MasterChef Finale: If Anyone Was Watching, Whitney Won

Well, it’s over. The two-hour finale of MasterChef aired Wednesday night and, for those of us who actually watched the first season of the American version of the popular amateur cooking competition, we can get back to living our lives without montages, pre-commercial break cliffhangers, unnecessary narration, and music that…

Cafe: La Tolteca

We’ve been known to travel great distances in search of Mexican pastries. Perhaps that’s why we almost drooled right through the Cafe page while reading this week’s New Times. Food Critic Michele Laudig on La Tolteca: The smell alone is enticing, and I get a little giddy about the overwhelming…

22: Hirame Carpaccio at Nobuo at Teeter House

Hungry yet?We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular orderLeave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section.Visit our sister blog, Jackalope Ranch, for a companion series on 100 Creatives who make…

Wendy’s VIP Event: A Serious Fry Girl FAIL

“Are you a salesperson?” “No, I’m a writer for the New Times.” “Oh, what do you write?” “I write a column about fast food called ‘Fry Girl'” “I don’t like fast food. It’s not very healthy.” (cue uncomfortable silence and shifting self in chair) This is Wendy’s? It is this…

Travis Nass at Rancho Pinot

​Travis Nass fits in perfectly with the southwestern décor of Rancho Pinot (6208 N. Scottsdale Rd., 480-367-8030). With his old-timey mustache, bolo tie and immaculately coifed hair, he could be the barkeep at some wild West saloon, serving shots of whiskey to depressed cowboys. Luckily for us, he lives in an…

Posh Launches “Chef for a Night”

Ever dreamed of being the chef at a fine dining restaurant? If so, you oughta be schmoozing with Posh chef Joshua Hebert right now.He’s decided to let amateurs take the reins, to some extent, by inviting a different local food fanatic to play chef every other Monday. The “Chef for a…

Chef Erasmus “Razz” Kamnitzer’s Cashew & Rosemary Encrusted Salmon with Hibiscus-Lime Sauce

Chef Erasmus “Razz” Kamnitzer serves up dishes with so much flavor and flair at Razz’s Restaurant & Bar that we’re tempted just to order takeout, plate the dishes at home, and pretend they’re our own. Today Razz shares his recipe for Cashew & Rosemary Encrusted Salmon with Hibiscus-Lime Sauce so that we don’t have to take such drastic (and deceitful) measures to impress our next dinner guests.

Why Your Busboy Hates You

​In the tradition of Sarah Ventre (Why Your Cocktail Waitress Hates You), as well as our anonymous Starbucks barista and pizza delivery guy, the quintessential busboy shares his anecdotes of restaurant service and Why Your Busboy Hates You, as told to this writer. No we are not revealing his identity, as he respects…

Los Dos Cocina y Cantina Coming Soon to Ahwatukee

The name is not quite set in stone, but owner Cheryl Vitale feels pretty confident that her new Ahwautukee restaurant will be called Los Dos Cocina y Cantina. She’s currently in lease negotiations to move into the old Va Bene space at 4025 E. Chandler Blvd. “It’s been 30 years in…

Kefir: The Elixir of Life or Just Some Nasty Milk?

Kefir is a drinkable cultured milk product that is similar to yogurt, but don’t get the two confused. A kefir lover is likely to snatch their bottle of fermented dairy deliciousness right out of your hand if you refer to it as its bacteria-laced cousin. The drink is popular in…

Mexican Independence Day and Chinese Chicken in Today’s Eater’s Digest

foodgoesinmouth.com​ Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Viva Mexico!Celebrate Mexican Independence Day the right way with tequila and tacos. Today marks Mexico’s 200th year of Independence and Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila is throwing a party in their honor. Starting at 6 p.m.,…

23: Hot Pressed Tuna at La Grande Orange

Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope Ranch, for a companion series…

Chicken Liver: Chopped Liver from Chompie’s

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…

Old Herbs Get a Life

You’ve heard that dried spices and herbs only last so long before they lose their potency and should be tossed. Well, what if you are cheap and can’t part so easily with your spices? They are expensive, after all. Here is a recipe to use up your about-to-expire green spices to…

Wine Wipes Clean Up Your Pearly Purples

You wine drinkers know what pearly purples are. So what if I just made up the term? Purple teeth syndrome comes with the territory when you’re busy drinking Merlot and Amarone. A friend of mine who’s big into wine invited me over for an impromptu tasting recently, and we hung out…