At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Sometimes the simplest things can make a big difference in your day, like the care your barista puts into swirling espresso and foamy milk into an intricate design that brings a smile to your face. It’s art that’s more ephemeral than a Buddhist mandala, around for a matter of seconds until…
We scoped out your best budget wine bets for the holidays at a Fresh & Easy tasting last night: No three-buck-chuck was on hand (Chao, Saludas! Hang Ten, Big Kahuna! Take a hike, Flat Rock! Bon Voyage, Cape Peak!), but every wine we tried was less than $10 a bottle.
We think the name The Baker’s Daughter is a pretty cool name for a chocolatier and bakery café, and a fitting moniker for the chocolatier and pastry chef Christine Boerner’s new business. Christine is the daughter of Karl Boerner, the baker behind Karls’ Quality Bakery. What childhood memories stand out…
Belinda Powell has been around pickles for almost as long as she can remember; she learned a special family recipe from her mother and grandmother at a very young age. In fact, when her grandmother died, she left about 30 family pickling recipes, which Powell gladly snatched up. But oddly, Powell –…
When we heard that Four Loko “alcoholic energy drinks” were being called “blackout in a can” and that the FDA recently banned their current formulas, we decided we had to try it.Phusion Projects, the company that makes Four Loko, has announced it will remove caffeine, taurine, and guarana from its products…
Nothing beats homemade gravy dripping over just carved turkey; a ladled puddle swirled on a mound of mashed potatoes, drizzled and mixed into bread stuffing. No need to rely on cans of goopy creamed soups or dehydrated over- salted packaged mixes. If you are using herbs and vegetables for another…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?ThanksLIVINGDamon Brasch of Green is cooking up Thanksgiving this Thursday for all you vegan and vegetarians out there. Whose needs a thanksgiving full of animal proteins and dairy when you can have seitan turkey breast with vegan giblet…
Yesterday we met Monte Fuller, the scuba diver/pilot/fireman who also happens to work behind the bar at Iruna. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Ginger Limonada, a cocktail Iruna’s owner calls “too easy to drink.” We have to agree — it’s a subtly tart, smooth drink that’s…
This weekend kicks off a new farmers’ market that will take place on the front lawn of the Wigwam Golf Resort and Spa every Sunday. The market will emphasize on producer-only farm products and will have 15 vendors set up, offering goods ranging from preserves (Cotton Country Jams) and honey…
We’re constantly on the hunt for the best falafel in Phoenix. Something about those crispy, spicy chickpeas wrapped up in a warm, fresh-made pita with lettuce, tomato, and tzatziki – plus whatever else you can think up to complement the mix (Chilis? Pickles? Cukes?) – makes us salivate. We’re grabbed this guy to go, along with some baklava. Have we given it up? Does this look familiar? Is it from your favorite falafel joint? Take a guess… Where Am I Eating?
I was typing up a recipe for homemade pan gravy today when the phone rang and the “new email” message sounded. Not surprising, family and friends usually call out their Thanksgiving turkey prep questions when faced with a challenge in the midst of cooking. At least the 9-1-1 calls are coming before…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Four Peaks Beer DinnerCancel your dinner plans and make plans to pay North Scottsdale a visit. Tonight join the Brittlebush Bar & Grill at Kierland Resort for an evening of food and beer. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere…
Every week we watch Zach Fowle walk into the Chow Bella staff meeting and can’t believe he doesn’t weigh 500 pounds. The guy eats. Lots. Fast. That’s sort of his gig on his regular Chow Bella column “Feasts of Fury.” This week, the fury was released in the print version…
Dustin Christofolo opened his own restaurant, The House at Secret Garden, with the help of his mom, Pat, just years out of culinary school. Today, he shows off his talent in true Italian simplicity: Grilled Romaine Salad with a Lemon-Herb Dressing.
Our Thanksgiving motto is brine baby, brine! After experimenting from year to year with methods and recommendations for a satisfying bird, brining consistently delivers us a bird that cooks faster, is moist, and flavorful. Brining takes some forethought and planning, but it is a simple process. Meat or poultry is…
We blogged a couple weeks back about Amaro Pizzeria and Vino Lounge opening in Cave Creek, and even brought you a first look of the posh new digs. The new restaurant smell still hasn’t worn off at this locally owned joint. But the smell of wood-fired ovens and fresh-baked bread is…
No, friends, it’s not too early in the day to pour yourself a cold one and raise a glass to the exciting news that the inaugural Arizona Beer Week is officially in the works.The Arizona Craft Brewers Guild just announced that it will be kicking off the week of craft-beer-centric…
Monte Fuller may just be the ultimate man. Not only is the svelte, deep-voiced bartender a former scuba instructor, licensed pilot and on his way to becoming a firefighter; he also makes a damn good drink. The former general manager of Martini Ranch, he now exhibits his skills at Iruna…
Phoenix is already drinking Postino’s Kool-Aid, er, wine, but soon, the East Valley might get a taste of the popular wine bar action as well.Owner Craig DeMarco says he is 99 percent certain that the deal will go through to bring a third location of Postino to the former Grainbelt…
Okay, I thought this would be a cool new thing to write about, but I think it might actually be a cool new thing to make fun of.With good intentions, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced an improved version of its searchable National Farmers Market Directory. It’s got a…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Wine TastingLooking for a low key, relaxing way to spend your Thursday night? Why not attend Sun Devil Liquors Thursday night Wine Tasting in the Cellar Pub from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight. For just $5 you…
