Just got a hold of the menu for a new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that’s in the works. It’s called Calistro California Bistro, and it’s scheduled to open the first week of August at DC Ranch Crossing, 18221 N. Pima in Scottsdale. Seasonal, organic ingredients from local and regional farms will be a focal…
It’s tough to miss the buzz: A trip to The Wrigley Mansion can be soft on your wallet. But the oft-reported negotiable lunch (‘pay what you think is fair’) isn’t the only deal on the menu. During lunch, selected bottles of wine are half-price. And Tuesday through Saturday, the lunch…
Artichokes rock. If you don’t believe us, check out these photos from the annual Artichoke Festival in Castroville, California. It’s held every May and celebrates all things ‘choke – fried artichokes, pickled artichokes and even creamed artichokes…
In case you didn’t catch the latest comment on my original post about Gallo Blanco Cafe at the Clarendon, here’s the word from chef Doug Robson that his new Mexican joint is finally open: Thanks For the Support!We are cooking now so I Hope you can join us. We are…
Yerba Mate, a species of holly native to South America, makes for some tasty tea. Unlike black teas, which are prepared by steeping dry tea leaves in boiling water, Yerba Mate is made by steeping leaves in hot water (not boiling). This is because boiling Yerba Mate leaves can make…
If you’re one of those people who look forward to the complementary chips and salsa at sit-down Mexican restaurants more than the actual meal, you were probably at (or are kicking yourself for missing) My Nana’s Tempe Salsa Challenge and benefit for the Arizona Hemophilia Association at Tempe Beach Park…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Caffiend: MacAlpine’s Coffee Shake Food and Fights: Highlights of…
There is no shortage of rogues at Phoenix New Times. No, I don’t mean scoundrels (mostly), I mean fans of Rogue Brewing; that Portland-produced product that has regularly scored high marks in the Brew Review. My group of journalistic comrades and I have tried the Juniper Ale and Dead Guy Ale…
Cadillac Ranch offers a host of amenities, in its efforts to give you a “true taste of Texas.” You can ride the mechanical bull, find privacy in a high-walled booth, or enjoy the restaurant’s well-stocked bar. We find that’s all best done at happy hour. From 4 to 7 every…
Here’s something fun to put on your calendar: a monthly “Last Saturday Afternoon” wine tasting at Fine’s Cellar in Old Town. That means the event’s coming ’round this weekend again. And for 25 bucks, it sounds like a good deal. Chef Cullen Campbell will roll out a fine lunch spread,…
The Meat Shop (202 E Buckeye Road, 602-258-5075) is all about family. From raising the Yorkshire/Duroc piglets themselves to butchering the bacon to bringing it to their store and Valley farmers markets (Tonopah and Downtown Phoenix), the Wilson family does it together. Famous for their three types of bacon (‘regular’,…
Turnips are usually prepared in potato-like ways — boiled and mashed, creamed, roasted whole, gratinée — but these small, red-on-the-outside “salad turnips,” currently wrapping up their local season, are tender enough to enjoy uncooked, with a mild bite similar to a cabbage heart. Peeled and sliced, the white interior features…
Matt and Erenia Pool plan to open a still-unnamed central Phoenix coffee shop, presumably to tide their fans over between a salami scramble at Matt’s Big Breakfast and a grilled cheese with tomato soup (and an Arrogant Bastard Ale) at The Roosevelt. Matt Pool says he’s putting the new hangout…
If we could remain financially stable and travel around the world, we’d do it in a heart beat and never look back. Sure, we like taking photos and visiting exotic locales, but the real appeal is in the food discoveries we could make. Fusion cuisine doesn’t get any better than…
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways: in poetry, song, and most definitely in food. That’s right. They say the path to a man’s heart is through his stomach, but they are fools to think that something delicious won’t score love points with a man’s better half. Perhaps…
Just got the word from Giuseppe’s owner Richard Bock that his tiny Italian eatery on Indian School will be featured in the June 1 episode of the Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. The show’s host, Guy Fieri, was in town last October to film the segment. On a related…
There’s a wonderful new restaurant sitting inconspicuously on an otherwise dreary stretch of Broadway Road in south Phoenix. Open since late January in a tiny building that used to house Irie Jamaican Restaurant a couple of years ago, this gem is worth the trip to south Phoenix if you live…
I’ve lived with vegetarians. I even was one for a while. And I live with a vegan now. Cooking without meat doesn’t faze me. But it elicits quite a negative response from many of my fellow students. I don’t get it. So I’m getting on my soapbox. Chefs should be…
Phoenix has taken a lot of heat for the transience of its populace, but look on the bright side: For all the wanderlust-stricken citizens who eventually ditch the ‘Nix for other places, there are many more who’re on their way in — maybe for the long haul. Ana Borrajo is…
I can’t begin to tell you how many flowers I’ve destroyed playing this childish game. Truth is, we all play it, one way or another. Is love a game of chance or is it day labor? Some say it’s fate. In some cases, I think that’s true. You have to…
Recently, I heard from chef Don Nason, who was the founding executive chef at Regions Bistro & Bar — and left shortly after the restaurant opened. There were rumors about the circumstances for Nason’s departure, so he wanted to tell me his side of things. In an email, Nason told…
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Man Vs. Food’s Adam Richman bite on this one: The Sasquatch Burger at The Lodge in Scottsdale. It’s a new mega-splurge brought to us by chef Aaron May, who’s added homey American pub grub to a repertoire that already includes Spanish tapas (Sol y Sombra), Italian (Autostrada), and…
