Lately I’ve been looking outside the U.S. for tempting brews to try. Last week Tiger from Singapore left me feeling flat as, well, the beer itself. This week I’m heading to Brazil to try out Xingu Black Beer. But first, a brief history lesson about the word “xingu.” Xingu refers to…
Great news for the caffeine-deprived: Fair Trade Cafe, an indie coffee shop that specializes in hand-roasted, small-batch, certified fair trade coffee, is about to double its downtown presence by opening its second location tonight. The original shop is just off the Roosevelt stop of the light rail (1020 N. 1st…
Trudy Thomas spent her childhood in the bourbon distilleries of Kentucky. She spent her a good part of her twenties working under Wolfgang Puck in Chicago, and now she’s spreading the mixology gospel in the Valley. The Director of Beverage at the Camelback Inn, the co-founder and vice-chairman of the…
When it comes to work week cooking we’re with Food Critic Michele Laudig. After slaving away on blogs we’d rather let someone else handle feeding us. So we’re taking Laudig’s recommendation and checking out Spices Mediterranean Kitchen. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Spices Mediterranean Kitchen: The offerings aren’t expansive, but…
Michael Jackson is back — in cupcake form. Barbara Gardner, owner of the Arcadia bakery Let Them Eat Cake regularly features a “guest star” on her lengthy menu of baked goodies. Last month, it was an Elvis-inspired confection, but this week’s hit a particularly interesting note. …
There are bartenders. And then there are bartenders. Trudy Thomas is the latter. By bartenders (emphasis on the art), we mean those who take their jobs a lot more seriously than the rest – those who discuss bartending in terms of dedication and passion; those who treat their craft with…
I always used to say, “It’s a fine line between being alone and being lonely.” I think I’ve crossed that line. I know I made this decision to live in the desert all summer, but the solitude is maddening! I’m now having full conversations with my dog; I’ve started to sing…
I’ve always considered myself a pretty DIY person, even when it comes to cooking. Although I haven’t tried to tackle a culinary masterpiece like Mastering the Art of French Cooking à la blogger Julie Powell, I can at least list from-scratch puff pastry among my kitchen accomplishments. But let me…
Chicago Hamburger Company vs. Boomer’s Sweet Home Chicago This week we went to two Chicago-style restaurants to compare sliders, those adorable mini burgers that are so small they slide down your throat. Why Chicago? It’s not completely clear but apparently Walter Anderson, the founder of White Castle, wanted burgers to be…
If you’re craving a juicy hamburger but don’t want to deal with kiddie playgrounds and cartoon characters, check out this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter for info on a late-night date place where burgers are king. We’ll also have the scoop on a back to school party for grown-ups and one of the…
A lot can happen in six months. For Regions Bistro & Bar in Scottsdale (9343 E. Shea), that span of time included a February debut (followed a month later by the opening of a sister location in Tempe), the swift departure of its original executive chef, a sudden closure in June…
Delicious news, cheese freaks. Lara Hardwick’s indie cheese shop, Petit Fromage, is open for business. It’s located inside D’licious Dishes, at 7th Avenue and Missouri, and boasts a well-curated selection of gourmet cheeses from artisanal producers around the world. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday,…
Listen up, downtown watchers. A brand-new, independently owned restaurant is in the works for a Phoenix landmark. It’s an Italian eatery called Via Roma Ristorante, set to take over the space inside the historic Hotel San Carlos that used to house the often-dead-seeming Copper Door. The menu’s not available yet, but the…
Is the Mondrian Scottsdale about to say adios to Asia de Cuba? Hotel management could “not confirm or deny” any imminent changes at the high-style Asian-fusion restaurant, and Asia de Cuba’s parent company, China Grill Management — which owns two-dozen eateries around the world — officially says there are no changes in…
Saturday night, a group of thirty or so animal activists led by Dani Thumma — with the help of the California-based Animal Protection and Rescue League and In Defense of Animals — pounced on the Biltmore in East Phoenix to protest the serving of foie gras at Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge. Not the best…
Call me a shameless arugula eater, but I still can’t get over the Obama family’s choice of dinner destination when they were in Phoenix this past Saturday night: Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen on Central Avenue, the flagship among the Southwestern chain’s 18 locations. Seriously? Sure, Macayo’s has been around long enough to…
Strictly speaking, this is not a “Monday Night” dish but a “Sunday Morning” one. We made it for breakfast over the weekend but it was so good, we say you could easily talk yourself into having it as part of an easy-breezy weeknight dinner. This dish is adapted from a…
Coffee Rush’s plain house blend is good, but its menu brims with such decadent flavors that anyone with a sweet tooth would be hard-pressed to just “plain Jane” it here — caramel macchiatos, coconut mochas, tiramisu mochas, and caramel nut lattes beckon the caffeine consumer beyond just black coffee. It’s…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Macaron Mania: Essence Bakery Cafe Keeps Fans in the…
Goodbye, DC Ranch. That’s pretty much the sentiment coming from chef Aaron May, who closed his casual Italian restaurant Autostrada on Wednesday, and now tells me he will be closing his other DC Ranch eatery, Sol y Sombra, this weekend. Sunday brunch will be the last service. “It’s a tough…
Today, while discussing Asian beers, I was asked the following question: do you prefer Kirin to Sapporo. Allow me to suggest an experiment. Next time you eat sushi, instead of reaching for a frosty Kirin or Sapporo, drink Budweiser. That’s right. Event after I lambasted President Obama for drinking the…
Foie gras is on menus at some of the best restaurants in the Valley. But tomorrow, a group of protesters will do their best to shed a different light on the culinary delicacy — and they’ll do it in front of a well-respected Phoenix restaurant, James Beard Award-winning chef Christopher…
