How to Re-Season a Cast Iron Skillet

I’m very happy to report that once you’ve scrubbed the heck out of your cast iron skillet, seasoning is pretty much a breeze. I didn’t know this, of course, until a kind commenter left directions on “Seasoning Your Cast Iron Pan” on the above-mentioned post. Thank you! See Also: Use…

What Are the Pros and Cons of Food Festivals?

As spring emerges in the Valley, so do the food festivals — and they seem to be getting bigger and more popular every year. At last weekend’s Devoured Culinary Festival, more than 45 restaurants participated. And the event sold out a month beforehand. See also: – What Are Three Cooking…

Hao Bao Food Truck Hitting the Brakes — For Now

Thirty-year-old Jake Lau, owner of Hao Bao, the mobile kitchen of Chinese soul food, says if there’s one thing about food trucks, it’s that there’s a huge spectrum of unpredictability. See also: – Paradise Melts Food Truck Is Up and Running: Where to Find It – Hey Joe! Sets Up…

Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers Coming to Old Town

Since the fall of 2011, North Scottsdale folks in search of a cold beer and a cheeseburger need only to look to Cold Beer & Cheeseburgers, the upscale casual eatery from the owners of Arcadia Tavern, as an option for suds and grub in the most obvious sense. See also:…

How to Eat Papaya

Mexican papayas are not for the commitment-fearing yet fruit-loving person in your life. This is a fruit that requires careful thought in selection, peeling, deseeding, and cutting. Then, there’s the actual preparation. This is not your average brown-bag-lunch kind of fruit. Papaya requires love; it requires patience. And most of…

Oh, Oh, Otro Cafe!

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…

9 Great Places to Drink Outdoors in Metro Phoenix

It’s March. The weather is as damn near perfect as it’s ever going to get, and most of us want to be outside doing something — or better yet, nothing — every gloriously balmy minute. You’ve probably already run through a mental Rolodex of restaurants with great dining patios, but…

Snickerdoodle Smackdown in CenPho: Churn vs. Urban Cookies

When cookie cravings hit hard, more often than not we wish for a snickerdoodle. Chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin are good, but there’s something irresistible about the cinnamon-y simplicity of a well-made snickerdoodle. Having eaten probably a million of these tasty baked treats, we do have high standards. We’re looking…

Five Things to Eat and Drink this Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out what’s on our plate. See Also: Announcing the Caramel Makers for Smeeks & Chow Bella’s Caramelpalooza 2013! Owners of The Mint, RnR, and Axis/Radius to Open Hi-Fi Kitchen & Cocktails in Old Town Scottsdale…

NutWhats’ Lisa Rast: Caramelpalooza Candymakers 2013

As the chefs competing in Smeeks and Chow Bella’s fourth-annual Caramelpalooza — coming 7 p.m. Friday, April 5, at UNION — get out the candy thermometers, we’ve got our pens ready to introduce you to the faces behind the caramel. Although Lisa Rast is simply nutty about nuts, she’s excited…

6 Easy Mushroom Recipes

See Also: AndyTalk: Lentil Basics and a No-Recipe Dinner AndyTalk: The Winning Combo of Cauliflower and Mayonnaise When it comes to mushrooms you either love them or hate them. When properly cooked, mushrooms have deep, nutty, caramelized flavors and a combination of soft and crispy textures. What’s not to love?…