We walked in to Z Tejas expecting a Winter menu full of heavy, comfort foods. Stuffing your face with carb and fat-laden dishes is why we celebrate the holidays, right? What we found instead were dishes that provide that satisfying sense of holiday comfort with a fresh edge more akin…
This week’s cafe column uses the phrase “style over substance” to describe Hula’s Modern Tiki. Talk about being off to a bad start. Writer Wynter Holden, filling in for critic Michele Laudig, on Hula’s Modern Tiki: The coconut shrimp rolls arrived so overdone that I was surprised our server didn’t…
After hours of logging in shopping time for others, it’s always nice to treat yourself, too. And at Scottsdale Jean Company, you can score a $10 discount on denim by bringing in a non-perishable food item. All donations go to Vista del Camino service center of Scottsdale, and the goods…
Get ready to say a mouthful as the Scottsdale Culinary Institute changes its name to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. Maybe we should be excited–Julia Child, who was featured in the now-on-DVD movie Julie & Julia, attended the Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris. There are currently nearly 30…
Few foods remind us of our childhood as much as fluffy, thick french toast. On Saturday mornings when we’d been especially good lately, Mom would soak some leftover bread in thick, eggy batter and serve french toast piping hot with cinnamon sugar or maple syrup, depending on our mood. It was wonderful. This week,…
I’ve been going to Japan every year for quite a while now, but I never get tired of a plate of sashimi this gorgeous. This was just the first of many courses at the fabulous Yamadaya, an izakaya near the famous Tsukiji fish market that chef Nobuo Fukuda had recommended…
Here’s yet another way to keep on giving this holiday season. This Saturday, December 12, select downtown Phoenix proprietors are donating 10 percent of their sales to the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center (SARRC). It’s all in conjunction with the Second Saturday Sidewalk Sale, where merchants and art galleries…
Being a Phoenician ain’t easy; you have to know about every under-the-radar spot in the Valley, remember the names of everyone you meet, financially support every new local business that springs up, mourn the loss of every local business that goes under, and try not to pick up a bad…
You might want to quelch your hunger before you head to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa–they’ve got the self-proclaimed “largest gingerbread village in the Valley” on display, and the confection is a mouthwatering structure smothered in frosting, chocolate and gumdrops. To create the masterpiece, the resort used…
We were looking for a holiday-ish date night and nothing says Christmas in the desert like strolling the luminaries at the Desert Botanical Gardens with a cocktail in hand. During the annual holiday event, there are several drinking and dining options available. The Patio Cafe, which offer snacks and wraps in a casual…
Looks like Phoenix is really growing up this year, at least when it comes to alcohol. Local wines are gaining popularity, new brewers are opening shop and P-Town is finally getting its own tequila festival. Elias Entertainment Group, the same company that produces Phoenix’s Christmas Mariachi Festival and the Las Vegas Tequila…
Editor’s note: Michele Laudig is on vacation. Her column will return next week. A couple of weeks ago at lunch, a foodie friend and I lapsed into our monthly debate on the merits of Emeril vs. Rachael Ray. Emeril’s a fine chef, though I’d rather follow his recipes than watch…
We’re headed into Wednesday night, and that means the Downtown Phoenix Public Market on Central Ave. will be opening in less than an hour. From 4-8 p.m. this evening, the market is hosting two free wine tastings. Sam and Dana Pillsbury of Pillsbury Wine Company will be pouring wines from their Arizona…
Not too many places have weathered 80 years in the Valley. The Orpheum Theatre. The Hayden Flour Mill in downtown Tempe. And Tom’s Restaurant & Tavern, the ubiquitous downtown hangout that was once a pool hall and the city morgue. In celebration of the joint’s 80th birthday, owner Michael Ratner is offering Depression…
Headed to Glendale for a game, but don’t want to deal with screaming bar crowds or kitschy tropical decor? In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we’ll profile a hot West Valley restuarant that’s big on elegance, romance and traditional Italian food. We’ll also have the scoop on a local chef…
It’s no wonder greasy spoon diners are often packed–the fat-filled food’s addicting, and the prices are often dirt cheap. 12 East Cafe in downtown Phoenix is no exception. The small spot has a mom-and-pop feel, serving up breakfast goodies, sandwiches, salads and wings. The food comes in huge portions, and…
At Caffe Boa, executive chef Payton Curry (whom we profiled yesterday in Chef Chat) uses farm-fresh, local ingredients in his dishes, and these two recipes are no exception. The Fall Panzanella Salad features products that are in season right now, so if you want the freshest dish available, head to a…
You might think Valley diners are all about greasy Mexican food or gigantic chain restaurant-style portions, but a new study by Dole Fresh Vegetables claims Phoenicians are among the top salad eaters in the nation…
We couldn’t resist checking out a coffee-table cookbook called, Entertaining From an Ethnic Indian Kitchen because the author Komali Nunna bills herself as the “Indian Martha Stewart”. (Nunna is a California-based cook born in Southern India). The book is full of pictures, recipes and tips for entertaining Indian style and Nunna’s…
Hanukkah is a time for food, gifts and spending time with family. In New York or Chicago, it’d be a snap to find local restaurants serving Hanukkah dinner or offering latkes, brisket and kugel. Here in Phoenix it’s a little more difficult to find Hanukkah-related foodstuffs, unless you resort to the Kosher section…
Early this morning, a small kitchen fire broke out at Durant’s, the legendary lounge that hosted the likes of Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne in its heyday. The blaze was quickly contained by firefighters, but there was some minor damage to the building’s roof and ventilation system. No one was…
If you’re looking for an easy way to help others this holiday season, dining at Roka Akor in Scottsdale means you’ll also be giving money to St. Mary’s Food Bank in Phoenix. The trendy Japanese and sushi restaurant gives 20 percent of its profits to the charity through Sunday, December 13,…
