Yesterday we met Steve Delaney, the bartender and all-around good guy working afternoons at Rula Bula. Today he shares with us the recipe for a classic college drink: the Irish Car Bomb. Drinkers may be familiar with this one, but little did you know, Rula Bula mixes it up with…
Easygoing, talkative and an expert pourer, Steve Delaney is a fixture at Rula Bula (401 S. Mill Ave., 480-929-9500), the Tempe Irish pub that won a 2010 Best of Phoenix award. A veteran of the industry, he’s managed several El Chorritos in California and Arizona, the now-defunct Bamboo Club, and…
The Spot: Papago Brewing, 7107 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale, 480-425-7439 http://www.papagobrewing.com The Hours: Score some craft beer for a wee bit cheaper from open to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. The Details: One buck off all 30 of their specialty drafts (most will run you about $3.50 after the discount),…
Yesterday we met Jake Dean, the rock star bartender who mixes drinks and packs the house over at Sushi Roku. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Passion & Spice, a cocktail made with citrus fruits and jalapeno. “I like to recommend this one if the guest is…
At the front of the swanky W Hotel, sits Sushi Roku (7277 E. Camelback Rd., 480-970-2121). Soft jazz plays over the speakers while fishing net-style ceiling pieces, wood floors and walls decorated with rope combine to make the place look like an ultra-modern Japanese fishing boat. Behind the bar is Jake…
The Spot: Ticoz Resto-Bar, 5114 N. 7th St, Phoenix, 602-200-0160 http://www.ticozaz.com The Hours: Ticoz offers relaxed pricing on drinks and apps every day of the week from 3 to 6:30 pm, and again from 10 pm to close. The Details: Half-priced drinks all around with their signature drinks (margs, mojitos,…
The end of 2010 is almost upon us (THANK GOD) and Friday night will be a time for popping bottles and sipping on some bubbly. But plain champagne is SO 2010, so we enlisted the help of two of our favorite bartenders to spice up our party drink menus. Courtesy…
The Spot: 1889 Saloon at Stockyards Restaurant, 5009 E. Washington St., Phoenix, 602-273-7378 http://www.stockyardsrestaurant.com The Hours: At this good old fashioned restaurant, the happy hours in the saloon are also traditional, the good old Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7 pm. The Details: All premium drafts are 2 bucks…
Dwell all you want on the poor economy, the dwindling job market or the plethora of depressing events of 2010 — it’s been a good year for beer. Despite a drop in overall beer sales, craft brews continue to rise in popularity, allowing innovative American brewers to stretch their muscles…
The Spot: Arriba Mexican Grill,1812 E Camelback, Phoenix, with 5 other locations across the Valley, 602-265-9112, www.arribamexicangrill.com. The Hours: Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, with a reverse happy hour every day of the week from 9 pm to close. The Details: Arriba offers a 99 cent…
The beer geek is a simple creature, really. Plop a few bottles in front of him this holiday season and he’ll call it good. But when the holiday five-pack just won’t cut it, here are some gift ideas that’ll make your beer geek piss-drunk — with happiness…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Clint Manning, the mixologist who developed the expansive menu of margaritas at Canteen Modern Tequila Bar. Today he shares with us the recipe for one of his more unique creations, the Serrano-Mango Margarita. “With margaritas, it’s sometimes tough to make sure they’re not too sweet,” Manning says…
Having been open a scant two months, Canteen Modern Tequila Bar (640 S. Mill Ave., 480-773-7135) is still the new kid in town, though it sure doesn’t seem like it. One glance at the line snaking out the door of the tequileria each weekend will have you thinking the place has…
The Spot: Kanpai Sushi, 690 S Mill Ave, Tempe, 480-272-8211 http://www.kanpaisushiaz.com The Hours: Everyday from 3 to 7 pm, with a reverse happy hour Thursday through Saturday from 9 pm to midnight. The Details: Kanpai Sushi has a $5 sake bomber all day, every day. They also offer a half-priced discount…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Tom Crowley, the esteemed bartender of the Cork and Cleaver who, 32 years later, is now mixing drinks at 1889 Saloon. Today he shares with us the recipe for his favorite drink, known simply as Tom’s Drink. “When I go out to the local watering holes, I…
Having served drinks at the Cork & Cleaver for 32 years, Tom Crowley could be considered as much a part of the venerable Phoenix steakhouse as the front door. So when a motor in the produce cooler short-circuited, creating a smoldering fire that caused major smoke damage to most of…
The Spot: Devil’s Advocate, 955 E. University Dr., Tempe, 480-921-2585 http://www.devilstempe.com/ The Hours: Cheap drinks and food specials are available Monday through Friday between 4 and 7 pm. The Details: Half-off all drinks and appetizers during happy hour. Depending on the day, you may also be able to score some…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met April Lohrenz, the babe at Tempe’s Spitfire Grill and Tavern who’s also a swim instructor. And a dental hygiene student. And a mom. Today she shares with us the recipe for her Lemon Drop martini, which she developed after having the drink botched by nearly every bartender…
April Lohrenz wears many hats. There’s the promoter hat, which she wore while working years ago as a promoter for Budweiser, travelling all over the country to promote the beer company at hydroplane speed boat races. There’s the student hat, which she currently dons as she studies dental hygiene at…
