PF Chang’s China Bistro: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: PF Chang’s China Bistro (one of eight locations across the valley) 740 South Mill Avenue #140, Tempe (480) 731-4600 http://www.pfchangs.com The Hours: Every day of the week, including weekends, from 3 to 6 pm. The Details: Everything on the happy hour menu is $3 to $6 between 3 and…

Jim Schindel’s Bourbon Smash

​Yesterday we met Cafe Zuzu’s Jim Schindel, a skyscraper-sized man who’s a fan of Maker’s Mark and a member of the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild. Today, he utilizes his vast knowledge of spirits to craft a cocktail he calls the Bourbon Smash — a boozy summer drink that combines lemon, mint,…

Jim Schindel at Cafe Zuzu

​Tucked neatly inside Scottsdale’s Hotel Valley Ho is Cafe Zuzu (6850 E. Main St., 480-421-7997) — a cool, retro café and bar filled with the music and décor of the ’50s and ’60s. Jim Schindel helms this little spaceship, mixing up quick drinks and making nice with the menagerie of characters that…

Zipp’s Sports Grill: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Zipp’s Sports Grill (one of seven locations across the valley) 3647 E Indian School Rd, 602-957-2112 http://www.zipps-sportscafe.com/ The Hours: Monday through Friday, from 3 to 7 pm The Details: $2.50 well, wine, and domestic beer. $3.00 premium pints and frozen Zipparitas. $3.50 32 oz domestic drafts. $1.50 slices…

Happy Hour Report Card: Cafe Zuzu

The Spot: Cafe Zuzu6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale 480-421-7997http://www.hotelvalleyho.com/scottsdalerestaurants/cafezuzu.html The Hours: Monday through Friday between 4 and 7 pm. The Details: 3 dollar bonanza! Enough to satisfy just about anyone: six fancy cocktails, five appetizers, four beers and four types of wine…

Jason Lyons at Big Bang

​Gummy Bears. Gatorade. Pancakes and orange juice. Aside from being arguably the best breakfast ever, these are just a small sampling of the arsenal of food-reminiscent cocktails Jason Lyons has at his disposal. A fixture at Mill Avenue’s Big Bang Dueling Piano Bar (501 S. Mill Ave., 480-557-5595) for nearly five…

The Salt Cellar: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: The Salt Cellar550 N. Hayden Rd.Scottsdalehttp://www.saltcellarrestaurant.com The Hours: The world is your oyster with daily happy hour and reverse happy hour deals at Salt Cellar: 4 to 7 pm and 10 pm to 1 am. The Details: $2.75 well drinks and domestic draft beers, appetizers ranging in price…

Corissa Croft’s Grape Nerd

​Yesterday we met Corissa Croft from Robbie Fox’s, a Pittsburgh native who loves the Steelers, sunshine and customers who don’t let their Car Bombs curdle. Today she grants us the recipe for the Grape Nerd, a drink that’s a little sweet, a little sour, and tastes just like its candy…

Corissa Croft at Robbie Fox’s Public House

​A football fan who enjoys a good microbrew, Corissa Croft may just be the perfect woman. And though still a newbie at Tempe’s Robbie Fox’s Public House (604 S. Mill Ave., 480-642-6442) she’s also not a shabby bartender. The Pittsburgh native can serve drinks, talk sports and do it all with…

The Vig Uptown: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: The Vig Uptown 6015 N. 16th Street602-633-1187www.thevig.usThe Hours: Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 till 6 p.m. if you can’t make happy hour they also have great specials on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.The Deal: Half price appetizers, $5 small pitchers of all draft beer and $3…

Phil Podvorec’s Summer Splash

​Yesterday we talked with Phil Podvorec from Casey Moore’s, who knows his customers by name and is a big fan of Motley Crue. Today Podvorec shares a recipe he crafted for a fellow employee who was looking for something fruity and light for summer: the Summer Splash.(recipe after the jump)…

Phil Podvorec at Casey Moore’s

​Phil Podvorec is a familiar face at Casey Moore’s Oyster House (850 S. Ash Ave., 480-968-9935), and he should be. The 35-year-old has worked at the Tempe staple for the better part of a decade, serving up drinks and good conversation to day and nighttime imbibers alike. Phil says his…

Samantha Dickerson’s Rough Draft

Yesterday we met Samantha Dickerson, who tends bar at Cowboy Ciao and Kazimirez World Wine Bar in Scottsdale. Her’s her award-winning recipe for the Rough Draft cocktail. Yesterday, Dickerson explained her view of cocktail craft, differentiating bar tending and mixology. Her choice of words echoed the phrasing of a quality chef:…

Samantha Dickerson: Kazimierz World Wine Bar & Cowboy Ciao

Carol Blonder Samantha Dickerson ​Samantha Dickerson works the front of the house at Cowboy Ciao and Kazimierz, but we found her behind the bar at Kazimierz. Both popular downtown Scottsdale haunts feature well-reputed wine lists, as well as classic and craft cocktails. We heard Samantha had recently entered her first bar competition so we went…

Julie Hillebrand’s Thangan

Yesterday, we learned of Julie Hillebrand’s love of fresh herbs and penchant for lighting things on fire. Today, she shares the recipe for one of her newest cocktail creations, the Thangan — a citrusy, spicy drink made using curry and homemade bitters, of course…

Julie Hillebrand at J&G Steakhouse

Since helping open the Phoenician’s J&G Steakhouse over a year ago, Julie Hillebrand has been hard at work changing the way people think about cocktails. A trained chef, she’s an advocate of fresh ingredients and unique flavors who uses her culinary skills to concoct improv cocktails that combine flavors of…