Power Out? Save Your Food While Enjoying Takeout

Last night’s storm knocked out power in some sections of the Valley — and with more thunderstorms expected this weekend, some of you could be facing a few nights of candles and takeout. Oh, darn. We hate being without electricity, but really there’s no better excuse to try that new restaurant…

Gorgeous Sashimi at Sushi Roku

​If I could afford it, I’d eat sushi and sashimi about every other day, interspersed with Italian, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine. But the problem is, I’ve become such a Japanese food geek that I won’t eat just any raw fish, lest I get mad for wasting my hard-earned paycheck on…

Read This: Happy Lady Eats

Maybe the name has something to do with it, but the Happy Lady Eats blog is so darn charming that it can’t help but lift your mood to read it.Editor Joy Deangdeelert Cho, a visually creative foodie who applies her graphic design skills to making her blog into pure eye…

Behind the Bar: Steve Howard’s Papa Smurf

When Steve Howard (whom we profiled yesterday) of downtown Chandler’s Murphy’s Law creates drinks for customers, he lets the drinker name the cocktail. This one has a blue tinge from the Blue Curacao that’s sunk into liquid, which inspired his patron to call this drink Papa Smurf. It looks pretty,…

A Smoothie to Exorcise Your Demons

​Today is actress Linda Blair’s birthday.   Though she has gone on to perform in other films, Blair is best known for her role as possessed child Regan in the 1973 classic horror flick, The Exorcist.  No scene has grossed us more than that of Blair’s devilish character spewing a green…

The Provisional Poet: Battle of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Battle of the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Fight, fight cups down the field, Fight with your peanut butter and cacao seeds and don’t ever yield. Original has milk chocolate, newcomer dark, One will be victorious, the other, a lark. Cheer, cheer for the orange and brown, Milk chocolate with peanut…

“I Will Not Exercise!” One Writer Resolves

​Tell the truth: How long did your New Year’s diet last? Yeah, ours too. Here at Phoenix New Times, we take a while to contemplate our resolutions — so just this week, we published our annual Resolution Guide. If you’re feeling guilty about those fries you just scarfed, sidle up…

Cafe: D’Vine Bistro and Wine Bar

We’ll admit it. As much as we’d like to think we’re culinary adventurers constantly in hot pursuit of the next, undiscovered eatery, we tend to hang about the same ten or twelve joints. But given this week’s Cafe column is about a far-flung eatery not worth the drive, perhaps we’re…

Now Open in Arrowhead: The Melting Pot

Are you fond of fondue? Now you can get your dip-and-swish fix at the Valley’s third location of popular fondue house The Melting Pot, located in the Citadelle Shopping Center at 19420 N. 59th Avenue (at Utopia). At nearly 6,200 square feet, with seating for almost 200 people, it’s the largest…

It’s Raining, Cadillac Ranch is Pouring . . . Cheap Drinks

​Who can resist a weather-centric special? Especially when it involves booze?Not me. I talk a good game about wanting a cup of hot tea, but I would not refuse a Jameson’s Irish Coffee if one mysteriously appeared in front of me.This week’s crappy weather is reason to celebrate at Cadillac…

Behind the Bar: Steve Howard of Murphy’s Law

It’s easy to see why Steve Howard of Murphy’s Law in Chandler is a popular bartender. The handsome 25-year-old is extremely charming, doing tricks behind the bar and letting customers name drinks he makes for them. And he’s had plenty of time to build up a steady clientele–he’s been in…

New Farmers’ Market Opens at Roka Akor

​How many farmers’ markets does it take to make Phoenix healthy? Or screw in a light bulb? Seriously, we’re starting to feel like farmers’ markets are going the way of Starbucks. There’s one practically on every corner — or at least, it feels that way when you’re deciding between eight farmers’ markets all on…

Submit Pie Recipes for New Channel Eight Cookbook

​Got a mouthwatering pie recipe that you’re dying to share with fellow cooks?KAET Eight, the local PBS station, is accepting recipe submissions for a new cookbook, called Eight Cooks: P is for Pie. From savory meat pies and pot pies to the whole spectrum of dessert pies, they’re including every recipe…

Battle of the Donuts… Or Rather, Fauxnuts

Downing a donut is a great way to get that sugar rush that’ll get you through your morning at work. (At least until you crash and absolutely, undeniably need another donut an hour later. Oh. Darn.)    This week in Battle of the Dishes, we blind taste-tested vegan and gluten/dairy-free donuts to see…

Tammie Coe Reopens Thursday

This is the sign out front of Tammie Coe Cakes today, where the doors are wide open and you can see workers putting final touches on a renovation that’s set to be finished for tomorrow’s reopening. (Was that a hot cocoa menu I saw in there? Hmm…)There’s going to be…

Locally Made: Saber Rouin is Doctor Hummus

​Saber Rouin’s father always wanted him to be a doctor. Rouin was born in the North African country of Tunisia. His story begins on the deck of a cruise ship, a Love Boat of sorts, where he launched his early culinary career, and met his wife. From there, he journeyed on…

Sparkling Sake: The Champagne of…Well, Sakes

Do you still get night terrors from that one time your friend made you take a shot of hot sake at her favorite sushi place and it made you gag from the weird taste and acute burning sensation? Don’t let your traumatized virginal palate cause you to swear off sake…

Tracy Dempsey Desserts Debut in This Week’s Meal Ticket

What’s pastry chef Tracy Dempsey been up to since she left Digestif? Find out what desserts she’s whipping up at her new gig in Old Town Scottsdale in this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter. We’ll also have the scoop on two local Irish restaurants that offer more than just a spirit of craic (Irish…

Lee Zierten’s Knife Skills Workshop – Part Two

So you finally bought that fab set of Wusthof kitchen knives. Now what do you do?  Lee Zierten not only makes beautiful decorative and functional knives; he also does professional sharpening and restoration. We caught up with Zierten at his most recent Knife Skills Workshop this past Sunday at Practical Art…

Fox Restaurant Concepts Sells Chloe’s Corner

Even as restaurateur Sam Fox’s culinary empire continues to grow, one of his spots has just gone indie. As of January 1, Chloe’s Corner, the pint-sized lunch counter at Kierland Commons, is under new ownership, purchased by general manager Ashly Young. This is the first time a Fox restaurant has been sold…

Closed for Business: S’Bistro in Mesa

Looking for an upscale dining option before getting a culture fix at Mesa Arts Center? You’ll have to look a little bit harder now that S’Bistro has closed. A dispute over rent between chef-owner Brian Banasek and landlord Craig Pouty led to the shuttering, as reported in detail by The Trib…