Phoenix Cooks! Saturday, August 31 The annual Phoenix Cooks! event is just around the corner, which means that we’ve officially kicked off the fall culinary event season. This year, the Westin Keirland Resort and Spa in Scottsdale will host chefs including Stephen Jones of Bluehound Kitchen and Cocktails, Michael Rusconi…
On the heels of last week’s opening of Huss Brewing Co., the Tempe brewery from husband-and-wife-team Jeff and Leah Huss, comes a second East Valley brewing establishment ready to kick up the craft when it comes to local ales. From 11 a.m. until midnight Monday, September 2, Arizona Wilderness Brewing…
After a long wait — perhaps a little too long for Michigan transplants — Detroit Coney Grill, the Motor City-minded hot dog joint in Tempe, will open at 11 a.m. this Friday, August 30. Courtesy of Michigan native David Najor, who spent years working for his family’s grocery stores in…
Last week, we got to tell you about a brand new pizza joint, Fired Pie. Quick version: Some guys who worked together at California Pizza Kitchen and Oregano’s got together to create their own quick-service pizza place. Since I’m the Guilty Pleasures guy, I had to make a beeline for…
Isabel, or Nana Isabel, is the matriarch of the Vasquez family, and her recipes not only fed three generations, but they inspired the opening of the Vasquez’s first restaurant, South Phoenix’s Poncho’s in 1972, and Someburros, the fast-casual, six-restaurant chain which opened its first store in Tempe in 1982. Now,…
Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Arizona Restaurant Week, the twice-a-year event put on by the Arizona Restaurant Association, is gearing…
This time of year, conversations at Chow Bella staff meetings tend to turn to who’s eaten what — where. With the summer travel season in full swing, we bring you Food Tours, our writers’ suggestions of what to eat and drink out of town. For most people travel means sightseeing…
What do the stars of this year’s Valley dining scene look like so far? Like many across the country still adapting to the effects of the recession (so long, fine dining) and reacting to a culture more informed about food than ever (11 seasons of Top Chef and counting), they’re…
Pastry chef Country Velador, best-known for her inventive, top-notch desserts at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale, is teaming up with husband Sergio to open a new sweet shop. Based on the couple’s handcrafted confections business (currently, you can find their products at places like Bodega, Pane Bianco, and The Farm at…
Heads up, Valley diners: Chef Bernie Kantak, Andrew Fritz, and mixologist Richie Moe — the trio behind the stylish yet easygoing Citizen Public House in Scottsdale — have announced their newest restaurant, The Gladly, will open this Saturday, August 31. Located at 2201 East Camelback Road (formerly Ruth’s Chris Steak…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. The Vitamix is a $400 blender. Read those words again: The Vitamix is a $400 blender. It sounds insane…
This is part two of our interview with Marco, Jinette and Edmundo Meraz of Republica Empanada in Mesa. Today Jinette dishes on how she met her husband and why it wasn’t love at first sight. Marco share the advice he got from Chris Bianco and where they got the inspiration…
Bone marrow has begun to pop up on restaurant appetizer menus all over town. If you haven’t tried it yet, do yourself a favor and order it next time you see it. If you have, you know the rich, buttery flavor and smooth texture is unlike any other you’ve had…
Marco, Jinette and Edmundo Meraz Owners and chef Republica Empanada republicaempanada.com This is part one of our interview with the Meraz family, the folks behind Republica Empanada, the Latin American eatery that opened in downtown Mesa in June. Owners Jinette (she’s also the chef) and Edmundo join their son Marco,…
This fall, the Valley’s growing cold-pressed juice craze will include noted restaurateur Sam Fox, who’s opening a walk-up stand of organic juices, coconut water-based refreshers, and nutrient-rich smoothies at the Scottsdale Quarter. Created with the help of executive chef Michael Stebner and alternative medicine man Dr. Andrew Weil of True…
The countdown to Best of Phoenix is on. Mark your calendar: This year’s issue will be on newsstands September 26. What better way to warm up than by asking some local “experts” to list their own personal bests? This week Country Velador, pastry chef at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale, shares…
The Phoenix dining scene has its fair share of hip, casual restaurants with refined taste — Windsor, Tuck Shop, and The Parlor, to name a few — and soon enough Nook will open its door in Arcadia with hopes to be on that list. First, they need to gather a…
This time of year, conversations at Chow Bella meetings tend to turn to who’s eaten what — where. With the summer travel season in full swing, we bring you Food Tours, our writers’ suggestions of what to eat and drink out of town. Santa Fe, New Mexico, has an epic…
Heads up, beer hounds: Arizona’s newest brewery, Huss Brewing Co., is opening its doors at noon today. Huss Brewing Co. comes courtesy of husband-and-wife team Jeff and Leah Huss, who spent over three years working to bring their dream of owning a brewery to life (Jeff is a graduate of…
Arizona State University students in Tempe starved for good-for-you eats like salads, wraps, and the occasional mint and pineapple smoothie need to look no further than their own campus. Freshii, the Chicago-based, healthy fast food chain with 75 locations in eight countries, opened its first Arizona location at 1290 South…
The Guilty Pleasure: Fiery Doritos Locos Tacos. Where To Get It: Taco Bell, locations nationwide. The Price: $1.39 for regular, $1.69 for supreme. What It Really Costs: Orange fingers. By now, even the most casual observer of fast food trends has witnessed the rampant popularity of Doritos Locos Tacos at…
The aromas of the Valley’s barbecue scene just got one food truck stronger. Joining other ‘cue-centric mobile kitchens like AZ Barbecue, Tom’s BBQ Pig Rig, and Q Up BBQ, One-Eighty Q, the newest barbecue food truck, hit the streets in late July. Here’s what barbecue hounds can expect…
