The best ethnic food is often the most difficult to find. So each week we’ll spin the globe and search for a new other-worldly spot to expand our eating horizons around the Valley. This week we go to Bosnia at Caffe Sarajevo. Phoenix cold-weather temperatures might not be fur hat-worthy, but…
Whoa. We’re barely into the new year and Smashburger comes out swingin’ with the nationwide introduction of its Sin City Smashburger. Why such a big deal? Two reasons: 1) It’s Smashburger’s first ever limited-time offer and 2) It includes an Angus beef patty, applewood-smoked bacon, American cheese, grilled and haystack…
Staying in? We’ve got you covered — both on the culinary and entertainment fronts. Now presenting Dinner and a Movie — a guide to a do it yourself evening of food and film. While the rest of the country is covered in snow, many of us in the Valley have…
This year marks the 25th anniversary for Vincent Guerithault’s quintessential French restaurant Vincent on Camelback. Vincent made his mark on the Phoenix dining scene with classic French haute cuisine in the 1980’s. He quickly gained notice for his successful application of traditional French culinary technique incorporating southwestern ingredients found in…
There is no science to reviewing restaurants. To the contrary, it’s all about what my gut tells me, based on a series of dining experiences, impressions, and a sense of timing. It’s purely subjective, after all. In a way, I’m trying to read your mind (yes, you: The Reader) and…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Super Citrus Saturday!It’s that time of year, folks. Citrus season. We know you all have at least one tree that is overflowing with sweet oranges or maybe you are lucky enough to have a tree full of…
Tacos may very well be the perfect food, but let’s face it, the standard Meximerican fare can get a bit stale after a while. Taco the Town is here to highlight some of the more unusual Mexican finds in the valley. This week: Sonoran Hot Dogs, food truck eats served…
Hold your picket signs, people. The folks at Mesa’s Il Vinaio are not serving lion meat again. After last year’s uproar, when owner Cameron Selogie started serving lion burgers as a special for the World Cup (um, do they really even eat lion in South Africa?), the restaurant started getting…
Husband-and-wife team Liam Murtagh and Emily Spetrino-Murtagh tell me that they’ve just decided to close their whimsical candy and record shop, Sweets & Beats, at the end of the month. Blame it on the economy, yet again. It’s the second unique indie business to close in the artsy, downtown section of…
Past the unassuming front door and the cozy lounge area, the actual eating space of Citizen Public House (7111 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale, 480-398-4208) is vast, interspersed by tables and booths between walls decorated with aged photos of the restaurant owners’ ancestors. In the center of it all, an expansive bar accented…
Ugh. It’s “Restaurant Wars,” yo, the most overhyped episode of the Top Chef season. It’s all about seeing which team can come up with the worst-ever name for a restaurant, argue over which font to use for the menus, and see who can yell the most at their servers. Shhh…don’t…
Yesterday, we spoke with Chef Brian Peterson of Cork and the upcoming BLD restaurant in Chandler. Today, he shares a delectable recipe for Arctic Char with Roasted Cauliflower, Fingerling Potatoes, Baby Carrots and Butternut Squash Puree. It’s a mouthful in more ways than one! Arctic char is naturally found in the…
Anise, a stylish Vietnamese restaurant located at one of the Valley’s biggest hubs for Asian cuisine, has closed its doors. Situated near the intersection of Dobson and Warner Roads in Chandler — across from Lee Lee Oriental Grocery Store, catty-corner from Lee’s Sandwiches, and close to C-Fu and Shimogamo — the…
Festival season is upon us! Beginning in February there are a slew of events around the Valley where locals can hang out outdoors and try some new ethnic foods, sample local restaurants or explore an array of alcoholic beverages (not to mention, enjoy art, film, and more — check out the…
In its roughly year-long existence, The Chef’s Loft was a novel presence in the Valley culinary scene. By day, owner Michael Murray used the 3,300-square foot space (which was located on the second floor at SouthBridge, in the same building as Metro Brasserie and Tapas Papa Frita, and had a full exhibition kitchen)…
Do you have some advice on purchasing a really good knife sharpener for a friend? Before you choose a knife sharpener, you need to know what type of knives your friend has. Japanese style and European style blades are manufactured with a different angle edge. Most European knives have an…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?5th and Wine DinnerJoin Old Town Scottsdale’s 5th and Wine this Tuesday, January 25th for the Hahn Wine Family Dinner with special guest Bobby Mockner. Tempura lobster skewers, tenderloin tartare, and crispy brie served with a glass…
House of Tricks has everything going for it — excellent food, a great location near ASU that feels serene despite its proximity to the hustle and bustle of Mill Avenue, and a reputation that’s been building since 1987. The restaurant is really a rare gem, a local institution that survives…
It’s deja vu at downtown Chandler’s Siracha Lounge, which has closed its doors for the second time in its brief existence. Last spring, it was shut down just a few months after opening, when its liquor license was yanked after a few underaged partygoers at an ASU fraternity event there failed breathalyzer tests. The license was…
Ever open a bottle of wine that just tastes off? We’ve had it happen to us… in a nice restaurant no less. But what happened? And how do you know it’s not just you?
UNCORK THE ISSUE: How does a bottle of wine go bad and how can I tell?
SPILL THE JUICE: “Wine can go bad and/or be bad in many ways,” says Master Sommelier Greg Tresner of Il Terrazzo at The Phoenician.
Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there’s more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles that don’t make the cut at your local grocer. Just Offal is here to explore these…
At this time of year, while half of the country is covered in snow and ice, those of us in Arizona are enjoying abundant gardens. The raised beds are providing us with an overflow of herbs and leafy greens. Wondering why you listened to the guy at the garden store…
