Let’s Make it Official: Arizona Needs a State Food

You would think that after 100 years of statehood, Arizona would have gotten hungry enough to give itself an official food. Nope. Today, the only state symbol you might want to eat is the state fish, the Apache trout. But given its listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act…

Gin: How to Drink It, and Like It

In my years of bartending, one of the things I’ve heard the most is this: “I don’t like gin.” When I press for details, the story is always the same: They had a bad experience with it years ago (inevitably in college) and haven’t been able to touch the stuff…

Paintings Created with Salt and Spice Are Very Nice

If the most creative thing you’ve done with your seasonings lately is re-organize your spice rack, get an eyeful of artist Kelly McCollam’s works created using salt, spices, and food coloring. The Ohio-based McCollam is primarily a fine art photographer, but took a step out of her comfort zone to…

Windsor to Debut Brunch Menu and Bloody Mary Bar

As if the stars were aligning to ensure at least one of my predictions for the Valley food scene actually comes true, Windsor, the cozy North Central neighborhood bar and restaurant from restaurateurs Craig DeMarco and Lauren Bailey, has announced it will debut its very own brunch menu — which…

Ten Favorite Phoenix Happy Hours

We’ve never met a happy hour that we didn’t like but just like everything else in this world, some are better than others. Whether you’re playing hooky from work on a Tuesday or just need a strong cheap drink after a grueling day in your dismal cube we know a…

Barbara Pool Fenzl’s Perfect Food Day

While most all of our perfect food day contributors have imagined days, Barbara Pool Fenzl actually had a perfect food day. Fenzl is Phoenix’s ultimate culinarian. She has every distinction you might aspire to, including a B.S., M.A., Certified Culinary Professional (CCP). She’s the “past president of the International Association…

Caramelpalooza 2012 Chefs Announced

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. That’s all we can say about the line-up for Caramelpalooza 2012, the third annual caramel tasting event co-sponsored by Smeeks candy store and Chow Bella, going down Friday, March 2 at 7 pm. But don’t take our word for it — check out the list for yourself. Please, try…

Menu Sneak Peek: The Uprooted Kitchen Southwestern Kale Salad

Earlier this week we mentioned that The Uprooted Kitchen, a vegetarian food truck getting ready to start serving around town, plans to reveal its menu of salad bowls sometime in the near future. These bowls won’t be your standard lettuce with dressing B.S. They’re loading them up with hearty greens,…

Mimi’s Cafe: Happy Hour Report Card

​The Spot: Mimi’s Cafe, 4901 E. Ray Road, Phoenix, AZ 85044, (480) 705-4811. Other valley locations include Scottsdale, Glendale, and Mesa. mimiscafe.com The Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday The Details: Domestic drafts and bottles are down to $3, with well…

In Season: Creamy Carrot Soup

Lately, in this In Season series, we’re taking a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I’ve done with my CSA share, or part share. This week I’m using carrots and onions…

Chloe’s Corner at CityScape: Lunch Under $10

A couple weeks ago Young opened up her second Chloe’s Corner in downtown Phoenix’s up-and-coming-along CityScape complex that straddles North Central Ave. on the north side of Jefferson Street, occupying an enormous, non-diner-like space that, in contrast to the Chipotle and Five Guys to the west, fits snugly at a…

Valentine’s Day Dinner Roundup 2012

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. No, seriously it’s six days from right now. You have made dinner reservations, right? NO?! Well you better get to it. Good thing we know of a whole mess of restaurants that are celebrating the big V-Day. And guys — if the lady…

Five Favorite Sonoran Dogs in the Valley

A good Sonoran hot dog is the sum of all its parts, from the bacon down to the bun. And honestly, we could care less whether or not Arizona was the first to bacon-wrap a hot dog. So long as we get to benefit from the match made in heaven,…

Portillo’s Is Coming to Arizona (and I Am So Flippin’ Happy)

Sheesh Portillo’s, what took you so long? That’s what a lot of Chicago transplants in the Valley may be saying to themselves upon hearing the news that the Chicago-area restaurant company is bringing its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, hamburgers, Maxwell Street Polish, salads, and desserts to several locations in…