Wait, what? November’s already over? Ah, so it is. And with it, some of the best things I ate. From dishes like a Mexican breakfast by way of Paris to an abundantly spiced Chettinad dish and a perfectly prepared rainbow trout, here are 10 of the best things I ate…
Making tamales can be either a long, monotonous solo session filled with corn husks, masa, filling, and beer or it can be an out-of-control party. Those solo tamales might be neater, but there is some serious fun in teaching a bunch of newbies the pleasures of tamal making, even if…
The perfect gift for caffiene addicts with a passion for all things flashy and unnecessary has finally arrived in the form of a $450 metal gift card to Starbucks. Last December, the coffee giant released 5,000 steel cards, and they sold out in all of, like, five seconds. So if…
I’ve bought wine from just about every place that sells it, online and brick and mortar. I’ve even bought wine from a gas station when funds were short. BevMo and Total Wine have changed the retail landscape of wine dramatically, one stop shops with comprehensive selections and aggressive pricing that…
I wrapped up my Fresh Start: 21 (28) Day Cleanse from SimpleGreenSmoothies.com just in time to tumble into a long weekend of eating and making merry at a reunion of old friends at a beach house in Oregon. I imagine my detoxified insides recoiling in horror at the gluten-free beer…
Dhaba Cooking School: Spice Class Saturday, December 7 On Saturday, learn how to blend your own Indian spices at The Dhaba in Tempe. The Spice Class will cover the flavors, aromas and health benefits of more than 50 different herbs and spices commonly used in Indian cooking. Each guest will…
Hao Bao food truck owner Jake Lau is back. And this time, he’s got a clear path to re-launch what he’s calling “Hao Bao 1.1.” In March, the 30-year-old ex-corporate financier was “circumstantially forced to exit” Phoenix to attend to family matters in his home state of Virginia, leaving his…
Chef and restaurateur Henry Ku has been credited with putting Taiwanese food on the map in Seattle. And with the opening of his Tempe restaurant, Henry’s Taiwan, in August, he’s looking to do the same in the Valley. Adding to the Asian island’s melting pot of cooking styles from mainland…
On the top of Chow Bella’s holiday wish list? An apron from Girl From Arizona (@girlfromarizona). This fall, we began noticing that chefs around town — like Crepe Bar’s Jeff Kraus — were donning chic aprons. Then Instagram began buzzing. So we tracked down Angela Muniz, a.k.a. Girl from Arizona,…
‘Tis the season for giving, and if you’re going to give, you might as well get something back — in this case, a foursome of beers from San Tan Brewing Company. Tonight, New Times will host the final Brews to Benefit event, the monthly happy hour that benefits a local…
Ladies and gentlemen, we have some urgent breaking news. In anticipation of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, you can now give the gift of Ron Burgundy scotch this holiday season. Aptly named “Great Odin’s Raven,” the scotch comes courtesy of Rivera Imports, a totally real marketer and importer of spirits,…
For the second year, Chow Bella is hosting “Eating Christmas,” during which some of our favorite writers (and artists) will read pieces about food and the holidays. Join us at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, at Crescent Ballroom, 308 North Second Avenue. Admission is free, but we’d love it…
In the wake of Black Friday madness and family dinner drama, we could all use a strong drink. You can easily up the merry ante with some truly craft concoctions courtesy of the city’s best bars and bartenders. While the mixology craze is saturating the scene in other places, it’s…
AZ Wine Lifestyle — formerly known as Arizona Vines and Wines — is printing its final issue this winter. I am disappointed. I have been involved in the local wine scene now for almost four years, and this publication was always my go-to guide for visitors and locals as well…
We’re picky about a lot of things — for example, our homegrown food and who we follow on Instagram. Here are five Instagram-ers in metro Phoenix we can get behind following. They provide a special look into what’s it like to grow food in Metro Phoenix. From fancy full-scale farms…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Last month, Time magazine published an issue called “Gods of Food,” a male-centric look on…
In Chow Bella’s new comic, Wait or Die, we tell the stories of waiters and waitstaff from restaurants around the Valley. Submit your stories here: waitordie@newtimes.com — and be sure to let us know if you wish to remain anonymous…
Around this time last year, I was gathering stories about food and Christmas to run on Chow Bella when my friend (and one of my favorite writers) Kim Porter mused, “I sure wish we could read these aloud.” Wish granted, thanks to Charlie Levy and the other nice folks at…
It’s going to be hard to keep up with all the new restaurants that opened this month including several highly-anticipated spots from local chefs. Check out all the comings and goings…
They say no matter what we do we’ll all turn into our parents. And while we’re not sure if there’s scientific proof that someday you’ll love Elvis and John Wayne films, there is scientific proof that what you like to eat is heavily influenced by what your mom ate while…
Henry Ku is the chef and restaurateur who has been credited with putting Taiwanese food on the map in Seattle. And he isn’t stopping there. With three restaurants in the Seattle area, Ku opened Henry’s Taiwan in Tempe in August and will open a location in Los Angeles this month…
