Beach Bites: The Ramen King and I

Some people have problems with commitment. People do change after all and the person you love today may turn into a psycho hose beast tomorrow. But through the assistance of close friends or the sage advice of one’s elders we work through commitment issues and find deeper connections than we…

Pork on a Fork: Nebraska Hog-Farmers in Phoenix

If you’ve been at a farmers market in the Valley lately, you’ve probably run into a booth with a rather odd name and a Nebraska Huskers bumper sticker on the cooler: Pork on a Fork. The name, we’re not sure about, but the Huskers sticker is there because the company’s…

Sweet Summer: Fro Yo

It’s too hot to cook, so just skip to dessert. That’s our philosophy, anyway. Besides, most summertime desserts have the added benefit of being cold, and anything that helps beat the heat is a winner. This week we offer you a daily guide to the sweet treats of summer, from…

Beach Bites: Cooking Dirty

Here’s a juicy summer read we can’t wait to dig into: Cooking Dirty by Jason Sheehan. Sheehan happens to be the food critic at Westword, New Times’ sister paper in Denver, but long before he launched his award-winning career as a food scribe, he worked his way through kitchens across…

China Mist Promoted With “Tweet Hunt”

If you drink China Mist bottled tea and want tickets to the Arizona Diamondbacks game on September 9, this is for you.  Twitter was designed to answer the question “what are you doing,” but local promoters Activating Word of Mouth are using the social media site to create a stir…

Cafe: Milkshakes

Some people are born lactose-intolerant. Not us! No, we earned it. Maybe it’s the companion splash of milk in every cup of coffee that keeps our journalistic fingers hard at work that has trained our body to associate mammalian lactation with stress. Either way, we can’t handle milk products when…

Sweet Summer: Raspado

It’s too hot to cook, so just skip to dessert. That’s our philosophy, anyway. Besides, most summertime desserts have the added benefit of being cold, and anything that helps beat the heat is a winner. This week we offer you a daily guide to the sweet treats of summer, from…

Tonight: Free Screening of Food, Inc.

Thank you, Chipotle — and not just for your giant burritos. The chain is sponsoring a free screening, tonight at 7:30 p.m., of the newest watchdog documentary, Food, Inc. at the Harkins Camelview theater in Scottsdale. It’s first-come, first-served, so get there early. The film comes from co-producer Eric Schlosser,…

The Vig Opening Second Location in Uptown Phoenix

Heads up, uptown Phoenix. You’re about to get another hot spot in your backyard. The Vig, the Arcadia restaurant with the best bocce ball in the city, is opening a second location, on 16th St. and Bethany Home in north Phoenix, according to General Manager Pam Vincent. Yes, that’s just…

Beach Bites: Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes

Some like it hot. This time of year, though, there’s a huge difference between a hot kitchen and a hot beach. Somehow the latter inevitably wins out. But that doesn’t mean you can’t plot your future kitchen adventures while soaking up some rays. In fact, the new Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes book…

Battle of the Gazpacho Soups

Pita Jungle vs. DeluxGazpacho is a cold soup, originally from Spain, and is the perfect antidote to these hellacious summer days. There are so many variations on gazpacho (chunky or pureed, spicy or mild) but they’re all tomato-based and raw, making them vegetarian and, more often than not, vegan-friendly.In One…

Sweet Summer: Ice Cream Sundae

It’s too hot to cook, so just skip to dessert. That’s our philosophy, anyway. Besides, most summertime desserts have the added benefit of being cold, and anything that helps beat the heat is a winner. This week we offer you a daily guide to the sweet treats of summer, from…

Coming Soon to Midtown: Thai E-San

Pete (or, in Thai, Tossapis) Pholtosa is working around the clock in the former Big Wong location, on 6th Ave. and Indian School, painting, tiling, decorating, and all around renovating the restaurant he is making his own: Thai E-San. When we walked in, he was grouting the floor. The name,…

Now Open Downtown: Nine 05

After a hiatus for renovations and development of a totally new menu, the transformation of Nine 05 (from the restaurant formerly known as Fate) is complete. The restaurant opened last night. Executive chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission, joined by chef Jay Bogsinske, has created an upscale…

Your Meal Ticket to Valley Vineyards

Wine lovers, are you tired of hearing about “Sonoma this” and “Napa Valley that?” It’s time to put Arizona’s wineries on the map. In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we’ll tell you who’s headed to Page Valley’s vineyards and how you can get in on an upcoming tour. We’ve…

Chef Chat: Brian Ferguson, 98 South

Brian Ferguson runs the most organized, least serious army platoon in town. It’s also the tastiest. Those are his words, by the way, “army platoon.” He describes his team as “a very tight, cohesive unit. You don’t have to have a lot of explanation or talking; the guys know exactly…

It’s Official: Gutierrez Restaurants in the Works for SouthBridge

Chef Joseph Gutierrez wasted no time in opening Tutto in the recently vacated Digestif space, and there was word that he’ll be opening two more eateries at SouthBridge this year. As of today, it’s official. In a press release just issued by SouthBridge, there’s confirmation that Gutierrez will also be…

Now Open: Karey’s Kitchen

Don’t be surprised to hear your stomach growl if you look at the menu at brand-new Karey’s Kitchen, which bills itself as a “Filipino-Mexican Fusion Cafe.” The food sounds mouthwatering. Along with South of the Border fare like flautas and chimichangas, the eatery offers Filipino treats such as lumpia (pork…

Sweet Summer: Paletas

It’s too hot to cook, so just skip to dessert. That’s our philosophy, anyway. Besides, most summertime desserts have the added benefit of being cold, and anything that helps beat the heat is a winner. This week we offer you a daily guide to the sweet treats of summer, from…

Beach Bites: The King of Vodka

Nothing says summer like vodka. OK, that’s not true. Nothing says depressing, oppressive Russian winters like vodka. But, in any case, nothing says summer like a soap opera-like novel focused on an alcoholic drink. That’s just what you’ll find in Phoenix-born-and-raised author Linda Himelstein’s new book: The King of Vodka…