Can You Tweet a Recipe in 140 Characters Or Less?

So, we were poking around on Twitter this morning (it’s Monday), when we came across a challenge so intriguing that we had to pose it to you: Can you come up with a recipe that’s 140 characters or less? The idea is to compile a kind of virtual cookbook made only…

Liberty Market’s Bathrooms In Photos

With great food from Daivd Traina and a built-in coffee bar, what other reason could you possibly need to visit Liberty Market? How about the bathrooms? We’re guessing that unless your bathroom has appeared in Dwell magazine, you’ve never seen a potty like the five waiting for you in Liberty…

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: Three Roots Cafe Returns to the Tempe Scene Chef…

Coming Soon: Revolutionary Burritos

First sushi, then burgers. Now Valley restaurateur Lenny Rosenberg is bringing Mexican food to the northwest corner of Camelback Road and 32nd Street. Currently home to Rosenberg’s Zen 32 and Delux, the shopping plaza will soon house Revolutionary Burritos as well. No menu details yet, but the name is pretty self-explanatory. …

Now Open: Calistro California Bistro

Former Taneko Tavern executive chef Devin Walsh has resurfaced as owner/executive chef at Calistro California Bistro, which opened earlier this week at DC Ranch Crossing in Scottsdale (18221 N. Pima Rd.). Walsh’s menu emphasizes healthful, “farm to table” cooking, with Mediterranean-inspired small plates and appetizers, organic salads, and entrees such…

Avalon Chef Travis Watson to Teach Chocolate Class

Chocolate and wine. We can’t think of two better things to spend an evening tasting. Well, we’re in luck. Chef Travis Watson, of Avalon in Scottsdale, is offering one night of just that: Chocolate and wine tasting, complete with petit fours, truffles and pairings, not to mention a how-to and…

Cafe: Local Breeze

It was a joke, but you’ll understand how disconcerting it was. You’ll also understand how it continued to be disconcerting when approximately thirty seconds later he popped out of the the kitchen to yell “thirty seconds” at us. Here’s the point: we went back this week despite the risk of being…

Favorite Ethnic Markets: BenChris African Market

This is the time of year when folks in Phoenix head for cooler pastures, and it’s time to travel the world if you can. But, if your vacation this summer is a staycation, you can still feed your inner globetrotter by heading to India, Africa, and Russia — via several…

Lo-Lo’s Scottsdale Opens Tomorrow

Will there be a stampede for chicken and waffles tomorrow morning when Larry “Lo-Lo” White opens a second location of his popular soul food joint in Scottsdale? Get there bright and early when the doors to the brand-new Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles open at 7 a.m. on Friday, August 7…

Local Chef Believes His Own Hype on Twitter

Everybody’s a freakin’ genius celebrity chef in this town. Right? I just happened to look at the Twitter profile of a local chef who’s apparently been fed a steady diet of baloney about his alleged greatness, and now seems high on the fumes of his own b.s. Said chef pompously refers to himself in…

Chef James Porter Readies His Petite Maison

Three months ago, when chef James Porter abruptly shuttered his restaurant Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar, he promised to return later this summer with a brand-new, more budget-friendly French country bistro in Scottsdale. Now, he’s ready to deliver. Petite Maison is officially opening its doors at 5 p.m. on Sunday, August…

Battle of the Free Samples

Costco vs. Sam’s Club The economy is rough these days and we could all use a free meal. If you head to your nearest bulk goods store on the weekend, you’ll find a glut of free samples that would fill anyone. But which bulk store has the better samples going…

Recent Restaurant Closures

July was yet another tough month for the local restaurant scene. Among the recent casualties were the high-profile SouthBridge eatery, Canal; CenPho Belgian spot Trente-Cinq 35, and Richardson’s, a local institution that was destroyed by fire. Next door to Richardson’s, newcomer Luci’s Healthy Marketplace faced an unfortunate setback as well,…

Julie & Julia Madness

Who knew a movie about cooking could generate so much buzz? The Julia Child and Julie Powell biopic comes to the big screen this weekend. The hotly awaited film weaves the memoirs of both Child and Powell and it’s garnered largely positive early reviews. If you want to get in…

Favorite Ethnic Markets: Yasha From Russia

This is the time of year when folks in Phoenix head for cooler pastures, and it’s time to travel the world if you can. But, if your vacation this summer is a staycation, you can still feed your inner globetrotter by heading to India, Africa, and Russia — via several…

Chef Chat: Matt Taylor, Metro Brasserie

A traditionalist and an up-and-comer at once, 25-year-old Matt Taylor is probably the youngest executive chef around, and he’s one of the most well known. Taylor is a curious combination of discipline and ease, both a risk-taker and a culinary purist. Maybe that’s how he got to be the head…

Postino Owner Craig DeMarco Bringing New Concept to Central

He’s already hit a home run with Postino Central, the just-north-of-Camelback eatery that’s a spinoff of his ultra-popular Arcadia wine bar. Now restaurateur Craig DeMarco has his sights on something practically across the street. DeMarco is excited about the circa 1940 building at Central Avenue and Oregon, a small strip…

In this Week’s Meal Ticket: Some Like It Hot

​Do you like things hot — we’re talking eye-watering, tongue-tingling, sear-the-roof-of-your-mouth spicy? In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, find out which Valley restaurant offers a muy caliente Inferno burrito, plus mouthwatering 99-cent margarita specials. We’ve also got the scoop on a “magical” and very romantic Valley restaurant that’s reopening next week after a…

Coming in September: Phoenix Cooks!

Yes, Phoenix — this city will come back to life pretty soon. Things feel slow right now, but at least there’s a big culinary event right around the corner, ushering a whole season of activities for food fanatics. Phoenix Cooks! is the shindig to put on your calendar. Scheduled for…

Favorite Ethnic Markets: India Plaza

This is the time of year when folks in Phoenix head for cooler pastures, and it’s time to travel the world if you can. But, if your vacation this summer is a staycation, you can still feed your inner globetrotter by heading to India, Africa, and Russia — via several…