Oh My, Cibo’s New Breakfast Certainly Is Good

February might be the month that Cibo, the so-cute wine cafe and pizzeria in downtown Phoenix, unveils its expanded dining room, but until then, its tasty new breakfast can be enjoyed throughout the rest of its bungalow home. Available on weekends only, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and courtesy…

Nutwhats’ Lisa Rast: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

From now through Caramelpalooza — March 2 at Smeeks candy shop — Chow Bella will introduce you to the 17 chefs participating in the third annual caramel tasting. Today, meet Lisa Rast of NutWhats. For years, Lisa Rast has been mixing it up with cinnamon, walnuts, oats, almonds and a…

Churn’s Monica Castillo: Caramelpalooza Candymakers

Starting today, we’ve got some introductions to make. Meet our Caramalpalooza candymakers, starting with Monica Castillo of Churn. Castillo, who’s worked everywhere from the Parlor to the Valley Ho, is a pastry chef with a degree from Johnson and Wales College of Culinary Arts in Providence, Rhode Island. The hardest…

Macayo’s and Others Make Deep-Fried Push for Chimichanga as State Food

Since it started its advertising campaign last fall to crown the chimichanga as the state food of Arizona, Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, the Phoenix-based, family-owned chain with locations in Arizona and Las Vegas, is continuing its push to make the deep-fried creation official. The Republic reports that Macayo’s, along with the…

Sticky Toffee Pudding at St. Francis

Unless there’s something impossibly decadent on the menu, it’s hard to resist a classic Sticky Toffee Pudding. Sure, frosting can be great on a cake, but as far as toppings go, warm toffee sauce is a delicious and powerful competitor.

Windy City Favorite Mia Francesca Now Open at DC Ranch

On the heels of the news that Portillo’s is bringing its Chicago hot dogs, Italian Beef, and drool-worthy cake shakes to the Valley (woo-hoo!), another Windy City favorite has announced its foray into Arizona, as well. Known as the pioneer of the neighborhood trattoria and a Chicago institution for 20…

Jerk Hut Is Your New Favorite Jamaican Grill

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, some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened,…

AndyTalk: Why You Should Make Pizza From Scratch

YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA BECAUSE … IT’S FAST … Depending on your speed in the kitchen you can make a pizza, dough and all, in 60 to 90 minutes. That’s as long as it takes to get a pizza from a good place delivered on a busy night;…

Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill: More Standard Than Super Bowl

Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill in downtown Phoenix has seen almost as much history as the state of Arizona has. Originally the city morgue on Adams Street until namesake Tom Higley opened the business in 1929, the landmark tavern had been around for more than 80 years in various manifestations…

Make Your Own American Cheese, Inspired by Pinterest

One of the my favorite things about Pinterest is all the crazy stuff you find on it.  I like that you don’t have to go out of your way to look for it, it’s just always there.  But this is also one of the things I don’t like about Pinterest. …

Arizona Cocktail Week: Where We’ll Be Drinking

​We’ve got a big week ahead of us, fellow drinkers. Not only does this weekend mark the kickoff of the second annual Arizona Beer Week, but some geniuses got the bright idea to hold the first-ever Arizona Cocktail Week during the same period. We fear for our livers. But, troopers…

Tom’s Tavern Fumbles After Renovation

The thing to know about Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill is that after being on the brink of closing in 2010, it was rescued not by one of its primary clientele of local politicians and government movers and shakers, but by a far less likely source. Football. Arizona Cardinals football…

The Farm at South Mountain To Be Featured on The Bachelor

Love can be found in some strange places. At least, as my parents told me, that’s how I got my sister. TV love, however, at least in the form of The Bachelor, ABC’s reality series about a dude on a journey to find “true love,” happens in more sentimental spots…