Have you ever felt mystified while looking over a restaurant wine list? Or wondered what wine to serve with your homemade pasta bolognese? Maybe you’ve wanted to visit French wine country but haven’t known where to begin. Lucky for you, wine education and travel just become a lot more accessible…
Each week we venture to a new restaurant to check out what they have to offer during our favorite time of day — happy hour. Whether it’s the most delectable appetizers, the best beverages, jaw-dropping deals, or none of the above, we’ll vet the entire situation and tell all about…
A few years ago, I helped open a World of Beer location in the Chicago suburb of Evanston. On opening night, we had 49 taps flowing mostly local brews: Revolution, Goose Island, Three Floyd’s. But one local draft, belonging to a mysterious little brewery called Small Town, was getting much…
The invention of boxed wine (also known as cask, goon, or boxy wine) turned 50 years old this spring. Modeled after portable leather bladders used to transport personal wine in Spain, the bag-in-a-box wine package is sometimes synonymous with cheapness, excess vice, and low quality. However, everyone has at least one…
Frozen and frappe-style cocktails have had a few good seasons under their belts in larger cities like Chicago and San Francisco, but these frozen drinks have yet to gain real popularity in the Valley. (Though, to be fair, Joshua James of The Clever Koi did do Negroni snow cones for…
The Spot: The Ivy 1890 West Germann Road, Chandler 480-699-6189 www.theivyaz.com The Hours: Happy hour is available daily from 3 to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 9 p.m. to close. Perfect for: Getting your Mediterranean fix in the southeast Valley Interior: It’s difficult to put your finger on exactly what…
Last night, for the first time in more than a year, I pulled my old guitar from its melancholy confines in the bedroom closet, wiped off the dust that had collected between the strings, and played. My fingers were stubborn at first, reluctant to perform bends and stretches outside their now-usual…
In June, Eric Glomski, the winemaker behind Page Springs Cellars and Arizona Stronghold, released his latest project: a new wine label called Provisioner. Priced at $10 or less per bottle, Provisioner White is made from French Colombard, Chenin Blanc, and Malvasia grapes. It’s a light wine, focused around crisp citrus…
Three weeks into the Ten Weeks of Tiki series, Jade Bar and lead bartender Eddie Garcia are keeping classic tiki drinks flowing. And the combination of fresh juices, rums, and bitters at a resort bar is the perfect reminder to slow things down, if only for a drink or two. …
The Spot: The Attic 4247 East Indian School Road 602-955-1967 facebook.com/theattic4247 The Hours: Happy hour is from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Perfect for: Finger foods and affordable craft beer while watching the game The Interior: We’re not sure there’s any…
Plunking a slice of lime, lemon, or orange on the side of a glass of beer is a distinctly American tradition — one this writer wishes would kindly die. Not only do oils found in the peels of these fruits hinder head formation and rob you of precious aroma; they’re…
Nothing evokes sophistication and class like hosting your own wine and cheese party. However, while browsing through the tantalizing selections at Whole Foods or AJ’s, it can be difficult to know which wines go with which cheeses. In fact, pairing wine with food can be challenging in general. We know…
Craft cocktails were in vogue long before craft barbecue, but have the two ever crossed paths? Rarely. And certainly not often in Phoenix. But Adam Haggert, formerly of The Local and Merc Bar, has rolled out his second cocktail menu at Bootleggers’ second location in Old Town Scottsdale. It’s obscure,…
The Spot: La Santisima Gourmet Taco Shop 5932 West Glendale Avenue, Glendale 623-939-3292 www.lasantisimagourmet.com The Hours: Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. Perfect for: Tiny tacos and giant margaritas Interior: If you’ve been to the location of La Santisima on 16th Street in Phoenix, we…
Achtung! The brewers of Germany are best-known for clean lagers and fragrant hefeweizens, but this is but a small part of their contribution to the current craft beer landscape. Today our journey through beer history takes us to Bamberg, Germany, an ancient town located near the center of Deutschland known…
Make no mistake, the real-deal bartender is serious about the craft. So serious, in fact, that the best bartenders set themselves up for successful evenings, to banter and make conversation that leads drinkers away from the usual script and toward getting the best cocktail for into their hands. If you…
Along with mojitos and mai tais, sangria is a quintessential “umbrella” drink, perfect for poolside sipping. Traditionally made with wine, fruit juice, brandy, and heaps of chopped fruit, this Iberian classic is proof that sometimes wine can undo its top button and party down a bit. Here are our five…
The Spot: Linger Longer Lounge 6522 North 16th Street #6 602-264-4549 facebook.com/lingerlongerlounge The Hours: Happy hour is Monday through Friday 4 to 7 p.m. and all day Sunday. Perfect for: Happy hour with someone whose love is torn between good food and playing Jenga while listening to a killer playlist…
We’ve talked about the Trappists before, but here’s a quick refresher: Also known as the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance, the Trappists are a Roman Catholic sect that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. Among other axioms, the Rule requires monks to take three vows: A Vow of…
Earlier this spring we told you about the arrival of Sorso Wine Room at the Scottsdale Quarter. We had heard about the 32-tap WineEmotion dispensing system, and to be honest, were pretty eager to try it out. It sounded so strange and intriguing; we needed to experience it first hand. …
The Spot: The Salt Cellar Restaurant 550 North Hayden Road, Scottsdale 480-947-1963 www.saltcellarrestaurant.com The Hours: Happy hour is daily from 4 to 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the bar only. Perfect for: Giant oysters and a mental getaway Interior: The Salt Cellar in Scottsdale is one of the…
The origin of Oskar Blues, the name of Colorado’s canniest craft brewery, is shrouded in mystery. Some say the handle was inspired by a pair of hounds founder Dale Katechis and his brother, Chris, had growing up: Oskar and Blue. Some say Oskar Blue was a man Dale met while…
