Deborah Knight would simply not make it on Fox’s Hell’s Kitchen. It’s not that she’s not good enough. She’s just too nice. She teaches rather than barking orders, which may be why her employees call her “Mom.” And they tend to stick around for five or six years — an…
Downtown urbanites will no longer have to brave the summer heat for their local veggies and fruits come September. The folks behind the Phoenix Public Market, the Saturday farmer’s market for the downtown set, are making progress on the construction of its indoor incarnation, the Urban Grocery and Wine Bar…
Need a salt fix? Never tried vanilla sea salt? Want to try salt on ice cream? (Trust us, it’s a winner.) Salt has moved out of the cupboard to take its place as the seasoning of choice, so if there’s no sea salt to be found in your house, it’s…
The (far) West Valley is on its way up — the Valley food chain, that is. Next Monday, Majerle’s Sports Grill will open its third location at 13375 W. McDowell Rd., just west of Dysart Rd. in Goodyear. Majerle’s, which is named for (and owned by) Dan Majerle, the three-time…
Ever since we posted Posh’s recipe for kangaroo steaks last week, we’ve been hearing requests for unusual meat entrees. Ever tried fried gator? How about elk? In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we track down some of Phoenix’s more exotic restaurant (m)eats. Valley diners may feel hard-pressed to find…
“You want what for Christmas?” My mom says this every year. And every year my request is the same – salt. I love salt in every incarnation — the weirder the better, whether it’s pink, blue, black, smoked, or infused. Salt can turn the blandest dish into something special. It’s…
As the remains of one of our favorite Phoenix restaurants smolder, we are thinking back to good times had at Richardson’s. This place was (and hopefully will soon be again) an institution in a town with far too few. For evidence, we reached into the not-so-way-back machine for this gem,…
Summertime is on full blast, which means that we’re definitely in the midst of barbecue season. To tell the truth, though, while there’s nothing more satisfying than serving up juicy burgers, plump franks, and roasted veggies to pals, grilling under a hateful Phoenix sun can be less than ideal. (Not that…
Chef and owner Lionel Geuskens has closed Trente-Cinq 35, the Belgian restaurant he opened in 2006, according to the Arizona Republic. Geuskens is reportedly suffering from health problems, and hopes to reopen in a few months time. The restaurant, which was located at 2333 North Seventh Street, trumpeted fare from…
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: Chef Chat: Josh Hebert, Posh Bashas’ Closing 10 Grocery…
If you’re jonesing for the yummy eats of the amazing (and James Beard Award winning) chef Nobuo Fukuda, head down to The Welcome Diner this Saturday. Chef Fukuda will be cooking up Japanese street food from 8 p.m. to midnight. Chef Fukuda operated Sea Saw, which closed in June. He’s…
Valley chef Joseph Gutierrez wastes no time. He’s the new owner of Tutto, an Italian restaurant at 7114 East Stetson Drive in Scottsdale. If the address rings a bell that’s because it’s the old spot for Digestif, which is opening soon (but not that soon) across the street in See…
A fire broke out at Richardson’s Cuisine of New Mexico restaurant on Bethany Home Road earlier this afternoon, and is still raging as firefighters attempt to put out the blaze. One of the owners reported the fire at 2:02 this afternoon, according to Phoenix Fire Department Spokesman Dorian Jackson. By…
It’s nice to see a price tag on anything that reads 5 cents. It calls to mind a time way back (a time few among us can remember, but perhaps have read of in books) when gas cost 20 cents a gallon and kids said, “Shucks!” But that’s what you’ll…
Yesterday we announced Chef Aaron May’s plans to open a noodle house and Mexican restaurant as part Downtown Phoenix’s CityScape project. As it turns out, the good chef is cooking up something else in Scottsdale. Last week, May closed on the building formerly known as Green Bay Packers bar Mabel…
Picture this: it’s just after noon and your tummy is rumbling. What to eat for lunch? Ah, the eternal question. These days the New Times crew is avoiding our regular haunts in search of lighter fare. Luckily for us (and you as well) we’ve got this week’s Café column to…
How do you get 500 Phoenicians to stand outside in the heat at 8 a.m.? If you’re Cityscape, you get local chef Aaron May to make them breakfast. May will be bringing an “Asian noodle house” and “Mexican style restaurant” to the 27-story office tower that will be the first,…
The idea of eating cactus — a plant covered in spikes — might cause some to laugh or grimace, or run away. But a true Southwesterner knows that’s all a ruse. Just strip off that rough exterior of certain varieties — and a tasty, okra-like veggie is waiting to be…
Summer in Phoenix is a good excuse to take a ’round-the-world tour. Sure, the cost of airfare might be prohibitive, but, hey, at least I can send my taste buds on a journey. In fact, some of my favorite dishes around town happen to be those cool, refreshing, “summery” foods…
During the year and a half it took for Josh Hebert to start up his experimental, interactive restaurant, Posh, he says, “it was killing me to try to come up with ways to explain it.” His choose-your-dislikes approach and ingredient-driven non-menu proved harder than expected to put into one nice,…
Introducing a new segment today on Chow Bella: Battle of the Dishes. We try the same meal, but at two different local restaurants. It’s an eater smackdown. Los Reyes de la Torta vs. America’s Taco ShopWhen a friend suggested “tortas” as the inaugural plate for Battle of the Dishes, we…
Wishes do come true. Talk to me long enough and I’ll start talking about all the interesting businesses I think Phoenix could use. A great independently owned cheese shop is always at the top of my list. Well, it’s finally happening. The fromage gods have listened. Cheese expert Lara Hardwick…
