There’s a new family-owned Italian restaurant, Jimmy’s of Chicago, that brings home cooking from the ‘burbs of Chicago to the ‘burbs of Phoenix. It opened at 3107 S. Gilbert Rd. (at Pecos) on December 19. Owner Kerry Kersting says his new eatery has the same menu and neighborhood vibe as Jimmy’s…
Things have been dark at Zest Spirited Dining lately. Recently, a sign posted on the door of the once-bustling Central Phoenix restaurant said, “Sorry! We are closed for renovations.” But that was pretty fishy. Closed for renovations during the holidays, the time of year when people might actually justify a nice…
Just found out that Kitchen Classics, the long-running store on Thomas Road (4041 E. Thomas), will be closing its doors for good, sometime next week. (They’re playing it by ear on the exact day, an employee told me.) Chalk this retail casualty up to the economy, like so many other…
What to do this Saturday? Well, if you want to hit up the very newest place in town, there’s Autostrada, a casual Italian spot at DC Ranch. Tonight’s their last night of “friends and family” service, and tomorrow is their first full day open to the general public. This is…
Chow Bella’s been running for more than two years now. Can you believe it? (Me neither — I should’ve at least put up a Chow Bella birthday post, huh?) What started as a ramshackle one-woman-show is now a sprawling empire of food bloggery, with a whole cast of assorted characters…
Was it the economy that did them in? Stephanie Case, a representative for Chandler’s Fulton Towne Center, confirmed that popular gelato shop Aunt Lena’s Creamery closed at the end of November, although she couldn’t comment on the cause. Co-owner Ray D’Ottavio, pictured above, appeared on TV with Food Network personality Guy Fieri this past August, for…
Move over, chick lit. According to a recent article in Publisher’s Weekly, the new trend is food-inspired fiction where cooking is part of the plot, and memoirs where there might even be recipes. They’ve dubbed it “quiche lit.” Entertaining Disasters, by Nancy Spiller, is one example (at left). In the way…
Here’s a great idea that I wish Slow Food Phoenix would steal from our sister city to the south: a Slow Food film festival! Tonight, Slow Food Tucson kicks off its fourth annual event with dinner and a movie — of course — followed by three more nights of festivities…
Last week, I shared some of the dining highlights along the light-rail path. And while many of those restaurants have been around for years — and struggled as the streets in front of them were torn up during construction — some have cropped up more recently, almost as if in…
The full name, en francais, is the Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie, and it sounds about as strenuous as a sporting event. And Roy Pell, executive pastry chef at the Phoenician, will be on Team USA (along with team captain David Ramirez from Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida,…
Family-owned Maizie’s Café & Bistro is a great example of the new wave of eateries that have opened up along the light rail path, a stylish, urban neighborhood joint that’s friendly and down to earth. The accessible American menu, available all day, features shareable starters, sandwiches, pizzas, and more; on…
Free live music, discounted bourbon, and a special lounge menu are three good reasons to start hitting up Bourbon Steak on Thursday nights, beginning on January 15. From 7 to 9 p.m. in the restaurant lounge, there will be performances from local blues bands (The Blue Zone will kick off…
Everybody’s doing it, man. Riding the light rail, that is. Whether for a daily commute or just a joy ride, people seem to be packing the cars, and it’s not even the free ride period anymore. The folks at District, the restaurant at the downtown Sheraton, hope even more people…
It’s only been open for two weeks, but Bantu Bistro has already gained some repeat customers in Central Phoenix. Located in the 7th Avenue spot that formerly housed Melrose Cafe (4447 N. 7th Ave., at Campbell; 602-604-2489), the eatery brings something new to the local dining scene: West African cuisine. Co-owner Emmy…
Happy New Year, Phoenix. Here’s one last look at 2008 with the top five blogs as determined by the sheer number of eyes that read them. Catch the top three slots after the jump. 5 – Liberty Market set to open in Gilbert The charming stretch of Gilbert Avenue that…
Anybody want to buy a bistro? Madelyn’s chef-owner Brian Ford says he’s looking to sell his Anthem eatery, and it’s just about turnkey. “We were unfortunately pushed into closing our doors by our own bank, out of the blue, two days before Christmas,” Ford says. “They didn’t notify us, and…
Chef-owner Joshua Hebert was hoping that Santa would bring him a new restaurant, but instead, he got a New Year’s “baby”; Posh quietly opened on New Year’s Eve. Located inside the gorgeous Optima Camelview Village, the restaurant serves “improvisational cuisine,” which Hebert describes as a “very seasonally adaptive” take on…
A lot of excitement about the Metro light rail has revolved around the easy new connection between downtown Phoenix and downtown Tempe. And when it comes to dining options, that’s definitely a good thing, whether you’re a commuter, a student, or just a foodie-about-town. Hop off the train in either…
As far as I knew knew up until a few weeks ago, Crush came in two flavors: Orange and Grape. Recently I was visiting my family in Ohio when I came across Pineapple, Peach, Strawberry and Tropical Punch. Shocking! Then, I did a little more research and found out that…
What the heck is a turf accountant? I had to Google that one. The American Heritage Dictionary says it’s a British term for a bookmaker licensed to take bets on horses. Huh. In downtown, though, Turf Accountant is the name of the new Irish pub set to open at 705…
What’s in store for 2009? Will the world go to hell in a handbasket, or do we stand a chance of seeing our local restaurant scene flourish? I’m not psychic, so ask Joseph Anthony. He’s the astrologer who gives readings at Lisa G Cafe & Wine Bar every Wednesday night. And since…
Two new nightspot/restaurants opened late last month, right down the street from each other in Scottsdale. Pictured above, The Lodge, 4422 N. 75th St., is a ski-lodge-themed hangout that bills itself as a “quaint, Midwestern dive bar” amid the flashy Scottsdale nightlife district. Is townie-bar chic the new thing? I…
