Beth Goldwater’s cheesecake is easily one of the best in town. Crafted from a recipe she took a year to perfect, it is bulky in appearance, yet lighter and less dense than you might expect, and its dark brown, thin cookie crust serves as a buttery and crumbly base for…
The weekend is coming up fast and we don’t want you caught on the couch. Prior planning is key, so here are a few dining and drinking events to look forward to around the Valley. Beat the Heat Winter Fest Friday, August 23 It’s almost cruel to be talking about…
If you are passing through the doors of Bertha’s Cafe for the very first time, you probably have come for Beth Goldwater’s cheesecake. A poorly kept secret among Valley dessert hounds — those who can tick off their favorite spots for bread pudding without so much as a pause for…
I’m in search of a frozen time-travel moment back to Lanikai Beach, where my flip-flops were just steps away from Island Snow, where Barack and I get our shave-ice fixes.
Kick Ass Kakes, the cake-centric shop in Central Phoenix owned by artist-chef Jay Murphy — who made CNN news in January for his lifesize Lady Gaga cake — is expanding its sweet offerings. In early August, Murphy, a graduate of Parsons School of Design and Scottsdale Culinary Institute, opened The…
From the heartfelt to the mouth-watering to the ridiculously funny, nearly everyone can remember their favorite food movie or food-centric film scene. Which ones strike a chord with Valley chefs and restaurateurs? A few you might expect, some you may not, and a few that go way back — way…
Once upon a time, I could eat anything. I traveled the Valley of the Sun, nibbling here and there, happy in my gluten-filled world, blissful in my celiac-disease ignorance. I had many favorite dishes that I would return to again and again…
Obed de la Cruz of the de la Cruz family, a name synonymous with Mexican food in the East Valley, is bringing his family’s recipes to Central Phoenix in the form of a new restaurant. Obed — whose family owns El Sol Mexican Cafe & Bakery and El Zocalo Mexican…
A new build-your-own pizza and salad concept has planted its pepperoni in the Valley. Called Fired Pie, the fast-casual local restaurant chain comes courtesy of Fred Morgan, Rico Cuomo, and Doug Doyle, three restaurant industry vets who, according to FastCasual.com, worked together for more than 15 years at California Pizza…
This is part two of our interview with Brian Peterson, executive chef and part owner of Cork in Chandler. Today we get the story on how this former Chicago guy learned to love living in the Valley and what he still thinks the Phoenix food scene is missing. If you…
In 2004, failed presidential candidate John Edwards famously made a speech about “two Americas,” a reference to the socio-economic divide that plagues our country. But this is not a column about politics; it is a column about food. So you’re probably asking yourself, “What the hell is Eric talking about…
It takes a special kind of person to respond with bright enthusiasm to a request for an order of gusanos de maguey, but, hell, he may have thought it takes a crazy sort of person to make such a request so far away from southern Mexico. But perhaps years of…
Bombay Spice Grill, the healthy fast-casual restaurant chain of Indian food owned by JNK Concepts (Roka Akor) is on the move. After five years, the company, which currently has Bombay Spice Grill locations in Chicago and Tempe, is closing its original Bombay Spice Grill & Wine off Tatum and Shea…
A new and decidedly unique pizza has hit the Valley’s thriving food truck arena — and this one comes stoned. Saffron Jak Original Stone Bread Pizza, billed by owners Jayson and Jaymes Khademi as “the only stone bread pizza in Phoenix,” features a rotating menu of globally inspired, stone-cooked pies…
Only five years ago, now-commonplace ice cream flavors like sweet corn or craft beer would have caught anyone off guard. But with the introduction of bacon to the dessert course a few years ago, the line separating sweet and savory was forever demolished. These 10 ice creameries craft artisanal versions…
The weekend might be over, but there’s still plenty of dining and drinking left to do this week. On Friday, join New Times on a Back to School Pub Crawl at Tempe Marketplace from 8 to 11 p.m. Fermenting 101: Arizona Homebrewer’s Basics Today This October, you can join the…
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 FnB co-owner Pavle Milic shares his five favorite spots to…
Brian Peterson Executive Chef Cork Today, we share part one of our interview with executive chef Brian Peterson of Cork in Chandler. The upscale neighborhood wine bar has gone through quite a transformation since it opened in 2008. Peterson dishes on how it’s managed to find its niche. Come back…
Another restaurant has bitten the dust at 2605 North Seventh Street in Central Phoenix (northeast corner of Seventh Street and Virginia). The most recent victim? The Phoenix Cheesesteak Co., the former food truck started in 2009 by owner Ron Blom and his family. Known for its made-to-order original and specialty…
Gyros may not be the most beautiful, photogenic food, but nothing sends more happiness to our hearts and grumbles to our bellies than a moist, slightly crisp pile of meat on a warm pita that has been slathered with tzatziki. Both gyro places featured today boasted stints in Chicago, before…
A few weeks ago I came across Deathwish Coffee and was instantly intrigued. I promptly placed an order; the package came in, and that’s when shit got real. Upon opening the box, I was greeted with attractive packing and . . . a warning label. This is what its website…
Got weekend plans yet? Here a few dining and drinking events we’ve got on the books. Lavender and Wine Festival Forget wine and roses, this weekend the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North is celebrating the mix of wine and lavender with a two day festival for visitors and…
