Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. I may very well be one of the few Phoenicians who somehow has managed to avoid the social and…
Next month, the East Valley will get a taste of southern Arizona courtesy of the Bisbee Breakfast Club. The popular breakfast and lunch hangout, known for its lively atmosphere and generous portion sizes (see: three-egg omelets and loaded buttermilk pancakes), opened in a converted glass factory in 2005 in Bisbee…
The first words that go through my head when I think of my colleague Laura Hahnefeld are “class act.” Second: “Wow, that woman will eat anything.” The two most important qualifications for a restaurant critic, right? And so it is with heavy hearts that we at Phoenix New Times accepted…
This Valentine’s Day, Valley hop-heads will have one more reason to love the Valley’s brew scene: The Perch. The new gastropub comes courtesy of craft beer aficionado James Swann, who has dealt in adult libations at spots like Chandler’s SanTan Brewing Company (which he helped open), The Hungry Monk, and…
This is part two of our interview with chef James Porter of Petite Maison in Scottsdale. The restaurant underwent substantial changes two months ago, when Porter and his wife, Wendy, announced they’d be switching up the menu and décor to reflect more modern French sensibilities. On Monday, we chatted with…
Foosia, a “fresh, exotic, and healthy” fast-casual eatery where customers can watch their food being prepared Chipotle-style, is opening Monday, January 13, in North Scottsdale. From Scottsdale-based TIGA Restaurant Concepts, Foosia is located at 13610 North Scottsdale Road (Scottsdale and Thunderbird). The eats come courtesy of chef Bradley Borchardt, a…
James Porter Chef/Owner Petite Maison 480-991-6887 www.petitemaisonaz.com This is part one of our interview with chef James Porter of Petite Maison in Scottsdale. See part two here. In November, the restaurant underwent a reboot, changing its look, menu, and name to transition the restaurant into a “modern French” eatery. At…
I’m so excited that I’m doing the gluten-free happy dance. Jewel’s Bakery & Café, where everything is gluten-free — and I mean everything — has opened at 4041 East Thomas Road, so very, very close to my house. I’ve been waiting, and not very patiently. A couple of times, I…
Cave Creek Balloon Festival Saturday, January 4 The fifth-annual Cave Creek Balloon Festival will bring glowing hot air balloons to the Rancho Mañana Golf Course. The event, organized in part by Tonto Bar and Grill, will include live music, food, cocktails, beer, and wine. Food vendors will include The Buffalo…
At Sunnyslope’s Let It Roll Bowl, the days of mole and tlayudas sharing the same space as strikes and spares is no more. Last month, Oaxaca Restaurant, the Mexican eatery inside the vintage bowling alley at 8925 North 12th Street, pulled up stakes, moving into a new space in North…
Royal Coffee Bar, owner and architect Hayes McNeil’s shop of expertly made espresso drinks and fresh pastries, has come to downtown Phoenix — again. Originally opened in 2006 at Second Avenue and Jackson Street, Royal eventually moved to downtown’s Phoenix Public Market, where it shared space with the Phoenix Urban…
If you were just thinking to yourself how fast the past year flew by, wait until you check out our list of the year’s restaurant openings and closings. Can you believe it’s been 10 months since we welcomed Doug Robson’s Otro Cafe onto the scene? And a whole year since…
Grabbing a candy bar is always one of the tastiest ways to get a little burst of energy. For a serious jolt, the Caramel Toffee Nut Mocha at Urban Beans in Central Phoenix has enough sweet ingredients to get you in high-energy mode and you’ll feel like you’re drinking a…
Listen up, Valley chefs, cooks, and caterers: Do you have the ability to make something out of nothing? Is your personality as memorable as your food? Do you know what the f*ck a grocery store is? If you answered yes to these questions, you could win up to $20,000 on…
Yep, 2014 is coming on strong. Might we suggest that taking a class on growing food or other earthy practices is easier than losing weight — and more fun, too. It might even help you get in shape. Here are several great classes to sign up for now with a…
In Chow Bella’s new comic, Wait or Die, we tell the stories of waiters and waitstaff from restaurants around the Valley. Submit your stories here: waitordie@newtimes.com — and be sure to let us know if you wish to remain anonymous…
Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. With the New Year now officially underway, it’s tough not to reflect on life lessons…
Welcome to “Schaefer,” in which Eric Schaefer — a local guy with a big (but discerning) appetite and a sense of humor to match — takes on the Phoenix food scene. For my last column of 2013, I’m sharing with you a secret. No, it’s nothing terribly earth-shattering or lascivious,…
The Guilty Pleasure: Fresh-Baked Buns on Six Dollar Thickburgers Where To Get It: Carl’s Jr. locations Valleywide Price: Five or six bucks What It Really Costs: These burgers hover around a thousand calories each. Good grief. Over the past year or two, the brass at Carl’s Jr. has made some…
What were we doing a year ago? We were waiting on news about that second restaurant from Citizen Public House owners Bernie Kantak, Andrew Fritz, and mixologist Richie Moe. And we didn’t know it yet, but were headed for a cold snap that would cost local farmers and restaurants thousands…
Set your DVRs to “lively roundtable restaurant discussions,” folks. The new season of Check, Please! Arizona, the Emmy Award-winning series in which Arizona food fans review locally owned restaurants, premieres at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 2, on KAET Channel 8. Hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath, the fourth…
Just over a month following the split between ex-Kai chef Michael O’Dowd and partner Ed Leclere of Vivid Lifestyle Concepts (VLC), Renegade in North Scottsdale has shuttered. First opened in May under the moniker Renegade by MOD, O’Dowd and Leclere’s restaurant featured an eclectic menu of re-invented foods from around…
