Samantha Rogers at Cafe Zuzu

​The tender: Samantha RogersThe bar: Café Zuzu (6850 E. Main St., 480-421-7997)The pedigree: Rogers got into bartending when she was 20, starting as the daytime bartender at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant in Tempe. She spent four years there, eventually working her way up to bar manager and crafting the…

Andy’s Vermouth Shortbread Pie Crust

The one thing all pies have in common is crust. Despite the ubiquity at the bottom of every pie, a good crust is often hard to find. The problem for most people is that they do not make enough pies to become crust-proficient. The solution is a foolproof crust.

Lunch for $10 at Republic Ramen and Noodle Bar

Ramen (when it doesn’t come in noodle-brick form out of a package from the grocery store) is a Japanese dish made of wheat noodles served in a flavored broth. The dish has been a part of both Chinese and Japanese cultures for decades and thanks to Nissin Foods, in the…

Aimee Sosa on Flaky Crust and The Good Egg

We’re counting down the days to Pie Social 2011 — 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at 408 E. Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Don’t forget, you can get in on the action yourself. Here are details for community bakers. And don’t forget about our celebrity bakers — every day we’ll…

Perk Eatery: Where Breakfast Is Serious Business

If you are from the Midwest, you understand that breakfast is serious business. By nature, it is a hearty endeavor — designed to be satisfyingly filling and prepare its consumer, forkful by loaded forkful, for an array of seasonal servitudes. There are gardens to be planted in the spring, sprawling…

InsPIEration: Seven Super Special Pies

Pie Social is right around the corner — do you know what you’re baking?  Well, you’re in good company, friend, because neither do we.  We decided we couldn’t be the only ones drowning in a sea of pumpkin, searching for an escape form the ordinary. After all, this is the pie…

The Breakfast Club, The Strand, and a Chipotle Coming to Downtown’s CityScape

CityScape, downtown’s newest highrise (and ongoing restaurant scene saga) of residential, retail, office, and hotel components, has announced three new restaurants opening in the coming weeks: a second location of Scottsdale’s The Breakfast Club and Barrista Bar, The Strand, a fast-casual Italian restaurant, and the Mexican grill, Chipotle. The news…

Tracy Dempsey Redefines Pie

We’re counting down the days to Pie Social 2011 — 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 12 at 408 E. Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix. Don’t forget, you can get in on the action yourself. Here are details for community bakers. And don’t forget about our celebrity bakers — every day we’ll…

Keeping Fair Food Safe (If Not Healthy) to Eat

Scorpions dipped in chocolate, anyone? Larvettes in a box for you, dear? And how would you like to sample the chef’s newest specialty, the Maggot Melt Sandwich? Only one event could bring us such fine fare: the Arizona State Fair. If you’ve tackled the exotic cuisine at this year’s festivities,…

Bonfire Grill & Bar: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Bonfire Grill & Bar, 7210 E 2nd St., Scottsdale, 480-945-6600 www.thebonfireaz.com/ The Hours: 11am – 10pm, Wednesday through Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday). That’s right, all day, every day– in the bar area only. The Details: Cozy up to this happy hour bonfire with 1/2 off well drinks,…

Who Knew Deep-Fried Watermelon Would Look This Good?

Armed with only a camera, intern Tedd Roundy hit the grounds of the Arizona State Fair last week in search of the tastiest looking treats. Check out his slideshow here. Beware the maggots and crickets amongst the onion rings, sausage and melted cheese.   Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter…