Somebody at Roka Akor really did their homework. When I heard that this spin-off of Roka, a London-based Japanese restaurant, was coming to Scottsdale, I felt ambivalent. On one hand, the menu looked mouthwatering. But I wondered whether we really needed one more trendy Japanese joint — especially one imported…
By Michele Laudig You have to hand it to the Spaniards — they’ve come up with one of the world’s most, uh, unique ways to work up an appetite: running their asses off as ornery bulls chase them down the street. That’s their idea of a party. Sol y Sombra’s…
By Michele Laudig In a small pond like Phoenix, there are only so many places for the big fish to swim. The news of former Phoenix Magazine restaurant reviewer Nikki Buchanan landing at the Arizona Republic is an interesting study in the feng shui of local food critics. As you…
By Michele Laudig I’m an extremely intuitive person, but sometimes I still second-guess myself. On a recent visit to Roka Akor — the high-style robatayaki joint in Scottsdale — I saw somebody from behind who immediately reminded me of Republic critic Howard Seftel. Keep in mind, I’ve never met Howard…
by Amy Silverman Look, I know times are tough. Money’s tight. I’m happy to shop the clearance racks at Target, buy my kids’ shoes at Last Chance and fork over my Safeway card to save a few pennies, even though it means some creepy marketing types will know my family…
By Michele Laudig Independence Day last Friday just gave us a sweet three-day weekend, but zut alors, the French have to celebrate Bastille Day on a Monday this year. But there’s still plenty of reason to party. (Isn’t French food and French wine worth celebrating all the time?) Check out…
By Michele Laudig Let’s face it: As groovy a bar as Mickey’s Hangover might be, the name of this retro-fabulous Scottsdale scenester joint really lends itself to a breakfast spot. Well, nobody’s turning off the beer tap at the bar, but now the folks at Mickey’s really are going to…
By Michele Laudig eat.shop.phoenix, subtitled, “The Indispensable Guide to Inspired, Locally Owned Eating and Shopping Establishments.” Author Anna H. Blessing makes it pretty clear that she doesn’t live in the Valley, but has family connections here. For her compilation of blurbs on local eateries and boutiques, she solicited recommendations from…
By Michele Laudig Someday soon, I won’t be surprised to see a sushi restaurant on every corner. Yes, folks, there are two more new restaurants where you can get your fresh fish fix. Last weekend, Kizake Sushi & Martinis finally opened for business at San Marcos Plaza (91 W. Boston…
There’s an urban myth that 90 percent of restaurants close within the first year. Turns out, it’s more like 26 percent, but still, it’s a daunting figure, especially in this economy. But there’s one new restaurant whose success I’m betting on, if only for the local food brain trust behind…
By Michele Laudig In tomorrow’s dining newsletter, New Times catches up with Fate chef-owner Johnny Chu, who gives the lowdown on his soon-to-open downtown tapas and sake bar, Sens. Sign up for the weekly dish right here…
by Amy Silverman Ice, ice baby. Well, maybe not. I know ice is all any of us want, right about now, but beware. After my gross discovery last week, I decided to focus on ice and drinks (and the stuff that they come out of) as a theme this week…
By Michele Laudig Since so many restaurants are closed on Mondays, I keep a mental shortlist of my dining options for that tricky day of the week. And for that reason alone, Humble Pie’s already got solid status as an evergreen dining option. But now there’s another incentive to stop…
By Niki D’Andrea This is “Senor Agwa.” At parties acoss Europe and the U.K., he’s the face of Agwa De Bolivia Coca Leaf Liqueur, an imported alcoholic beverage made from coca leaves. You can read about Agwa’s arrival and buzz in the Valley in this week’s cover story, Liquid Blow?…
By Michele Laudig Remember Damon Brasch, the chef I profiled a few months ago? Well, I ran into him yesterday at That’s A Wrap, his CenPho restaurant, and got the latest update on The Center Bistro, the in-house organic eatery at Tempe’s I Am The Center yoga studio. Turns out,…
In yesterday’s Meal Ticket newsletter, we spoke to Chef/owner Robert Gonzalez about his new restaurant Babaloo’s Cuban Cafe in Ahwatukee. We incorrectly identified the location as the corner of 44th St. and Chandler Blvd. The correct address for Babaloo’s is 1241 E. Chandler Blvd., at Chandler Blvd. and the Desert…
By Michele Laudig The last couple of weeks have been pretty brutal — I can only hope that the monsoon season will bring us a break from the extreme heat. In the meantime, there’s at least a little relief, in the form of two new gelato shops that have recently…
By Michele Laudig If you’ve ever seen the kooky headlines I come up with for my restaurant reviews, you know I appreciate a little wordplay once in awhile. So I’m loving the name of Local First Arizona’s annual celebration of groovy local businesses: Independents Week, which runs June 30 through…
Photo credit: TracyKreck.com By Michele Laudig Friday night’s supposed to be the big night out at the end of the work week, but half the time I feel so frazzled I’d rather be a couch potato, snarf down a pizza, and crack open a bottle of Three Buck Chuck. Chef…
Call me a shopaholic. I didn’t realize I had a thing for grocery stores until I sat down to write this column, reflecting on how strolling the aisles of brightly lit supermarkets has been such a relaxing pastime over the years. As a kid, I had fun shopping with my…
By Michele Laudig The latest installment of Meal Ticket — New Times’ weekly dining newsletter, out tomorrow — highlights Cuban flavors around town, where to go for a lavish five-course meal, and which local restaurants are offering special deals on dinner and wine. If you haven’t signed up for Meal…
by Amy Silverman I’m going to be brutally honest here. If they’d given the AIMS test when I was in school, that’s where I’d be today — in school. And if Maricopa County’s restaurant inspectors came to my own kitchen, I’d fail that test, too. But I’m damn glad we’ve…
