Dining in a department store is nothing new, but it’s no wonder the concept has such staying power. Keep shoppers on the premises to refuel, and hopefully they’ll go right back to spending their dough. However, Fred’s — the restaurant at Scottsdale Fashion Square’s new Barneys New York — is…
The shameful bronze. The withering yellow ribbon. Third place sucks. What’s the number-three U.S. burger chain supposed to do, what with Burger King’s Steakhouse and McDonald’s Angus burgers all up in its freckle-faced grill? Dig the scene on Wall Street last May: Wall Street Analysts: Listen, you redheaded freak, you’re…
Can you feel it? The grill smoke burning your eyes? The grease stinging your fingers? The pound, pound, pounding of the patties? There’s a war going on out there, people. A burger war. And poor Wendy’s has been taking on some heavy fire lately what with Burger King’s Steakhouse and…
I love a good challenge. So when a friend recently declared that “only seafood restaurants have good crab cakes” I was determined to prove her wrong. Armed with only a camera and the pipe dream of finding fresh fish in the desert, I headed out to two neighborhood restaurants in search…
Caramelpalooza just got stickier. Urban Beans, Honey Moon Sweets Bakery & Dessert Bar and Wicked Kitchen Gourmet have joined Urban Cookies, Tammie Coe, Tracy Dempsey, Bourbon Steak, Sweet Republic and La-Dee-Dahs for our first-ever caramel tasting this Friday at 7 pm at Smeeks candy store. Check back soon for profiles of…
Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a good time? “Whaddya makin’ for breakfast?” my day drinking pals Ronda and Tana and I ask Todd, the morning barkeep at My Ole Man’s in Glendale. “Anything you want,” he answers. “You’re the Italian-American Jersey boy,”…
[jump] Think smoky slices of brisket, messy-but-good coleslaw, and crispy, buttery telera that truly made it memorable. These chips and salsa were mighty fine, too, although they were just a distraction. When the torta showed up, I couldn’t think of anything else.Still thinking about it, actually…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Meritage Steakhouse at the JW Marriot Desert Ridge Resort has introduced their new $29 sunset menu and get this—you get choices! Diners are not limited a traditional prix fixe menu, you can take your pick of prime rib,…
Funny how there are so many sushi restaurants in the Valley, but so few places to get ramen. You’d think a quick, cheap, belly-warming bowl of soup would be readily available in every neighborhood, but it’s just not. You’ll have better luck finding pho. A new place is about to…
Chow Bella reader Valerie Paxton headed to this past Sunday’s MF Tasty secret supper with her camera in hand, and was kind enough to share her own personal food porn with us. Chef Eric Gitenstein’s food was “creative and tasty,” she said. Guess it lived up to its name. Stay…
The Spot: Santan Brewing Co. 8 South San Marcos Pl. Chandler, AZ 85225 480-917-8700 www.santanbrewing.com The Hours: Monday through Friday from 3 till 7pm and reverse happy hour Sunday through Thursday from 9 p.m. till closing time. The Details: $3.75 18oz pints, $4 house wines and $1 off everything else…
(Note: Judges have now been selected.) Big thanks to everyone who applied to be a reader judge for this Friday’s Caramelpalooza event at Smeeks, co-sponsored by Chow Bella. We had a wonderful assortment of entries — everything from a reader celebrating her wedding the next day; to a reader drooling…
Sure, Twitter might be a fantastic time-suck at work, a distraction at play (admit it, you’ve tweeted at dinner!), and even a tempting place to spill your soul or make absolutely no sense at all after that one last cocktail you shouldn’t have had. (You mischievous thing, you!) As for…
Host Beau MacMillan was in fine spirits — or shall we say, in the fine spirits — last night at the inaugural WestSide Throwdown culinary challenge at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria. The event was bizarre. Attendance was spotty, and everyone (even the host) seemed to have tapped into the free…
Even with top shelf alcohol, a mixed drink is only as good as its mixer. A cheap, artificially flavored juice can totally ruin the taste; and the usual “soda, juice or energy drink” mixer options are limiting (and rather monotonous) for those who prefer fresh or non-traditional flavors. You can…
One of the realities of living in this urban sprawl is that friends and relations can be scattered across the Valley from East to West and places in-between. We needed to find a place to dine with our motley crew. Cousins were in town, a baby had been born and…
How well do you know your favorite cookhouse contraptions? See if you can guess today’s gadget and check back next week for the answer, and to see if you’ve won a most-awesome prize. Here are a few shots at this week’s trickster, add yours to the comment box below: -…
Hot fried arancini were appealing, but these days I’m a little obsessed with The Parlor’s roasted brussels sprouts, tossed with caramelized onions and salty bits of sopressata. I like to feel good about myself for eating veggies, but let’s face it — these are a secret vice…
Chris Danowski The artistic director for Theater in My Basement and owner of the Basement Gallery in downtown Phoenix is gearing up for a mediated ritual for live performance event this summer. Check out http://timb.org for more details What’d you eat for dinner last night? Pinto beans, spiced with epazote,…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. This is the last week to get to Joe’s Farm Grill to take advantage of great food specials and to be entered in The Big Raffle. Watch “Real Deal Fast Food” on the Food Network (the episode featuring…
In the end, we get what’s coming to us. Let’s hope it’s sweet. Ah, spring. That time of year when the axis of the Earth increases its tilt toward the sun and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the relevant hemisphere. Or: Pretty flowers! Pretty flowers! And with the…
While thumbing through the pages of the latest Food Network Magazine, I came across one of the strangest suggestions for an Easter gift I’ve ever seen. Chocolate bunnies? Too bourgeois. Baskets of faux grass and jelly beans? Yawn. Even this year’s chocolate-covered Peeps aren’t exactly hitting the mark. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29233640@N07/ / CC…
