You know you probably have entered a good place for authentic Eastern European fare when the cashier greets you with words steeped in a heavy Ukranian accent. You’re further reassured when a peek into the partially exposed kitchen shows three unmistakably European women, one of whom belongs in an idyllic…
The Uptown Farmers Market has a convenient new vendor: the Veggie Valet. The Valet is a project of the Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP, for short), which provides high school students with job training in the culinary industry…
According to a post on the restaurant’s Facebook page on Monday, chef Johnny Chu’s Central Phoenix restaurant Sochu House has closed. The restaurant served neo-Asian cuisine, including many dishes originally made popular at the chef’s previous downtown Phoenix restaurant, Sens. Chu, who was born in Hong Kong and has opened…
Deliverance came at the end of dinner at Steak 44, by way of a memorable and tasty dessert. Nearly everything else up until then, during my initial visit, had been a disappointment. Located in the former Cork ‘n’ Cleaver site at 44th Street and Camelback Road, Steak 44 is the…
San Francisco has Ferry Building Marketplace. New York’s got Chelsea Market. Until now, Phoenix hasn’t had a central dining hub and grocery to call its own. Shawn Connelly intends to change that on April 11, when the DeSoto Central Market opens its doors to the public. Located on Roosevelt and…
Last night at Livewire in Scottsdale, the Scottsdale League for the Arts recognized some of the state’s top culinary talent at the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame awards ceremony. The award categories included Chef of the Year, Restaurateur of the Year, and Beverage Master of the Year, among others, with…
The aroma of spices hits you as you walk in the door of the Middle Eastern Bakery and Deli in central Phoenix — as well as the scent of freshly made desserts. This small counter-service restaurant and market serves all kinds of main dishes, but they put dessert first in…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
When the Arizona Diamondbacks take the field for the 2015 season opener on Monday, April 6, attendees will have a slew of new dining options to explore at Chase Field. We already told you about the D-backs’ newest creation, the Churro Dog, but it turns out the over-the-top dessert is…
For more than 40 years, Greasewood Flat in Scottsdale has attracted a diverse crowd of cowboys, bikers, and tourists looking to get a taste of the Old West. Sadly, at the end of the month, the restaurant and bar at 27375 North Alma School Parkway will close its doors for…
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You already may have seen the sign in the window of the building at 220 East Roosevelt Street in downtown Phoenix, but, according to Troy Watkins, it’s going to be a few more months until the newest restaurant on Roosevelt Row is ready to open its doors. Called The Dressing…
Salsa Festival Saturday, March 28 This weekend, head to Maricopa for the city’s 11th annual Salsa Festival, during which salsa chefs compete for prizes including a grand prize of $1,000. The event will be held at Copper Sky Regional Park from 3 to 7 p.m. and will feature live entertainment…
‘Tis the season for Community Supported Agriculture! If you love great produce and supporting local farmers (and who doesn’t?!), then this list is for you…
The Guilty Pleasure: The Sriracha Quesarito Where to Get It: Taco Bell, duh Price: Roughly $3, depending on your choice of meat. What it Really Costs: Your pride of not eating Taco Bell for dinner, a little bit of your love for sriracha, and possibly a plumbing bill. Well, they…
The third annual Check, Please! Arizona (co-sponsored by New Times) was a crowded success, with shade, trash cans, and seats at a premium. What wasn’t hard to find was good food. We had trouble narrowing it to our five favorites, but that’s what we’ve done here…
This morning, the James Beard Foundation announced the list of finalists of the annual James Beard Foundation Awards. The short list of chefs, bartenders, restaurants, and restaurateurs comes about a month after the foundation announced a long list of nominees back in February. This year, chef Kevin Binkley of Binkley’s…
A young friend of mine is sad that the stack of pancakes with the whipped-cream smile she used to order from the IHOP at Apache and Mill is part of her past, now. The former pancake house disappeared when its host, the Twin Palms Hotel, was shuttered last year. But…
Harold Marmulstein Executive chef, partner Salty Sow 4801 East Cactus Road 602-795-9463 saltysow.com It’s not every day a chef gets to cook at the illustrious James Beard House in New York City. But in a few weeks, chef Harold Marmulstein will cross the country to present his food at the…
Breaking news: Rehab Burger Therapy in Old Town Scottsdale is dishing up pot brownies. Well, not quite. Medicinal marijuana may be legal in Arizona, but pot’s still off the menu at your local dining establishment…
Every year when the citrus comes in, we think we’ll never be able to get enough of the sweet, tart fruit. Oranges fresh off the tree. Meyer lemon everything. Bruleed grapefruit. But then citrus season keeps on keepin’ on, and suddenly we’re out of ideas. Folks with fruit trees begin…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
