Chef Claudio Urciuoli Leaves Noble Eatery to Open New Restaurant

It’s been less than two years since well-known Valley chef Claudio Urciuoli opened the oven-focused Noble Eatery along with with baker and Noble Bread partner Jason Raducha. In that short time, the duo turned the former Stanley’s Sausage Building into one of the Valley’s hottest lunch destinations. But several weeks…

Tratto: A Bianco Restaurant Without Pizza? Not To Worry

If you take even a passing interest in Arizona’s culinary scene, you know the name Chris Bianco, the self-made pizzaiolo and restaurateur whose handicraft and devotion to quality ingredients has singlehandedly made Phoenix, of all places, synonymous with world-class pizza. Bianco’s pizza has been lauded as one of the best…

Macayo’s on Central Moving Across the Street in 2017

It’s official: Macayo’s on Central Avenue will be moving across Indianola Avenue to reopen in the first quarter of 2017,  creating a Midcentury Modern location in a repurposed auto shop. To certain groups in central Phoenix, this is a big deal. This is the flagship location of Macayo’s, originally Woody’s Macayo,…

14 Phoenix Chefs on Restaurants They’d Like to Visit

Most of us have a restaurant bucket list. And, okay, some of the locations are fancier than others. But imagine you cook for a living — your list has gotta be impressive. From the usual suspects like Thomas Keller’s French Laundry and Per Se and Rene Redzepi’s Noma to spots…

Phoenix Rain Storm Affects Local Restaurants, Chefs Rally to Re-Open

Tuesday evening’s heavy rainstorms got Central Phoenix the worst – totaling 2.91 inches of rain and shutting down Interstate 17, flooding major and neighborhood streets, and causing some problems with local restaurants. Reports were popping up on Twitter last night about smoke coming from the Pizzeria Bianco location at Town…

Chef Interview: Dan Maldonado of Mucho Macho Taco in Central Phoenix

During more than a decade in the industry, Dan Maldonado has seen many sides of the commercial kitchen, starting as a prep cook and dishwasher at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion before becoming a sous chef at Moon Valley Country Club. He’s run his own restaurant, the now-defunct Tacos Atoyac, and most recently,  he’s…

July 2016 Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix

Restaurant openings slowed down in Phoenix last month, but new dining spots include a chicken salad joint and a Middle Eastern marketplace. And Old Town Scottsdale said farewell to The Upton, a new American restaurant that replaced the beloved Petite Maison a few years ago.  Openings The Whining Pig, Gilbert …

Creamistry Dazzles with Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Treats

The Guilty Pleasure: Liquid Nitrogen ice cream Where to Get It: Creamistry Price: $4.50-$8.50, not counting add-ons What it Really Costs: Your pants will definitely feel a bit tighter after one of these babies. Sadly, not even science can save you from that.  Made-from-scratch liquid nitrogen ice cream may not…