Is Phoenix the last major city to have a sushi restaurant in its downtown? Until now, the sushi boom has happened elsewhere in the Valley, especially in Scottsdale. So tomorrow night is kind of historic, isn’t it? That’s when Moira Sushi (215 E. McKinley) opens its doors at 5 p.m. (Friday, March 27),…
The hot trend of featured chefs at farmers’ markets just keeps gathering momentum. Beginning this Saturday, March 28, Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar’s award-winning James Porter will appear at the brand-new Seacat Gardens stall at Scottsdale’s Old Town Farmers’ Market, preparing a dish based on seasonal produce for shoppers to…
There are many questions we like to be presented with when entering an eatery. Of these, deciding among coffee, pastry and sandwiches is the question we like best. Why you ask? Because our knee-jerk answer is “all three.” That’s why we’re so excited about the focus of this week’s Cafe…
There’s been talk for quite a long time that chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission has had his eye on downtown — particularly around Roosevelt Row. Well, he finally made his move. Carter’s in Uruguay right now, says Brian Raab at The Mission, but before he left, he…
Who needs a calendar? These days, I pretty much measure the passage of time by the reoccurrence of NOCA’s fried chicken night. The monthly special always happens on the fourth Sunday, so the place is inevitably packed with people chowing down on some of the tastiest bird ever (not to…
My ice cube trays recently came out of retirement. They were delegated to the back of the cabinet when my youngest daughter stopped eating homemade baby food, but they’ve been recycled and turns out they are used more frequently than ever before. What for? Stock. Making your own stock is…
It’s finally that time of year in the desert when we aren’t in a not-so-hot season! Spring is in the air (at least for a week or two) and everyone I know is flocking to outside grills for parties and eats. I just attended such a shindig in a multimillion-dollar…
These days, if “real estate” and “restaurants” are in the same sentence, it’s probably not an optimistic one. All around the Valley, the limping economy has amounted to closures, canceled projects, and indefinitely postponed openings. But not all the casualties came about because of the real estate crash. Some of…
Why do we cook? To consume delicious food? For the sense of accomplishment? Well sure, but if you’re Forkng columnist Colin Redding there’s also the importance of impressing the hell out of your date. How far will he go to do just that? You’ll have to read this week’s Forking…
The most titillating news I’ve heard in a while is that James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath — formerly of Roaring Fork and Pischke’s Blue Ribbon — is now on the payroll of Entertainment U.S.A., the parent company of upscale strip club Christie’s Cabaret and 15 other venues across the country…
The Coffee Buzz, a friendly neighborhood joint on Chandler Blvd. in Ahwatukee/Phoenix, definitely caters to the average Joe or Jane. In fact, everything about the place — from the bland white walls to the standard breakfast sandwiches and ok coffee — is perfectly average. Surprising, considering the shop was voted “Best…
Of the last five restaurant inspections completed at Tomaso’s Italian restaurant on East Camelback Road in Phoenix, five resulted in a failing grade. At the most recent inspection, in early March, the inspector noted dried food debris on the interior of the microwave and surfaces of the slicer. The meat…
For the movie version of my professional life, I’m tossing around ideas on whom I’d like to see in the starring role. Given the magnetic machismo he and I share, De Niro might seem an obvious choice. Still, juxtaposing my polished, fine dining persona with Robert’s renowned, raw pugnacity could…
Can’t wail ’til dinner to pop the cork? No prob. One of Phoenix’s finest BYOBs, Coup des Tartes, just started a weekday lunch service (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday). And even if you’re not up for a little day drinking (a girl can dream, can’t she?), this…
We gotta hand it to restaurant inspectors for the first “theme report” we’ve seen since starting Gross Out. A recent inspection, which earned Saddle Ranch Chop House in Glendale a “No Award” from Maricopa County, is all about hands. And fingers. From the report: …
I was afraid to taste it. Even though I enjoy poached salmon, this one was rosy pink and wet-looking in the middle. The other students grabbed forks and lined up for a taste while I hung back as long as possible. Eventually, I just took a tiny bit of the…
True to its name, the brand-new Corona Cantina on Indian School has a full bar, and slings the drinks ’til 2 a.m. daily. But it’s a restaurant, too. The Mexican-inspired menu features everything from chimichangas, enchiladas, tacos, and tortilla soup, to burgers, bruschetta, wings, and salads. Dinner service runs until…
The Lath House at Heritage Park has never been as lively as it was on Saturday, March 22 for Tequilaaz, a tequila and mescal festival that had hundreds downing agave goodness and feasting on fare from local restaurants. The festival lasted from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and included live…
Wenchell’s and Krispy and Dunkin’s! Oh my! Chain store donuts are sweet and fatty and yummy but they lack a certain je ne sais quoi. If you really want to impress your friends and show your sweeties that you love them, then next Sunday morning make your own donuts. Your…
A restaurant opening early? When does that ever happen? In the wonderful world of Postino, where they’ve got it all figured out, apparently. The brand-new Postino Central, located in the renovated Katz Deli building at Central and Colter (5144 N. Central), just opened its doors a matter of minutes ago…
Wah wah wah… Today’s an anticlimactic day for some of the most talented people in the Arizona restaurant biz, as the James Beard Foundation announced its finalists for the 2009 awards. Nobody from this state was on the list. But the eight semifinalists who’d been in the running for various categories since the…
Hey buddy, can you spare a buck? If so, that dollar will buy you dinner at Bar Louie’s Tuesday night happy hour. The Glendale watering hole serves up one-dollar burgers from 6 p.m. until close on Tuesday nights (while supplies last), with the exception of game/concert/big event nights. The only…
