If you take even a passing interest in Arizona’s culinary scene, you know the name Chris Bianco, the self-made pizzaiolo and restaurateur whose handicraft and devotion to quality ingredients has singlehandedly made Phoenix, of all places, synonymous with world-class pizza. Bianco’s pizza has been lauded as one of the best…
Though Arizona may not be a barbecue destination like Texas or Tennesse, lovers of smoked meats have had luck in the past few years with joints including Little Miss BBQ and Naked BBQ popping up and providing some excellent ‘cue to the Valley of the Sun. Now, there’s another dog…
July was a bad month for metro Phoenix Denny’s restaurants, with two Valley locations scoring a “D” on county health inspections. But the all-American diners weren’t the only restaurants that struggled to earn a passing grade from inspectors. Other restaurants that earned low grades last month include a popular Chandler…
It’s official: Macayo’s on Central Avenue will be moving across Indianola Avenue to reopen in the first quarter of 2017, creating a Midcentury Modern location in a repurposed auto shop. To certain groups in central Phoenix, this is a big deal. This is the flagship location of Macayo’s, originally Woody’s Macayo,…
Most of us have a restaurant bucket list. And, okay, some of the locations are fancier than others. But imagine you cook for a living — your list has gotta be impressive. From the usual suspects like Thomas Keller’s French Laundry and Per Se and Rene Redzepi’s Noma to spots…
National Oyster Day at Buck &Rider Friday, August 5 National Oyster Day is this Friday, and Arcadia’s Buck &Rider is celebrating with a special. Guests can enjoy an all-day oyster happy hour from 11 a.m. to close on Friday in Abby’s Oyster Bar, the dining room, and patio. During this time,…
Tuesday evening’s heavy rainstorms got Central Phoenix the worst – totaling 2.91 inches of rain and shutting down Interstate 17, flooding major and neighborhood streets, and causing some problems with local restaurants. Reports were popping up on Twitter last night about smoke coming from the Pizzeria Bianco location at Town…
During more than a decade in the industry, Dan Maldonado has seen many sides of the commercial kitchen, starting as a prep cook and dishwasher at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion before becoming a sous chef at Moon Valley Country Club. He’s run his own restaurant, the now-defunct Tacos Atoyac, and most recently, he’s…
Restaurant openings slowed down in Phoenix last month, but new dining spots include a chicken salad joint and a Middle Eastern marketplace. And Old Town Scottsdale said farewell to The Upton, a new American restaurant that replaced the beloved Petite Maison a few years ago. Openings The Whining Pig, Gilbert …
The Guilty Pleasure: Liquid Nitrogen ice cream Where to Get It: Creamistry Price: $4.50-$8.50, not counting add-ons What it Really Costs: Your pants will definitely feel a bit tighter after one of these babies. Sadly, not even science can save you from that. Made-from-scratch liquid nitrogen ice cream may not…
Flame Cafe co-owners and husband-and-wife team Norm and Tori Sandoval are each other’s old flames. As in, at the age of 15, she was his first girlfriend. As time passed, however, and the pair graduated from high school, they drifted apart. Norm would go on to become a baker, and…
Less than three months after famed Chicago pizzeria Lou Malnati’s opened the doors to its first Arizona restaurant, another Chicagoland favorite has announced plans to bring even more deep-dish pizzas to metro Phoenix. Later this year, Gino’s East will open a restaurant in Central Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood. The company’s 18th…
Longtime Phoenix residents may remember Chez Nous, a famed Phoenix nightlife destination once located on Seventh Street and Indian School Road. For years, the nightclub and lounge was a destination for those in search of a good drink and soulful music. You may never be able to truly recreate a…
The first thing you should probably know about CoR Tapas & Wine is that it’s something of a rare species in the metro Phoenix dining scene. CoR is a Spanish-inspired tapas bar, a fact that would not be of special interest, if not for the near-total absence of tapas-style small-plate…
It’s only been about eight weeks since The Baked Bear opened its doors in Scottsdale, prompting ice cream-lovers from all over metro Phoenix to flock to the spot for made-to-order ice cream sandwiches. The first Valley location of the California-based ice cream shop has seen long lines from the get-go,…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
It’s been five years since chef Shinji Kurita opened his fine dining Japanese restaurant, ShinBay, in a Scottsdale shopping center. Since then, the restaurant has been a destination for Japanese food and sushi lovers in the Valley and across the country, a singular spot for impeccably refined cuisine unlike anything…
The Guilty Pleasure: Not Your Father’s Root Beer Float Where to Get It: Luci’s at The Orchard Price: $10 What it Really Costs: A fast and furious sugar rush, followed quickly by the feeling of sweet, booze-induced fatigue. You might want to block out some nap time in your schedule…
Chef Tom D’Ambrosio made a name for Aioli Burger throughout the Valley as a food truck powerhouse, over the years growing the business to three trucks and a sister concept called Modern Tortilla. Now, D’Ambrosio and his two business partners putting down roots, with plans for a brick-and-mortar Aioli Burger…
From meatloaf to PB&J, chances are high that you cherish food memories from childhood. And chefs are no exception. From touring the Jelly Belly factory in California to eating Mom’s lasagna, find out what childhood memories metro Phoenix chefs hold dearest. What is your favorite childhood food memory? Kelly Fletcher,…
It’s been less than two months since we sat down with Michelin-starred, James Beard Award-winning chef Alessandro Stratta, who, at the time, had just taken the reins at Prado at the Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia. The chef had recently moved to the Valley to be closer to family…
As they say, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, which lands us at the bar to find some satisfaction this summer. At Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour in downtown Phoenix, you can freeze yourself from the inside out with the Perfect Martini, served at a shocking…
