Red Brazilian at Olive & Ivy

Chaz Anderson is deeply involved with preparing a Red Brazilian behind the bar at Scottsdale’s Olive & Ivy, muddling and mashing raspberries and fresh lime slices into a fragrant mix. Meanwhile, a 40-something Scottsdale socialite watches on while enjoying a repose at the Canal district imbibery after a whirlwind shopping…

Welcome Diner Survives Destructive Car Crash

Just one day before this weekend’s First Friday celebration, Welcome Diner was hit and partially destroyed by a car and truck that rocketed toward the local eatery after colliding with each other at the corner of 10th Street and Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix…

Cafe: Frank & Albert’s at Arizona Biltmore

Truth be told, we don’t spend a lot of time hobnobbin’ it at resort restaurants. We’re more of the beer-drinkin’, hole-in-the-wall eatery types. But after reading this week’s cafe column, that may have to change. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Frankd & Albert’s at Arizona Biltmore: People are already talking…

Sweets Galore at the Crafeteria

Local purveyors of all things adorable are huddling together Friday for the 3rd Annual Indie Crafeteria. The event touts 30 local artists and live music, but here at Chow Bella we can’t keep our eyes off Smeeks’ Sweets Alley.The “alley” will feature tasty cakes and such from Sweet Pea Bakery,…

Behind the Bar: Chaz Anderson at Olive & Ivy

Then again, if you had his job of tending bar and pouring drinks for the booful babes, captain of industry, and other top-shelf clientele who frequent Scottsdale’s snazzy Olive & Ivy on a regular basis, it probably wouldn’t be much of a challenge clocking in for your shift. The 27-year-old…

Edible Holiday Gifts: Sugar, Sugar

Never had vanilla sugar? It’s truly a treat. It smells great, and addsgreat taste. Skip the flavored creamer in your coffee. This, and somemilk, and you are good to go. Feeling truly decadent? Substitute thisfor regular sugar in cookies and cakes for an added kick…

Buffet Buff: Hong Kong Gourmet Buffet

After our trip to China Harvest Buffet yesterday, we were about ready to give in to the claims that there is no such thing as a five-star buffet. Scottsdale’s Oriental Garden Super Buffet was pretty good, maybe good enough to rate three to four stars. But then we found it:…

Tour de Coops Helps You Get Your Chick-On

Dozens of Valley residents have found their own way to reduce their foreign egg dependence, and they want to share their secrets with you Saturday at the Phoenix Tour de Coops.The tour will go to several local chicken coops to show how the Valley can get sustainable and self-sufficient in…

America’s Taco Shop for Under $10

With what many — including folks around here — consider to be the best carne asada in the Valley, America’s Taco Shop has garnered quite the following. So much so that the order-at-the-counter Mexican food spot is opening a second location on 7th Ave. and Camelback Road the beginning of…

Former Sea Saw Chef Nobuo Fukuda to Open New Restaurant

​We’ve been wondering what James Beard Award-winning chef Nubuo Fukuda has been up to since Sea Saw closed earlier this year. Yesterday, AZ Republic restaurant critic Howard Seftel reported that Fukuda is in talks to open a Japanese restaurant in Downtown Phoenix’s Heritage Square…

Now Open: Toast in Phoenix

Because not everyone wants to be surrounded by laptops when they’re enjoying their coffee, the newly-opened Toast in central Phoenix has a strict no-computers policy. The “breakfast boutique,” owned by Gina Madrid and Vine Saccento, is right next door to the recently closed Drip Coffee Lounge at 2327 N. 7th…

Battle of the Gyros

Oh, how the Greek gods must die a little inside every time they hear some American order a “jy-ro” at an ethnic restaurant. Despite the constantly butchered name, the gyros (roughly pronounced “yee-ros”) remains one of our favorite meat dishes. For this week’s Battle of the Dishes, we visited two local mom-and-pop shops…

Dirty Dishes: My Kingdom for a Parking Space

We don’t care what anybody says, you can’t make it in this town without a car. You can try, and lord knows we have. Even living on our main drag and ridin’ Miss Metro’s wheels of steel just ain’t enough right now. Don’t get us started about your late night toilet paper…

Chef Chat: Joe Aiello’s Chilled Zabaglione

Desserts can be tricky, but Joe Aiello (whom we profiled in yesterday’s Chef Chat) of Aiello’s in Phoenix insists this Chilled Zabaglione is simple to attempt at home. Besides the scrumptious ingredients, this dessert is an ultra-classy serving, especially if you put it in a pretty wine glass. And, if you like wine,…

Soup’s On!: Sopa de Chile Marron at Barrio Cafe

We’ve been around the soup block many times before. We thought we found all there was to find, but leave it to Barrio Café to prove us wrong with a soup that’s truly unique.Barrio Café has shown us time and time again what to expect from a Mexican eatery. The…

Buffet Buff: China Harvest Buffet

Yesterday we visited the Oriental Garden Super Buffet and were dazzled by the clean restaurant and fresh, hot food. Today we head to way up North Phoenix to China Harvest Buffet to see if we can duplicate our positive experience. We’ll give you a clue: we didn’t… at all…