Later this fall Scottsdale will welcome its first Arizona vineyard wine shop and tasting room when the Lawrence Dunham Vineyards Wine Gallery tasting room and shop opens at 6951 E. 1st Street. The southern Arizona winery’s tasting room will be taking over a redeveloped ranch house on the southwest corner…
Gabriele Bertaccini Owner, Executive chef il Tocco Food www.iltoccofood.com Gabriele Bertaccini looks more like an Italian clothing model than a hardworking, über successful chef. But if you get him talking about cooking, dining, and Italian cuisine, it becomes immediately clear that he’s much more than just a handsome face and…
Hopdoddy, the fast-casual burger restaurant and bar in Scottsdale has taken two things we love, the milk shake and tres leches cake, blended them together and presented heaven in a cup. If you would like a serving of your own, be sure to get there by Sunday before their drink…
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…
Next month some of the Valley’s top women chefs will gather in the kitchen at Chrysa Robertson’s Rancho Pinot restaurant to cook food and to make a stand, to show everyone that great, talented women chefs exist. And furthermore, that they deserve to be recognized. It’s not the first time…
Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake Friday, October 10 This weekend Oktoberfest is in full swing around the Valley and the biggest celebration will be held at Tempe Town Lake over the next three days. Starting tomorrow you’ll be able to find a half dozen beer gardens with scores of beers…
It was a bright but short run for The Local. The downtown Phoenix restaurant opened on Roosevelt Row this spring, and almost exactly six months to date from its official opening, it has shuttered. “We poured our hearts and souls into it, but at the end of the day if…
There are a few changes coming to Miracle Mile Deli, the iconic restaurant currently located at the Camelback Colonnade. The first is that the restaurant will launch a new breakfast menu later this month. The second is that the restaurant will move to a new home in spring of 2015…
The Guilty Pleasure: Marshmallow-filled, Ghostbusters-themed donuts. Where to Get It: Krispy Kreme, several locations around town. Price: About $1.20 each. What it Really Costs: Oh, sugar! Nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s is in full swing these days. The latest entry is the Ghostbusters franchise celebrating its 30th anniversary. Yes…
Chef James Porter doesn’t want to say Petite Maison is closing, per se. But the truth is he and his wife Wendy have sold their five-year-old restaurant to new owners who will not be keeping the Petite Maison name or concept. “We are re-appropriating the space,” Porter says of the…
Since 2008 America’s Taco Shop has been a local favorite for carne asada and other Mexican specialties but the number of local outlets has recently decreased by one. The second location of America’s Taco Shop, found at 4447 North Seventh Avenue, closed last month. The original location at 2041 North…
I was determined, while dining at Gertrude’s, not to be distracted by the chatter of tourists seated at tables on either side of mine at this Desert Botanical Garden hotspot. Fortunately, the food on Gertrude’s recently redesigned menu was mostly so dreary, it was impossible to think of much else…
Each year, thousands of coffee professionals around the world congregate to crown a new Barista Champion. This year three fantastic individuals from Phoenix will be traveling to Rancho Mirage, California for a chance to be crowned the Southwest’s Best Barista. This event feeds into the United States Barista Competition, which…
Stephen Eldridge Executive Chef Pink Pony 3831 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale www.pinkponyscottsdale.com /www.facebook.com/pinkponyscottsdale You can’t talk about dining in Old Town Scottsdale without mentioning the Pink Pony. After all, the steak house has been a part of the restaurant scene since for more than 60 years. You can imagine that…
Last month we released Best of Phoenix 2014, recognizing some of the best restaurants and bars in the Valley. Many of the most memorable things I ate and drank in September come from places included in the Food & Drink section of the issue though some dishes are from new…
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…
If you never made the trek up to Citizen R+D, we’re sorry to report that ship has sailed. The speakeasy-style bar, which opened in 2011 and was located above Citizen Public House, has closed — that means no more crazy flaming cocktails or vodka turning to gin before your eyes…
We’ve got some bad news for fans of Iguana Mack’s in Chandler — but good news for those who like their lunch with a side of community giving. A new restaurant called Social Box Neighborhood Eatery will be opening later this month at 1371 North Alma School Road in Chandler…
All Pumpkin Menu at Petite Maison Friday, October 3 though Sunday, October 5 Fall is officially here and that means an abundance of pumpkin flavored…everything. This weekend you can kick off your pumpkin binge eating with an All Pumpkin Menu at Petite Maison. The $45, four-course meal includes dishes such…
New Orleans is known for its hurricanes — yes, the scary rain ones, but also the cocktail. Pat O’Briens is the usual place to grab one, but when it’s about 1,500 miles away, it’s best to find a spot close by that makes them well. A typical hurricane is a…
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 a sad day for ice cream loving Phoenicians. According to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page, Mary Coyle’s Ice Cream Parlor has closed its doors for good. In 2011 the restaurant and ice cream shop flirted with closure only to be a saved at the last minute by…
