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. In case you hadn’t figured it out by now, I’m Jewish. What that really means is that in between…
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…
What? Not done with your holiday shopping? Yeah, neither are we. But we’ve been making lists — and checking them twice — and we’ve got some suggestions for the nice people on your list. Today, Chow Bella’s Gift Guide for the home gardener…
This week the Valley welcomed its first Snooze, an A.M. Eatery. The Colorado-based breakfast restaurant chain specializes in creative takes on breakfast classics with seasonal menu changes and an ever-changing Pancake of the Day. Today, we’re sharing the second half of our chat with Joe Strelnik and Tyson Holzheimer, co-executive…
Mutton chukka is a dish that gives little in the way of apologies. Uncompromisingly brash, it refuses to be coddled. Its rough-looking appearance, a haphazard array of braised then fried hunks of lamb, bay and curry leaves, and red onion slices, shuns any ideals of culinary charm. Pitiless in the…
Scratch Pastries owners Duc and Noelle Liao are looking forward to the New Year, especially in light of what happened in this one. In June, following problems with investors concerning their second location (Scratch French Cafe, located in the former Canvas space on Roosevelt Row), the husband-and-wife team declared bankruptcy…
Tyson Holzheimer and Joe Strelnik Co-Executive Chefs Snooze, an A.M. Eatery www.snoozeeatery.com If the food at Snooze, an A.M. Eatery is as fun, thoughtful, and well-balanced as its two executive chefs, then Phoenix certainly is in for a treat. Tyson Holzheimer, the quieter (though no less zealous when it comes…
Good news: Week two (my week three) of the 21-(now 28)day cleanse was confidence-building and filling. After repeating the first week of the Fresh Start, 21-day cleanse from SimpleGreenSmoothies.com, moving to the second-week menu and getting some more variety was rewarding. In week two, the plan adds oats. (Make sure…
After nine years, a dispute with the landlord caused Carefree Station, located in Carefree’s Spanish Village, to shutter in October. But as of next week, Carefree Station’s owners Robert and Linda Gabrick (who also own Prescott Station) will start anew with Scottsdale Station, their restaurant of globally inspired cuisine located…
Get ready, because there are going to a lot of hot new places to park yourself these next few days. Earlier this week, Gilbert’s newest Mexican restaurant Isabel’s Amor opened its doors. The restaurant comes courtesy of the owners of Poncho’s and Someburrosand features cocktails from none other than the…
After four years, Petite Maison is upping its game — French Modern-style. The charming French restaurant in Old Town Scottsdale from chef James Porter and his wife, Wendy, is relaunching as Petite Maison Modern French, a transition that will include an updated logo, a redesign of the restaurant, and a…
Cue the hippies, peace signs, and sitars (mood-altering drugs optional), because restaurateur Sam Fox, CEO of Fox Restaurant Concepts, has announced the name of his newest restaurant concept: Flower Child. Nation’s Restaurant News reports that the healthy fast-casual concept and “second cousin” to True Food (Fox’s chain of healthful restaurants)…
What? Not done with your holiday shopping? Yeah, neither are we. But we’ve been making lists — and checking them twice — and we’ve got some suggestions for the nice people on your list. Today, Chow Bella’s Gift Guide for the Gluten-Free Eater. The holidays are a time of feasting:…
Chef Michael O’Dowd and partner Ed Leclere, founders of Vivid Lifestyle Concepts (VLC), the company they started this spring after O’Dowd left as executive chef at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, have called it quits. Under VLC, O’Dowd and Leclere, a former Harley-Davidson promotions director, opened North Scottsdale’s Renegade by MOD…
Barrio Queen already stays open until midnight Tuesday through Saturday. But the modern Mexican restaurant’s owner and chef, Silvana Salcido Esparza, is taking the late-night scene in Old Town Scottsdale one step further: by staying open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. “Scottsdale has a weekend nightlife and not…
At first glance, you might think you could run Grassroots Kitchen & Tap yourself. You’d be wrong — and therein lies the genius of this North Scottsdale restaurant. What seems obvious about the place is really a kind of deceptive simplicity. Look closer and you’ll find the approachability of this…
Vegetable Literacy for Thanksgiving Saturday, November 23 Any good host or hostess knows that sides are no mere backup singers to the giant, golden turkey on the Thanksgiving table. They’re stars, too. But serving the perfect side dishes means dealing with vegetables, which can be a make-it-or-break-it situation with picky…
Heads up, Spinato’s fans: your pizzeria just got supersized. The family-owned local chain that’s been making old-school Chicago-style pies in the Valley just shy of 40 years has announced their newest location, a 10,000-square-foot space at 5509 North 7th Street in Central Phoenix (7th Street and Missouri), will officially open…
If you’re looking for a hearty, stick-to-the-ribs hangover cure, look no further than a nice, hot plate of poutine. The Canadian classic post-bar snack hasn’t quite taken roots in the Valley yet, but a few local spots like Petite Maison and Rose & Crown offer the dish for the culinarily…
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. For people with celiac disease, ingesting just a little bit of gluten (a protein in…
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…
At first glance, you might think you could run Grassroots Kitchen & Tap yourself. You’d be wrong — and therein lies the genius of this North Scottsdale restaurant. When you walk in, you’re not surprised to see that it’s a pleasant place, an open, welcoming room of muted tones, oversize…
