Quick and Thrifty Breakfast at Los Compadres

In an effort to make Mom proud, Chow Bella’s taking a good, hard look at the most important meal of the day in the form of Scrambled, a mash-up of breakfast recipes, news and reviews of local restaurants serving the a.m. crowd. We’d been passing the Seventh Avenue location of…

Churn’s Nicole Gebhart Makes Grape Bubblegum Ice Cream (PHOTOS)

This weekend, Chow Bella dropped in at one of the coolest ice cream shops around town, Churn. Between its fun and funky décor, old-school candies, and one-of-a-kind flavors, this artisan ice cream parlor has got all the makings of a great summer dessert destination. Check out the photos as Churn’s…

Umami Burger Condiments Bring the Fifth Flavor to Your Cupboard

Umami Burger is something of a California icon. The restaurant has more than a half-dozen locations in L.A. and scads of accolades including GQ’s “Burger of the Year.” By most accounts, it makes a fine burger for two main reasons: 1. It uses quality meat in its ground. 2. Those…

Compass Lounge: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Compass Restaurant & Lounge, 122 North Second Street, (602) 440-3166. phoenix.hyatt.com The Hours: 9 to 11 p.m. daily The Details: This nightly reverse happy hour features $5 house wine (Merlot, Chardonnay, or Cabernet), $5 well drinks, a nightly cocktail special for $7, and a dessert special for only…

81: Andrea White

From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…

Deschutes/Hair of the Dog Collage

Beer: Conflux No.1 – Collage Brewery: Deschutes Brewery, Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. Style: American Strong Ale ABV: 11.6 percent If you’ve never heard of Hair of the Dog Brewing Company, don’t feel too bad about it. Although the Portland-based brewery has been around since 1995, annual production of…

CLOSED: Aiello’s East Coast Italian Dining

After almost five years, Aiello’s, the Italian restaurant at 5202 North Central Avenue owned by husband-and-wife team and ex-Manhattanites Joe and Myrah Aiello, has been shuttered. A neighborhood favorite, Aiello’s was known for affordable Italian dishes such as lasagna, with its sausage-studded sauce, as well as delicate gnocchi and melt-in-your-mouth…

Valley Chefs Mix Up Gourmet Milkshakes Throughout June

Promising to be more gastronomically satisfying than the song “Milkshake” by Kelis (hey, that song isn’t about milkshakes!), five chefs throughout the Valley are bringing their custom creations to select restaurants throughout the month of June. As part of The Dairy Council of Arizona’s first “Moo-ving Milkshake Shop,” chef Ehren…

Bartender vs. Mixologist: What’s In a Name?

There was a day when a bartender was a bartender. Period. The end. But in recent years, more and more bartenders have begun calling themselves mixologists, a term with a distinctly academic ring to it. You don’t have to be a semanticist to imagine how that sits with some people,…

Isa’s: North Phoenix’s New Favorite Pizza Spot

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…

Pizza Patrón Offers Free Pizza This Tuesday Evening, With a Catch

Odds are good that if you’re a gringo, you haven’t heard of Pizza Patrón. Don’t be too surprised. It caters primarily to Hispanic markets, with its metro Phoenix locations concentrated in South Phoenix, Maryvale, and central Mesa. Chorizo is an available topping and jalapeños are one of the most popular…

82: Lylah Ledner

From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…

May Restaurant Openings and Closings

A couple swanky spots opened up in the month of May, particularly in Scottsdale. At the same time the Valley had to bid a restaurant with more than 20 years of history adieu. That’s like 100 years in Phoenix restaurant years…

The Daily Show Takes on NYC’s Proposed Ban on Large Sodas

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently proposed a ban on the sale of sodas larger than 16 ounces in an effort to combat obesity. The ban would prohibit the sale of these sodas in pretty much every public place in NYC except for the supermarket. We could dwell on the…