Welcome to Minervaland

Welcome to Minervaland. In Minervaland, all food is Mexican — or should be — and tostadas are easily consumed all the way through without breaking. Strawberry ice creams bars can be found on every corner, every cup of coffee is face-smackingly strong and is always served with a concha; those…

6 Don’t-Miss Events During AZ Cocktail Week: Feb 16-22

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Phoenix is becoming a bona-fide food-town, “becoming” (present progressive) being the operative word. Exhibit A, for your consideration: the second annual Arizona Cocktail Week, a seven-day series of boozy events — some educational, others not so much — bringing some of…

Five Things to Eat and Drink this Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out what’s on our plate. See Also: Five Places to Eat, Drink and Celebrate for Mardi Gras in Metro Phoenix Aaron May Opens Over Easy Locations in Mesa and Gilbert Charcuterie Class and Tasting at…

Silver Linings Playbook and Dinner at Legends Sports Bar

While a jumbo tub of hot buttered popcorn is one of our most frequently indulged guilty pleasures, we think a good movie deserves a little better company than junk food. Try out our movie and meal pairings for yourself or feel free to suggest one of your own favorites in…

Five Easy Dishes Made with Egg Roll Wrappers

See Also: –Andytalk: Why You Should Make Pizza From Scratch –AndyTalk: Attack of the Hot Tomatoes I like to say that the Chinese and the Italians have an ongoing feud. Did Marco Polo bring pasta to the Chinese, or did he bring it back from China to Italy? Ever since…

Coffee Academy in Tempe Offers Courses for the Aspiring Barista

Coffee nerds, listen up. Did you know there’s a coffee academy with ties to the Specialty Coffee Association of Europe operating in Valley? Well there is, in Tempe to be exact. And the International Barista Coffee Academy is the only certified coffee school for SCAE in the Americas. If you’re…

Arizona Biltmore Hires Gordon Maybury as New Executive Chef

After five years at the helm, Todd Sicolo, executive chef at the Arizona Biltmore, left for the Royal Palms late last October. He accepted the executive chef position vacated by Lee Hillson, who had moved to The Phoenician to become executive sous last August. Now the position vacated by Sicolo…

Suds (Mostly) Trump the Grub at Brat Haus

Art lovers have Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights, Springsteen (and Jerry Maguire) fans have their “Secret Garden,” but when it comes to a place where malted barley is cultivated like the most delicate of seedlings, a beer garden may be the one place nearly every hophead craves a romp…

Aaron May Opens Over Easy Locations in Mesa and Gilbert

When chef-restaurateur Aaron May and his partner-dad Brad opened the first Over Easy in 2007 in a former Taco Bell on 40th Street, they had an instant hit on their hands. Even though they’d added on a small shaded patio — bigger than the restaurant’s interior — they still had…

Rocket Burger & Subs Offers Soda Heaven

The Guilty Pleasure: The Wall of Soda Where to Get It: Rocket Burger & Subs, 35th Ave and Cactus Price: $1.99 (or $9.95 for a six-pack) 
What It Really Costs: Go ahead and schedule that dentist visit now. Everyone has their preferred bad-for-you vice. Some people can’t live without a…

Five Tips for Making DIY Fortune Cookies

Ever since I saw these on Pinterest several months ago, I knew they would be perfect for Valentine’s Day. I’m not much of a celebrator, I don’t expect (nor would I want) diamonds, or anything of the sort, but I do like the idea of giving friends, family, and all…

Crêpe Bar Hosts Oscar-Themed ASU Film Center Benefit

Tasty crêpes and even more delicious celebrity gossip from Hollywood’s golden age finally come together in a night to benefit ASU’s Center for Film, Media and Popular Culture at the “Dishing On Oscar: Award Tales with Taste” event. The best part is that it’s all happening at one of our…

Where Do You Side on the Tasting Menu Debate?

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. Vanity Fair food writer Corby Kummer likened them to a form of culinary dictatorship. New…

10 Best Things I Ate in January

Like a lot of folks in the Valley, I was stricken by germs of the nastiest nature this month (so many hot toddies and TV). See also: The 10 Best Things I Ate in 2012 But despite the lingering ailments, I still managed to find some great eats for January…