I worked in the specialty coffee world for almost a decade before retiring to the blogosphere. If there’s one thing I learned during that time, it’s that there is a massive language barrier between cafes and coffee drinkers. As with any other industry, coffee comes with its own vocabulary of…
Yesterday a Phoenix resident took to social media with a serious accusation against one of the Valley’s most famous restaurants. Last night Pane Bianco responded on its Facebook page and today chef Chris Bianco spoke about the matter with Chow Bella. Jeffrey Peterson, a technology entrepreneur and investor, posted on…
Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing some of our favorite food folks’ “Personal Best” lists. This year we’re bringing back our list of 100 Favorite Dishes. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments…
In 2013, Pomo Pizzeria made two big moves. After losing their space at The Borgata in Scottsdale (the entire shopping center is being demolished to make room for condos), Pomo opened a new restaurant in downtown Phoenix. Then, in October, the restaurant group relocated to an ambitious new Scottsdale location…
Just in time for football season, CenPho is getting a new bar and grill equipped with a 120-by-65-inch dual projector. That means we predict a lot of you will be spending sometime in front of the big screen at Wild Game Sports Grill this fall, and who could blame you?…
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…
Earlier this year we raved about the beautiful new spot that opened up inside Sam Fox’s The Yard. Lola Coffee, a second location of the well-loved downtown coffee shop owned by Daniel Wayne, brought fancy coffee offerings, Spanish tapas, and a sleek design to the table. But after about six…
Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing some of our favorite food folks’ “Personal Best” lists. This year we’re bringing back our list of 100 Favorite Dishes. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments…
Students and professors: If you love to grab a venti java chip Frappuccino before heading into the lecture hall, you’re in luck. Starbucks is testing out its new mobile trucks at Arizona State University just two months after the company announced plans to reimburse tuition for certain employees through the…
Taste Talavera: Backwards! Saturday, August 23 This weekend Talavera at the Four Seasons Resort in Scottsdale is breaking your mom’s rule about no dessert before dinner. The upcoming installment of the restaurant’s Taste Talavera dinner series is called Backwards! and will offer a menu that turns the traditional idea of…
Get excited Lux patrons. One of central Phoenix’s most popular spots at which to eat, drink, and be seen is opening up a second location in downtown Phoenix. Although currently in the early stages of development (construction has yet to begin), the new location will be called Lux Commonwealth and…
Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing some of our favorite food folks’ “Personal Best” lists. This year we’re bringing back our list of 100 Favorite Dishes. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments…
A popular new spot in the Ahwatukee foothills is opening up a second location after less than a year. The Perfect Pear Bistro will open in Tempe later next month, bringing its “new American comfort food” and bistro eats to the corner of Priest Drive and Ray Road…
Add yet another local restaurant to the list of places going for a rebrand this summer. Every time we turn around, it seems another spot has gotten a face lift and a new name. This time, it’s The Sushi Room in Chandler’s turn to change things. The restaurant, which opened…
Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing some of our favorite food folks’ “Personal Best” lists. This year we’re bringing back our list of 100 Favorite Dishes. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments…
We’re going behind the scenes and getting up close and personal with some of the Valley’s favorite chefs, learning what it takes to make one of their best-known dishes. Welcome to The Trail. It’s hard not to smile when you walk into Crepe Bar in Tempe. Everything from the walls…
For years, Mabel’s on Main was a go-to spot in Scottsdale for a well-crafted cocktail you could enjoy in a dramatic, high-style atmosphere. The dark wooden bar, leather banquettes, and hidden private room (or didn’t you know about that already?) made it a one-of-a-kind spot in Old Town. Now chef-partner…
For every year that my palate matures, two more bad experiences come to my plate. Though most of us would not claim to be picky eaters, we have to admit we’ve all suffered some form of culinary trauma. Like any sour encounter of my life, my best is not to…
Entering Cyclo for the first time, you’ll notice one thing before anything else: owner Justina Duong. On a recent summer evening, she’s wearing a flowered maxi dress, dramatic false eyelashes, and a hip pixie cut. Her elegance appears effortless, like she’s a guest herself. She immediately starts talking to a…
Last year we marked the hundred day countdown to Best of Phoenix by sharing some of our favorite food folks’ “Personal Best” lists. This year we’re bringing back our list of 100 Favorite Dishes. Have a suggestion for a dish you’d like us to try? Leave it in the comments…
The Chef: James Porter The Restaurant: Petite Maison The Animal: Octopus The Dish: Grilled octopus Maybe there’s something in the air or maybe octopus is just on trend right now, but for whatever reason we’ve noticed several restaurants around town have added the cephalopod mollusc to their menus. It’s a…
For this week’s Grind column, I decided to walk into a coffee shop I had never been to, ask for a recommendation, and review it. This was clearly the best decision I have ever made, because it led me to discover the Dank-Dank (pronounced Daynk-Uh-Daynk). This secret off-menu gem is…
