popcorn

Welcome to our new(ish) column, “Ask the Pastry Chef,” by Amy Morris, a pastry sous chef at J&G Steakhouse. Have a question for Amy? Leave it in the comments section. With Caramelpalooza coming up this Friday, I’m suddenly caramel-obsessed! Can I make caramel popcorn without having to bake it? We…