Things are getting spooky around town. Driving to work, I pass Chef Robert McGrath’s never-opened REM project on Lincoln Drive. Having boarded it up along with the Pischke’s property he took over in 2006, subsequent to the suicide of Chris Pischke, McGrath’s suddenly disappeared from the food scene he’s poster-boyed…
Last week, I shared some of the dining highlights along the light-rail path. And while many of those restaurants have been around for years — and struggled as the streets in front of them were torn up during construction — some have cropped up more recently, almost as if in…
The full name, en francais, is the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie, and it sounds about as strenuous as a sporting event. And Roy Pell, executive pastry chef at the Phoenician, will be on Team USA (along with team captain David Ramirez from Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida,…
Family-owned Maizie’s Café & Bistro is a great example of the new wave of eateries that have opened up along the light rail path, a stylish, urban neighborhood joint that’s friendly and down to earth. The accessible American menu, available all day, features shareable starters, sandwiches, pizzas, and more; on…
Free live music, discounted bourbon, and a special lounge menu are three good reasons to start hitting up Bourbon Steak on Thursday nights, beginning on January 15. From 7 to 9 p.m. in the restaurant lounge, there will be performances from local blues bands (The Blue Zone will kick off…
Everybody’s doing it, man. Riding the light rail, that is. Whether for a daily commute or just a joy ride, people seem to be packing the cars, and it’s not even the free ride period anymore. The folks at District, the restaurant at the downtown Sheraton, hope even more people…
The vegan black bean burro a la Votichenko. Alex Votichenko is completely dialed in to Phoenix’s downtown art scene. When he’s not working various jobs at the Great Arizona Puppet Theatre, the 35-year-old artist and turntablist can often be found at CenPho drinkeries like The Ruby Room or Bikini Lounge…
It’s only been open for two weeks, but Bantu Bistro has already gained some repeat customers in Central Phoenix. Located in the 7th Avenue spot that formerly housed Melrose Cafe (4447 N. 7th Ave., at Campbell; 602-604-2489), the eatery brings something new to the local dining scene: West African cuisine. Co-owner Emmy…
In the foodie blogosphere, you can be somebody. Just pick a site (Chowhound, Yelp, EGullet, et al.), a clever byline, and you’re in. It’s like AA for food junkies — a sympathetic forum in which Epicurean souls are bared and horror stories are exchanged in catharsis. Of course, it’s just…
What is it about candy thermometers that are so intimidating? Is it that they look a little dangerous? It took a really easy but delicious-looking fleur de sel toffee recipe to help me overcome my fear of using one. The ingredients for the toffee are pretty much butter and sugar,…
Happy New Year, Phoenix. Here’s one last look at 2008 with the top five blogs as determined by the sheer number of eyes that read them. Catch the top three slots after the jump. 5 – Liberty Market set to open in Gilbert The charming stretch of Gilbert Avenue that…
Anybody want to buy a bistro? Madelyn’s chef-owner Brian Ford says he’s looking to sell his Anthem eatery, and it’s just about turnkey. “We were unfortunately pushed into closing our doors by our own bank, out of the blue, two days before Christmas,” Ford says. “They didn’t notify us, and…
Chef-owner Joshua Hebert was hoping that Santa would bring him a new restaurant, but instead, he got a New Year’s “baby”; Posh quietly opened on New Year’s Eve. Located inside the gorgeous Optima Camelview Village, the restaurant serves “improvisational cuisine,” which Hebert describes as a “very seasonally adaptive” take on…
Jolt Cola, created in 1985, was the first soda to contain obscene amounts of sugar and caffeine, well before the first “energy drinks” started to hit store shelves. So it’s not unrealistic to expect Jolt’s new Endurance Shots to offer a high-octane rush superior to other energy shots, such as the “5-Hour Energy Shots” that started appearing at Walgreens about two and a half years ago.
There’s no question that the land of beer is populated by a dizzying array of bizarre mascots. From arrogant bastards to fat tires and even John C. McGinley as commissioner of the “more taste league,” beer aisles are stocked with creatures staring at you in the hopes you’ll pick them…
You can call Jeff Grenfell cheesy, and he won’t mind a bit. The Arizona native can be found at Cheuvront’s Restaurant on Central Avenue, where he is not just sommelier, but also “fromagier” – reportedly the only one in town. Can’t tell your Camembert from your triple crème brie? Never heard…
This hearty dish consists of black and white pudding, two fried eggs cooked to order, rashers (potatoes), sausages, tomatoes, and brown bread. Black pudding (sometimes known as blood pudding) is a staple of a traditional breakfast in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Two doctors sit at a bar and start talking shop. “Why proctology, for God’s sake?” one asks. “I know,” the other answers, raising a hand with his thumb and forefinger an inch or two apart. “I was this close to being a gynecologist.” That same gag works…
One night, around 10 years back, I slaved to create this fantastic Moroccan lamb dish. I was drinking wine in the afternoon when my date showed up. For once, I had a date with someone over 25 — in fact, she was over 40! With no kids, she had plenty…
A lot of excitement about the Metro light rail has revolved around the easy new connection between downtown Phoenix and downtown Tempe. And when it comes to dining options, that’s definitely a good thing, whether you’re a commuter, a student, or just a foodie-about-town. Hop off the train in either…
As far as I knew knew up until a few weeks ago, Crush came in two flavors: Orange and Grape. Recently I was visiting my family in Ohio when I came across Pineapple, Peach, Strawberry and Tropical Punch. Shocking! Then, I did a little more research and found out that…
Follow this slide show’s step-by-step guide to making this week’s dish.C.M. Redding is back this week, Forking for the New Year. Here’s his recipe for champagne soup: Champagne Soup AperitifNote: the recipe is per serving, so adjust accordingly — you might need more cantaloupe if you’re serving more than 2…
