Food & Drink

New Noca chef Matt Taylor, the 27-year-old who’s worked with four James Beard award winners and was previously at the Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas with celebrity chef Michael Mina, had his first dinner service on Sunday, heading up Noca’s Southern Simple Supper. “Matt [Taylor] brings a sense…

Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we’re back – with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. 16: Pork…

The Paisley Violin, the bohemian bistro of Mediterranean and Euro-style edibles has closed its current location on Grand Avenue and, according to its website, will re-open at a new location across the street in October (925 Grand Avenue.) Here’s hoping the new digs will be just as quirky and they…

Unlike a certain Valley sushi chain who gained national attention with a sad and tactless publicity stunt involving placing a “9-11 Remembrance Roll” on its menus, Lee’s Cream Liqueur and Sweet Republic, two artisanal ice cream shops in Scottsdale, are simply honoring first responders by giving them free ice cream…

It was a heat-seeking mission — and a dangerous one. Chow Bella’s contributors dispersed through the Valley, in search of the hottest, tastiest, and most creative culinary offerings. Read on at your risk. Desert Tears at Carefree Station: “Do you like spicy food?” This will be the (seemingly) innocent question…

Who doesn’t love seafood in the summer? Especially if you have a summer love to share it with. We’re pretty sure that same thought crossed the minds of Peruvians when they started serving up Jalea (a seafood platter commonly meant to serve two). There are several Peruvian places in Mesa…

In a case of one Valley legend aiding another, Christopher Gross, the James Beard Award-winning chef and owner of Christopher’s and Crush Lounge in Central Phoenix, is helping to overhaul the Wrigley Mansion, the 1930s-vintage manse that overlooks the area surrounding the Arizona Biltmore. “We’re going through everything top to…

Bacchus Wine Made Simple, the locally owned wine store and bar at Kierland Commons specializing in small boutique wines from around the world, is closing its doors on Friday, September 30, after ten years in the business. “We say this with a heavy heart as we must close our doors…

Yesterday we shared the first half of our talk with Chef James Fox of Big Earl’s BBQ in Old Town Scottsdale. Today, we’re talking smoke and the importance of a little salt and pepper. What changes have you made since being at Big Earl’s? We used to have sausage balls,…

It started innocently enough. Last week, St. Francis, the stunningly cool bastion of contemporary American cuisine in Central Phoenix, posted a lunch menu for kids on their Facebook page and ended up with a discussion — pro and con — about children in restaurants. We go there to escape, relax…not a Chucky [sic] Cheese…

Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we’re back – with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. 17: Steak…

Later, August. You were hot and humid but at least you left us with a heaping handful of new places to eat and drink. Unfortunately, a couple of our ol’ restaurant buddies had to say goodbye.  Restaurants (and other Food-Related Establishments) That Opened in August 2011  Grilled Ave, Tempe 21 Cakes,…

So my baseball card enthusiast husband tosses me an Iron Chef “Marc Forgione” baseball card the other night.  “Hey, you should write about this for Chow Bella, I wonder if anyone knows that they’re putting chefs on baseball cards.” And so here we are. If you notice on the card, it says…