For more than a year now, Shady’s bartender and regular Chow Bella contributor JK Grence, has been providing invaluable advice to the alcohol-infused masses with his “Last Call” column. Considering this grand milestone, we decided to take a look back at some of his best tips as we head into…
I just took a look at the calendar, and realized that Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner. Never mind that it’s barely a blip on the radar in Mexico; around here, it’s become Cinco de Drinko, where it’s socially acceptable to get wasted on crummy margaritas and horrible…
This week we introduce a new, occasional wine column by one of the best-known Arizona winemakers, Sam Pillsbury. Welcome to Spillsbury. When managing editor Amy Silverman asked me to write for Chow Bella and New Times, I had to stop and think how that was going to work. I think…
Beer: Jai Alai Brewery: Cigar City Brewing Co. Style: American IPA ABV: 7.5 percent The journey from brew kettle to drinking vessel is long and hard, and not all beer gets there in perfect condition. To taste right, a beer must battle many foes along the way: diacetyl, a yeast…
Heather HochThe Spot: Scratch 1011 North Third Street, 602-252-8900, www.scratchpastries.com See Also: – Bonjour Vietnam in Downtown Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card – The Anatomy of a Macaron with Duc Liao of Scratch Pastries…
We’re constantly looking for reasons to make our way over to Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, a gem of a hotel with a kick-ass bar to boot. This summer, Lon’s is offering a monthly wine-tasting series for everyone from vino newbies to those with experienced palates — and all for…
Around the bar, it seems that this season’s official cocktail is the Moscow Mule. Over the past few weeks, its popularity has skyrocketed. I’m a little surprised that people often say I make a really good one. It’s such a simple drink, anyone should be able to put together a…
Hey, wine lovers: Do the wine terms “minerality,” “leathery,” and “chunky” confuse you? If your answer is “yes” or “maybe,” you are not alone, according to a new study. According to The Telegraph, a survey conducted for Laithwaite’s Wine asked respondents to rank terms and phrases used to describe wine…
beerpulse.com Beer: Class of ’88 Barleywine Brewery: Deschutes Brewery/North Coast Brewing Co./Rogue Ales Style: American Barleywine ABV: 10 percent Hello, out there! Today, we step into the WayBack Machine to take a look at craft beer’s past, all the way back to the year 1988. Times were good — Prozac…
The Spot: Bonjour Vietnam 202 North Central Avenue 602-252-1223 www.hotelsancarlos.com/dining See Also: – La Condesa in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card – Pallets, a Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese Restaurant, Opens on Roosevelt Row – 10 Favorite Vietnamese Restaurants in Greater Phoenix The Hours: Happy Hour is offered Monday through Friday…
Certain times of the year call for certain beverages. You have your Christmas egg nog, margaritas aplenty for Cinco de Drinko, and countless other excuses through the year to knock back a drink. One day that needs no excuse is, of course, April 15. The mere mention strikes dread in…
The Spot: La Condesa 1919 North 16th Street 602-254-6330 www.lacondesatacoshop.com See Also: – 10 Best Margaritas in Metro Phoenix – Dick’s Hideaway: Happy Hour Report Card – The Hunt for Fresh Mexican Coconut in Metro Phoenix Is Over The Hours: Happy Hour is offered Monday through Friday from 3 until…
mustlovebeer.com Beer: Barrel-Aged Freudian Sip Brewery: Rough Draft Brewing Co. Style: American Strong Ale ABV: 10 percent Around 1901, Sigmund Freud came out with his book The Psychopathology of Everyday Life. In it, he described a number of verbal “slips” — errors that seem trivial but may actually reveal repressed…
The Spot: Cove Trattoria, 7001 North Scottsdale Road, #128, Paradise Valley, 480-951-8273, www.thecovescottsdale.com. Editor’s Note: This post has been edited from its original version to reflect the fact that happy hour beers are actually $3 at Cove Trattoria, rather than what we previously reported. We regret our error. See Also:…
gearpatrol.com Beer: Game of Thrones Iron Throne Blonde Ale Brewery: Brewery Ommegang Style: Belgian Blonde ABV: 6.5 percent Winter is coming, my brothers. I’ve just received a raven from the far-off land of Cooperstown, New York, where the alchemist guild at Brewery Ommegang has been working hard on a series…
Ring the bell — it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. Names are a funny thing. Names get even…
We love drinking wine at Easter time. And we’re not talking about communion wine. Easter is a holiday known for its amazingly diverse varieties of “brunch.” This often includes everything from quiche and lamb to ham and fruit. Choosing a wine for Easter is not for the faint of heart…
The Spot: Windsor, 5223 North Central Avenue, 602-279-1111, www.windsoraz.com. See Also: – Culinary Dropout at The Yard in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card – Butter Pecan and Vietnamese Coffee Ice Creams at Windsor/Churn – Windsor: Happy Hour Report Card The Hours: Happy Hour is offered daily from 11 a.m. to…
Beer: Seven Brewery: Upright Brewing Co. Style: Saison ABV: 8 percent Not sure if you guys have noticed, but craft beer is going all Manifest Destiny right now. With the likes of New Belgium, Oskar Blues, and Green Flash breaking ground on East Coast facilities, big brands are going nationwide…
Ring the bell, it’s time for Last Call, where JK Grence, bartender at Shady’s, serves up booze advice and recipes. Got a burning question for your bartender? Leave it in the comments and it might be answered in a future column. The folks who come in to the bar lately…
Not that there’s ever a bad time for sangria, but sunny days and warmer temperatures mean that you might want to perk up your wine with some fruit, brandy, and other delicious sweetness. We asked three Valley restaurants to give up their amazing in house sangria recipes and tips (Did…
The Spot: Culinary Dropout at The Yard, 5632 North Seventh Street Phoenix, 602-680-4040, http://www.foxrc.com/. See Also: – Culinary Dropout: Happy Hour Report Card – 9 Great Places to Drink Outdoors in Metro Phoenix – Black Apple Mischief at Culinary Dropout The Hours: Happy Hour is offered from Monday through Friday…
