Beer: ClutchBrewery: New Belgium Brewing Co. Style: American stoutABV: 9 percent It’s well-known that most brewers are major fans of rock and roll. Walk into a brewhouse when brewers are hard at work crafting beer and you’re likely to some heavily distorted, high energy stuff coming through the speakers. Much…
Yesterday we met Jenna Cacciamani, bartender at Tempe pizza place/beer bar Mellow Mushroom. Today she shares with us the recipe for the Baked Pear Martini, a drink she created that’s on the restaurant’s menu. “The prickly pear vodka comes from a local place,” Cacciamani says. “We try to do that…
The tender: Jenna Cacciamani The bar: Mellow Mushroom (740 S. Mill Ave. 480-967-6355) The pedigree: When Cacciamani’s manager at Applebee’s needed a bartender about 8 years ago, she was originally opposed– she was working tables, was fine with the money she was earning and liked her regulars. But she eventually ended up…
Beer: PerseveranceBrewery: Alaskan Brewing Co. Style: Russian Imperial StoutABV: 9 percent To last a quarter century in the beer industry takes a lot of perseverance. So does consistently producing award-winning brews in temperatures that would make Sub-Zero from Mortal Kombat bundle up. But Alaskan Brewing Co., based in frosty Juneau,…
The Spot: Four Peaks Brewing Company, 1340 E. 8th St., Tempe,480-303-9967www.fourpeaks.comThe Hours: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., daily. The Details: You could sum up the happy hour at this reputable local brewery in three words: cheap specialty beer. Their daily discount knocks $1…
The Spot: Jade Bar, 5700 E. McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley, 480-948-2100www.sanctuaryoncamelback.comThe Hours: The Pour runs from 4 – 6 p.m., and reverse runs from 10 p.m. – midnight, daily. The Details: Located within the swanky Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa is the classy Jade Bar and their patio cocktail lounge,…
Beer: Arizona Centennial Ale & Arizona Centennial Copper AleBrewery: Sonoran Brewing Co. Style: American wheat ale, Extra Special Bitter On Feb. 14, 2012, our beloved state will have been part of the union for 100 years. An entire century! It’s a big deal deserving of celebration, and there’s no better…
Yesterday we met Wayne Scalaro, who’s tended bar at the Rokerij for more than a decade and once got laid thanks to George W. Bush. Today he shares with us the recipe for his Prickly Pear Margarita, a drink Scalaro says is a smooth cocktail great for the summer heat…
The tender: Wayne ScalaroThe bar: The Rokerij (6335 N. 16th St., 602-287-8900) The pedigree: Scalaro began bartending at restaurants owned by his parents in Portland just before he was old enough to drink, though by his own admission he “pretty much drank everything” before he was of age. After moving…
The Spot: The Arrogant Butcher, Cityscape, 2 E. Jefferson #150, Phoenix, 602-324-8502The Hours: 3 – 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Bar only. The Details: The Arrogant Butcher is another one of Sam Fox’s “concept” restaurant. The idea behind this particular concept is “urban grill meets updated comfort food.” While the…
Beer: 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA Brewery: Stone Brewing Co. Style: Black IPA ABV: 10.8 percent I wasn’t kidding when I said black IPAs were everywhere. Adding to this growing group of uncooperatively-colored and hoppy brew, Stone Brewing Co. recently released their Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA to celebrate 15…
Yesterday we met Mary Melton, director of beverage for P.F. Chang’s — all of them. Today she shares with us the recipe for the Dark & Spicy. New for the restaurant’s happy hour menu, it’s a twist on an old classic, the Dark & Stormy. “It’s my favorite drink of all the…
Would you drink a Pants on the Ground Porter? How about Boom Gueze the Dynamite? The internet influences everything these days, and memes are the vehicles by which it does so. No one knows why certain YouTube videos and other messages on the internet become so popular (we’re still waiting…
The tender: Mary Melton The bar: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro (multiple locations) The pedigree: Melton found her first bartending job post-college, at an airport in Kansas City. After working her way around several bars and restaurants in that city, she moved to San Diego, where she ventured into restaurant and…
The Spot: Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery, 8787 N. Scottsdale Rd, Paradise Valley, 480-778-1999 www.soifour.comThe Hours: 5 – 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.The Details: @font-face { font-family: “ＭＳ 明朝”; }@font-face { font-family: “ＭＳ 明朝”; }@font-face { font-family: “Cambria”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Cambria; }.MsoChpDefault…
Beer: Negro NitronBrewery: SanTan Brewing Co. (8 S. San Marcos Place, 480-917-8700)Style: Black IPAABV: 7.3 percent The Black IPA is so hot right now. As in fashion, music and baby names, trends in the craft beer world progress rapidly. Last year, Belgian IPA was the tits, and lately it seems…
Yesterday we met Jon Doholis, bar manager at swanky neighborhood restaurant and wine bar Cork. Today he shares with us the recipes for not one but two vegetarian cocktails, the Carrot Cosmopolitan and the Celeri-addict, added to the restaurant’s menu for August to celebrate Vegetarian Month. The vegetarian cocktails make…
The tender: Jon Doholis (Bar Manager)The bar: Cork (4991 S. Alma School Road, 480-883-3773) The pedigree: Doholis has been involved in the food industry for most of his life — he got a start working at a restaurant in Kansas City at 16, lived with a chef roommate for a while,…
The Spot: Gallo Blanco, 401 W Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, (602) 274-4774www.galloblancocafe.comThe Hours: 3- 6 p.m., everyday. The Details: The Clarendon Hotel’s eccentric in-house eatery offers an awesome daily happy hour menu that includes a total of 6 appetizers ranging as low as $3 to $6, such as their award winning…
Beer: Tramp Stamp Brewery: Clown Shoes Style: Belgian IPA ABV: 7 percent “Tattoo on the lower back? Might as well be a bullseye.” – Jeremy Grey, Wedding Crashers Another newbie to the Arizona desert, Clown Shoes is actually contract brewed through Mercury Brewing Company in Ipswich, Mass. They are their…
Yesterday we met Ryan Nishijima, who pours beer and wine at Cave & Ive’s in Arcadia. Today he shares with us the recipe for the G-Spot. Because Cave & Ive’s doesn’t have a license to sell hard liquor, the owners had to get creative with their cocktail menu. The result…
The tender: Ryan NishijimaThe bar: Cave & Ives (4247 E. Indian School Road, 602-955-1924) The pedigree: Like many others, Nishijina started bartending when he went to college, working at a local T.G.I.Friday’s. After he graduated, Nishijina took his skills international, tending bar on cruises to the Mediterranean, Hawaii and the Caribbean…
