White asparagus are to green asparagus as veal is to beef. They’re not always available, and when raised right, they’re tender and pale. Conveniently, I’m not aware of a single vegetable rights groups proclaiming that growing asparagus in light-deprived conditions (to keep them white) is morally wrong. Last night, I…
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…
Staying in town this Memorial Day weekend? You cannot be bored. Not yet. Get up off your lazy butt and do something productive — like attending a class on outdoor cooking. Let’s embrace the season, people! This Sunday afternoon, May 27, Distrito will bring back its popular “Cook Like an…
“A lot of people say it’s the water. It’s not the water, it can be done.” New York Flavor owner Bill Olear would love the chance to make New York pizza. Too bad his cute and comfortable fast-casual eatery is too small, not to mention the fact that his lease…
When it comes to finding the flavors of their city, many an ex-Gothamite has been dragged to joints all over the Valley touting real a New York vibe and authentic Big Apple fare. Bill Olear didn’t find his New York in any of them. “Most places take a nostalgic view…
We absolutely love cookies (who doesn’t?) and we love cookies even more when they show up on our doorstep. Which is why we’re super happy that the business of cookies by mail exists. And we’re even more stoked that we have more than one bakery in town to deliver those…
Thousands of people, lots of restaurants, and the plastic cups — my god, the plastic cups! For many parts of the country, food festivals are in full swing this time of year. We’ve most likely had a taste or two at several, but what do those on the other side…
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…
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…
Local food blogger Dominic Armato is a gastro-geek on a mission. He wants to build a grassroots coalition of people who are passionate about food, and to that end, he has launched a discussion board called PHXfoodnerds.com His aim is to bring Phoenix food-lovers together for food-related events, impromptu restaurant…
Fava beans — quite possibly the spookiest legumes of all time. Remember Hannibal Lecter, who scared the bejeezus out of Clarice (and the rest of us) when he deadpanned, “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti”? And then that little slurpy noise he made after?…
If you happen to find yourself around the food of Puerto Rico and the unmistakable smell of garlic has made your nose twitch with curiosity, you are most likely about to encounter mofongo. Satisfyingly flavorful and fill-you-up-fast, the classic dish from made from fried green plantains mashed together in a…
Larry White, Jr. Lo-Lo’s Fried Chicken & Waffles 10 W. Yuma Street, Phoenix 602-340-1304 and 2765 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-945-1920 www,loloschickenandwaffles.com This is part two of my interview with Larry White, Jr. (Lo-Lo), the owner of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles. In case you missed it, you can read part…
Message to loaded fries everywhere: Game. Oinkin’. On. Think you’ve stuffed yourself silly on chef Bryan Dooley’s top-notch ‘cue at his hoppin’ little joint in Cave Creek? Not like this. Now cue the ringing of that cowboy triangle dinner bell, we’re gonna eat…
Live music, art exhibits, after-hours events — if you haven’t been to the Icehouse lately, the huge and happenin’ 34,000-square-foot space and former ice-storage building near Fifth Avenue and Jackson Street in downtown’s warehouse district, maybe it’s time you paid a visit. And if you need some incentive, a “new…
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…
We had so much fun chucking Chow Bella contributors Ando Muneno and Lauren Saria into the ring over Alton Brown, food trucks and movie theaters with food, we put them back at it again. This week’s topic: Pho, Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Pho joints have been growing in popularity throughout…
Okay, so you took Chow Bella’s advice and went out to a local farm to pick some peaches. Now you’ve got a crap-ton of them, they’re getting softer by the minute and you’d like to use ’em before you lose ’em. Enter chef-owner Justin Beckett of Beckett’s Table, who has…
Chow Bella won first place in the opinion blog category at the Arizona Press Club’s annual awards event, held Saturday night at the Duce in Phoenix. The winning entry included New Times’ food critic Laura Hahnefeld’s First Taste review of Crescent Ballroom’s restaurant; Chow Bella intern Lauren Saria’s McRib battle;…
At 3015 East Thomas Road, the sounds of smashing plates, rousing “opas!,” and festive music and belly dancing is no more. Bacchanal Greek Restaurant in Central Phoenix has shuttered. At the corner of a strip mall, the good-time Greek eatery was established in 1989 and operated by the Gicoudis family…
Larry White, Jr. Lo-Lo’s Fried Chicken & Waffles 10 W. Yuma Street, Phoenix 602-340-1304 and 2765 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-945-1920 www.loloschickenandwaffles.com This is part one of my interview with Larry White, Jr. (Lo-Lo), the owner of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles. You can read part two of the interview here…
From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…
