Since opening in December, The Clever Koi has quickly become a favorite spot for inventive modern Asian cuisine. We’ve rated the happy hour, given our first impressions, and reviewed the whole menu. And just this week, the restaurant introduced a lunch menu to the mix, with affordable — if limited…
As we reported Wednesday, Phoenix-based Hispanic retailer Pro’s Ranch Market was sold for $55 million earlier this week to a California-based company — an LLC made up of two other supermarket chains. The family-owned Pro’s Ranch Market declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy last June, saying that the bad economy and negative…
Though the origin of ceviche is disputed, it’s likely that the dish comes from the South American country of Peru. This dish, which is made by curing raw seafood or fish in citrus juices, has been popular in South America for years, with nearly every country offering its own take…
For more than two decades, Voltaire in Scottsdale served the same menu of classic French-inspired fare. Dishes like Beef bourguignon, oysters Rockefeller, and Duck a l’orange stayed, while restaurants elsewhere worked to incorporate buzzy concepts like “organic,” “free range,” and “all-natural” into the mix. But in August, the restaurant reopened…
I’m a longtime food truck fan, from way before food trucks were cool. During college in Hawaii, I regularly ate out of trucks parked on the Manoa campus. I ordered what Hawaiians call “plate lunches”: an entrée served with two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad. It…
Strong Beer Festival Saturday, February 15 This weekend kicks off both Arizona Beer Week and Arizona Cocktail Week (really, organizers? Do we have to do this every year?), so as you can imagine, there’s a whole lot of drinking to do. On Saturday, beer lovers will want to hit the…
It’s got to be tough for gluten-free diners to have to watch their brunch companions dig into pancakes, waffles, and biscuits and gravy while they stick to eggs, bacon, and a mimosa (or two, to ease the pain). Well, suffer no longer gluten-freers because Jewel’s Bakery and Cafe in Phoenix…
There’s no kidding about kidding, it’s serious business. Does give birth to one and two kids in one kidding — and so, it’s all hands on deck at The Simple Farm, where kidding season lasts from mid-January through February. Eventually, the little ladies born will assist in making the milk…
For years, Chakra 4 has been a hidden treasure for healthy and vegan diners. The restaurant is located in Town & Country Shopping Center, which recently benefited from the addition of a new Whole Foods Market and several restaurants. Soon the tea shop, herbal store, and restaurant will join the…
The Guilty Pleasure: New limited-edition Oreo flavors. Where To Get It: Your favorite grocery store. Price: About $3 a box. What it Really Costs: Can you resist the thought of cookie dough flavor Oreos? I have to admit, the folks at Nabisco know what they’re doing with marketing the century-old…
On Monday, two California-based Hispanic retailers reached an agreement in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to acquire Phoenix-based Pro’s Ranch Markets. The Pro’s Ranch Market chain includes seven stores in Arizona, two in New Mexico, and two in Texas. As we told you in June, the family-owned company filed for Chapter 11…
This is part two of our interview with Sasha Raj, owner of 24 Carrots in Tempe. The Arizona State University graduate started 24 Carrots as a juice bar more than five years ago and since has grown the business into a full restaurant and bakery. On Monday, she dished on…
Somewhere along the way, Phoenix became a pizza town. New York has its thin crust and Chicago’s got deep dish, but authentic, locally sourced Neapolitan-style pizza has become a readily available staple in the Phoenix dining world. There’s Pizzeria Bianco, of course, but others, like Nook, Cibo, Pomo, and The…
Halfway through a recent meal at the Brooklyn Cafe, I turned to my guest and asked, “Is this food as good as I think it is?” I hadn’t been expecting greatness. The Brooklyn Cafe is the new name of a restaurant previously known as Voltaire, which had been in the…
Tempe residents won’t have to go far to find fresh, local produce year-round thanks to a new farmers market that will launch next month. The Tempe Community Market will be held on Sunday mornings year-round at 620 North Mill Avenue, under the Mill Avenue bridge…
Sadhana “Sasha” Raj 24 Carrots Chef, owner 480-753-4411 www.24carrotsjuice.com…
Amy’s Baking Company has a new neighbor that serves healthy eats rather than a healthy dose of straight-up crazy. Open for about five weeks, Grabbagreen offers all-natural foods in a fast-casual setting. Diners can choose from breakfast bowls, fresh juices, smoothies, as well as hot and cold entrees. The restaurant,…
The Guilty Pleasure: Poutine Where To Get It: Trader Joe’s, locations Valleywide Price: $3.99 What It Really Costs: Good news: Only 200 calories a serving. Bad news: One bag is almost six servings. I love the frozen food section at Trader Joe’s. There’s almost always an entrée or two from…
The most recent addition to the cluster of dining spots at the intersection of Campbell and 40th Street is Ingo’s Tasty Food, a round, metal-and-brick building in which chef Dom Ruggerio crafts truly tasty hamburgers. The restaurant, named after the childhood music teacher of one of LGO’s owners, offers diners…
Sunnyslope’s breakfast spot Scramble is ready to woo Scottsdale residents with its second location at the Marketplace at Scottsdale & Lincoln. Beginning Monday, February 10, Scramble’s Scottsdale location will serve breakfast, lunch, and (unlike its sister restaurant) booze. Scramble will be the first of three restaurants to open at the…
Devour Bartending Competition Sunday, February 9 We still have a while to wait (sigh) until Devour comes around, but you can get your first taste of the culinary action this weekend, when the state’s up-and-coming and established bartenders go head to head during the fifth annual Devour Bartending Competition. The…
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…
