Next Tuesday, February 14, Arizona celebrates 100 years of statehood. So where are the eats? The official state food eats? Sadly, there’s not one to be found. Which is why, after this long, it’s time to get hungry for an official state food. Here’s an excerpt from my column in…
A round-up of tasty morsels from Valley food blogs.Linda Hopkins at Les Petites Gourmettes spoiled us with not only a history lesson this week, but also a tasty recipe to go with it. We learned all about the history of the Bundt pan (did you know November 15th is National…
Because nothing quite says “I love you” like a nice big slice of bull testicle pie, UK gourmet pie maker, Charlie Bigham, went ahead and created one just in time for Valentine’s Day …
You would think that after 100 years of statehood, Arizona would have gotten hungry enough to give itself an official food. Nope. Today, the only state symbol you might want to eat is the state fish, the Apache trout. But given its listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act…
In my years of bartending, one of the things I’ve heard the most is this: “I don’t like gin.” When I press for details, the story is always the same: They had a bad experience with it years ago (inevitably in college) and haven’t been able to touch the stuff…
If the most creative thing you’ve done with your seasonings lately is re-organize your spice rack, get an eyeful of artist Kelly McCollam’s works created using salt, spices, and food coloring. The Ohio-based McCollam is primarily a fine art photographer, but took a step out of her comfort zone to…
As if the stars were aligning to ensure at least one of my predictions for the Valley food scene actually comes true, Windsor, the cozy North Central neighborhood bar and restaurant from restaurateurs Craig DeMarco and Lauren Bailey, has announced it will debut its very own brunch menu — which…
We’ve never met a happy hour that we didn’t like but just like everything else in this world, some are better than others. Whether you’re playing hooky from work on a Tuesday or just need a strong cheap drink after a grueling day in your dismal cube we know a…
While most all of our perfect food day contributors have imagined days, Barbara Pool Fenzl actually had a perfect food day. Fenzl is Phoenix’s ultimate culinarian. She has every distinction you might aspire to, including a B.S., M.A., Certified Culinary Professional (CCP). She’s the “past president of the International Association…
Bill Johnson’s Big Apple, the legendary Valley restaurant chain with five locations, is in trouble. Big, bankruptcy trouble. In August 2011, Bill Johnson’s, in business for 55 years, filed to reorganize in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding. Prior to the hearing in January, CEO Sherry Cameron, granddaughter of the late…
If you let yourself be romantic, a morning stroll through an open-air farmers market like the one in Old Town Scottsdale isn’t all too different than a walk down the shops at Rue Cler in Paris. You can still tuck a baguette under your arm, walk down narrow(ish) streets where…
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. That’s all we can say about the line-up for Caramelpalooza 2012, the third annual caramel tasting event co-sponsored by Smeeks candy store and Chow Bella, going down Friday, March 2 at 7 pm. But don’t take our word for it — check out the list for yourself. Please, try…
This week marks the 1 year anniversary of the opening of Aaron May’s Mexican street food restaurant, Vitamin T. To celebrate a successful first year at CityScape (no small feat) and the completion of their new expansion, they’re giving taco and tequila lovers everywhere a present we just can’t say no…
Earlier this week we mentioned that The Uprooted Kitchen, a vegetarian food truck getting ready to start serving around town, plans to reveal its menu of salad bowls sometime in the near future. These bowls won’t be your standard lettuce with dressing B.S. They’re loading them up with hearty greens,…
It turns out that Arizona missed out on a very important commercial during this past Sunday’s Super Bowl. It featured an American comic genius, a field of flowers, and a can of … Old Milwaukee beer…
The Spot: Mimi’s Cafe, 4901 E. Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044, (480) 705-4811. Other valley locations include Scottsdale, Glendale, and Mesa. mimiscafe.com The Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday The Details: Domestic drafts and bottles are down to $3, with well…
Lately, in this In Season series, we’re taking 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 carrots and onions…
A couple weeks ago Young opened up her second Chloe’s Corner in downtown Phoenix’s up-and-coming-along CityScape complex that straddles North Central Ave. on the north side of Jefferson Street, occupying an enormous, non-diner-like space that, in contrast to the Chipotle and Five Guys to the west, fits snugly at a…
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. No, seriously it’s six days from right now. You have made dinner reservations, right? NO?! Well you better get to it. Good thing we know of a whole mess of restaurants that are celebrating the big V-Day. And guys — if the lady…
Forget Prince, when the city’s original pioneer home and the oldest continuously occupied structure in the Phoenix metropolitan area wants to party, it’s gonna do it like it’s 1912. And that means Monti’s La Casa Vieja, the Arizona landmark in Tempe that serves American fare in a labyrinth of dining…
A good Sonoran hot dog is the sum of all its parts, from the bacon down to the bun. And honestly, we could care less whether or not Arizona was the first to bacon-wrap a hot dog. So long as we get to benefit from the match made in heaven,…
Sheesh Portillo’s, what took you so long? That’s what a lot of Chicago transplants in the Valley may be saying to themselves upon hearing the news that the Chicago-area restaurant company is bringing its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, hamburgers, Maxwell Street Polish, salads, and desserts to several locations in…
