Dan Maldonado of Tacos Atoyac, Part 2

Yesterday Chef Dan Maldonado of Tacos Atoyac dished about why his restaurant isn’t your run of the mill taco shop. Today he shares more of his own story, how he and Pablo Lopez came together, and what their future holds. Where are you from?Chile.  And how did you end up…

The Torta El Rey from Torta El Rey

Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we’re back – with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. 78: The…

Gourmet Lollipops Are a Sweet “Slow Food” Treat

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop? Who cares. Thanks to the drive toward more artisanal foods, the old-fashioned lollipop is getting a much-needed makeover, and a small-batch lollipop shop out of Seattle called This Charming Candy, aims to make their…

In Season: Tomatoes

Whether you’re a CSA devotee, a farmers’ market weekender or consider ketchup a veg, we’ll bring you fresh inspiration for how to prepare our local produce. This week’s harvest: Tomatoes They’re heeeeerrrrrrrre! Well, they’ve been here for a few weeks depending on your backyard and when you planted them, but…

Happy Hot Dog Man: The Uprising is Upon Us

And so it begins. Thanks to Happy Hot Dog Man, a hot dog, the food item most children people will eat without question, is now a floppy meat person that requires being “killed” via boiling water or microwave, dementedly decorated like a human sacrifice, then eaten SANS BUN so its…

Raw Food with Christopher Slawson

The raw food enthusiasts that have crossed my path in the past were just too evangelical for me to take in. I had respect for the food they prepared, it was interesting and tasty, but not compelling enough for me to aspire to in my own kitchen. I was willing…

Dan Maldonado of Tacos Atoyac

Four months ago, Dan Maldonado and Pablo Lopez opened up an unassuming taco shop on the corner of Glendale and 19th Ave, formerly the site of Chik a Ribs. Since then, Tacos Atoyac has been on a steady road to popularity, serving two to three hundred customers daily. This week,…

Pappardelle Bolognese from Amaro Pizzeria

Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing our 100 Favorite Dishes with you. Now we’re back – with the 2011 edition. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments section or email laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. 79: Pappardelle…

Caffe Boas Have Different Owners and Menus — But Similar Health Inspection Failures

  Caffe Boa restaurants in Tempe and Ahwatukee have different owners and different menus, but similar health inspection failures. This sorry coincidence came to our attention in a recent report by the Maricopa County Environmental Services department, which revealed that the popular bistro on Mill Avenue — owned by Jay and Christine Wisniewski — received a “no award” rating…

This Week In Chow Bella

Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week. Lunch at Pizzeria Bianco: Same Great Pizza, Much Shorter…

Angry Birds Cookbook Will Be Egg-cellent

Can Angry Birds, the crazy-addictive game that challenges players to catapult furious fowl at structures containing egg-stealing swine, get any more popular? Answer: Yes. Now put your apron on. Angry Birds is gettin’ a cookbook. Read on for the egg-y details. Follow Chow Bella on Facebook and Twitter…

More Places to Get Boba in Phoenix: A User’s Guide, Part Two

Last week, we posted a list of some of the East Valley’s best boba tea offerings and heard from those of you outside the lower righthand corner of town. You want boba, too! No worries, we’re back with more.  To recap, boba tea, or “bubble tea,” are sweet, cooling beverages packed…

Mongolian Delight from Loving Hut

    80: Mongolian Delight from Loving Hut Ah, the curse of middle-age. For one fella we know, it’s meant forsaking all meat during daylight hours in a desperate attempt to lower cholesterol. It’s worked — in large part because our friend has discovered the vegan joys of Loving Hut, particularly…

Cafe: BLD

We get it. This is the internet age. We want all things at all times. If you’re talking about being able to stream movies at a moment’s notice, we agree with you. If you’re interested in unrealistic expectations for local eateries, we’d direct you to BLD. This new eatery from…

Coming Soon: Fusion Cafe at India Plaza

Love the Dhaba in Tempe? We’ve got great news! India Plaza’s owner Raveen Arora is opening the new Fusion Cafe right next door. The cafe was closed for renovations ten weeks ago and now, instead of run of the mill scones and croissants, Arora is proud to serve traditional Punjabi…