Finding authentic Filipino eats in the West Valley is like finding a needle in a haystack. But for you, we’ll risk getting poked with a few false starts. Particularly if it means landing on a place like Casa Filipina Bakeshop and Restaurant (3531 W. Thunderbird Rd. Phoenix. 602-942-1258), where we…
The Cove Trattoria’s new location makes the name more appropriate than before. The new digs are tucked deep within the Scottsdale Seville Center, located at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Indian Bend Road. Keep heading toward the back and you’ll find it. Whether you’re a long time Cove cust…
Farmers market regulars know they need to show up bright and early to get the best pick o’ the veg — especially if Seacat Gardens is going to be there. Carl Seacat’s lovely heirloom veggies are always in demand at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, but lately he’s been busy…
Try being a grump in the aisles of AJ’s when you come across a display for Bitch wine, an Australian grenache from the Barossa Valley. I spotted this last night, and got a laugh like I always do when I see some kind of cheeky wine label. (Seems like a lot…
All my life, passion, rather than reason, has led to my relationships, my jobs and my extracurricular activities. It’s why I ended up in culinary school when I have a house, some kids and a few pets to support. Here’s the short version: I’ve always been a late bloomer. Dated…
Cookbook author Elizabeth Yarnell is a whiz with the dutch oven — to the point that she’s filled an entire cookbook with a globetrotting variety of healthful recipes that can be made in one pot. Even better, the dishes in Glorious One-Pot Meals take under half an hour to prep,…
Dating someone with kids is tricky — are you a parental figure or a friend? And there are plenty of awkward talks with the ex, if he or she is still around. Such conversations usually are accompanied by yelling, threats, and, eventually, quiet weeping. I have found that there is…
The City of Glendale may grab attention for its big retail developments and the high-tech Cardinals stadium, but to me, the most appealing part doesn’t feel like a city at all. Instead, it’s got the close-knit charm of Main Street U.S.A. — a rare thing in this sprawling Valley of…
In this week’s Forking column, Colin Redding illustrates the results of mixing dating with kids and America’s favorite starch. Think you know some corny jokes? Watch out for this one. Yet cobs of the yellow stuff have more than humorous applications. Take this recipe for a baked corn casserole for…
It seems like I’ve been hearing about it for months now: Noca’s mythical wagyu pastrami. Owner Eliot Wexler was busy tracking down wagyu brisket — definitely an unusual cut of the pricey, succulent Kobe beef — while chef Chris Curtiss was fine-tuning the ultimate recipe. Wexler was inspired by both the killer…
A few months back, the New York Times magazine published a special Food Issue, with an intriguing essay by Michael Pollan, an “open letter to the Farmer in Chief,” explaining why the President-elect should consider national food policy a matter of national security. It inspired the Brockmans, a farm family in…
Every restaurant owner seems to fancy himself (or herself) an art expert these days, whether it’s the Burger King franchisee with a taste for retro prints or the young, hip entrepreneur who decorates with bold abstract paintings. Each week, we’ll be serving up a slice of the best — and the worst — local restaurant decor. Will these hand-picked…
There is a shell of a building at the southeast corner of McClintock and Broadway in Tempe that can’t hold a restaurant to save its soul. Every time some aspiring businessman gets the bright idea to open a new venture there, I want to go in and slap them upside the…
The time we spend in this business can be a gamble. From the easy money to the nightlife and liquor-fueled libidos, there’s a risk we run of getting addicted to the action. I’m the perfect example: That not-so-lucky winner you hear stories about. And the tale of my $4,000 tip,…
It can’t all be appetizing news. Today’s big story is downright nauseating. The fundraiser that Mesa’s new Pizza Fusion restaurant held in conjunction with its grand opening — which was intended to help Frank and Tracy Smith, who were seriously injured in a car accident that killed their two young…
If you’re steeped in the culinary world — whether professionally or just as an enthusiast — you’re probably already familiar with Phoenix Knife House, the go-to shop for chefs in need of a good blade. But this Thursday, there’s a special reason to stop by. It’s the second annual Kikuichi…
Cardinals go to the Super Bowl, Arizona gets a windfall of PR. Totally expected. But publicity for a local chef is certainly an unusual perk for the Phoenix culinary world. Turns out, executive chef Beau MacMillan, from Elements at the Sanctuary on Camelback, is the lucky one getting the national exposure…
Polly Levine and her friend Marilena Sacks had long fantasized about owning their own cafe — nothing unusual about that. But three weeks ago, they finally realized their dreams when they opened Chestnut Lane Cafe. Tucked into the tiny Camelback Road (4225 E. Camelback) spot that housed Kohnie’s until last summer, Chestnut…
Tattoo pioneer Ed Hardy was one of the first artists to start using color in his tattoos, more than 40 years ago. His energy drinks (which come in orange, apple, and pomegranate flavors) are touted as “tattoos for the tongue.” Hardy’s brand of clothing is also popular (especially among the hipster-clubber set), but a little more expensive than his energy drinks, which retail for around $1.99 each.
In honor of the massive cuts sure to come to Arizona government soon, this week Chow Bella is dipping into the archival recipes of Grandma Hernandez, who was born in 1929, the year the Great Depression began. What’s lovely about grandmotherly recipes is that they often have a heavy reliance…
A free wine tasting, a champagne toast, a bottle signing by winemaker Robert Pepi Jr., and complementary hors d’oeuvres from Fleming’s Steakhouse are four good reasons to hit up tonight’s grand opening party for WineStyles in Peoria. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. Located at Park West, the new open-air…
Last weekend we invited a few dozen of ASU’s finest over to our place for a party. In typical pot luck style we had a table full of goodies representing all different culinary cultures and backgrounds. There was Italian, Indian, Chinese and more. It was like the U.N. of pot…
