The one thing about my job that I’ve been asked more than anything else is how I landed it in the first place. I’ve come up with many answers, but now I realize it’s something that still keeps me going. Curiosity. Five years ago, when I became the New Times…
Two barbecue festivals. One Saturday. WTF?!We completely understand that there are very few weather-appropriate weekends for festivals in the Valley, hence the abundance in March and April, but seriously, guys, you couldn’t maybe space it out by a week? To the uninformed, this definitely looks like a case of poor…
If you’re hungry between gallery shows on any given First or Third Friday on Roosevelt Row, be sure to check out the empty lot-turned-market that’ll debut April 1. (Not a fool’s day joke, we promise.) A.R.T.S. Market, is part of Roosevelt Row CDC’s greater Adaptive Re-use of Temporary Space (A.R.T.S.)…
If you haven’t already heard through the social media grapevine, tomorrow is the worldwide Twestival event — basically, a Tweetup for charity with food, drinks and a silent auction. The event started in 2009 and has spread to over 200 cities around the globe. This year’s Phoenix Twestival takes place…
Say shortbread and I immediately think not of Girl Scouts but of McVities. I was introduced to the Scottish digestive biscuits and shortbread when faced with the dorm food at a college in northern England for a semester. The meals for my day started with a decent English breakfast, but…
esterday we talked to Devin Walsh of Calistro California Bistro about some of what makes him unique as a chef. Today our conversation continues. While his culinary experiences may seem pretty wonderful, not every task was terrific. Walsh dealt with a whole lot of garbage — quite literally — during summers spent…
It’s no secret we’re sweet on Sweet Republic’s ice cream here at Chow Bella, and we know others are, too. Now co-owner Jan Wichayanuparp’s shared news of another fan. A big one. This Friday, March 25, the Food Network will be in Scottsdale to film a segment for “The Best Thing…
Courtesy of Devin Walsh Working alongside the likes of chefs like Eric Ripert has not jaded Devin Walsh of Calistro California Bistro in the slightest. In fact, he’s a humble guy, considering Walsh lived all over the world and cooked in metropolitan cities across the U.S. before landing as chef-owner Calistro in…
The signs for Oakville Grocery are up at Phoenix’s CityScape development, and according to the PR machine the store is “in its final phases of construction and design.” The California-based gourmet market shuttered the doors of its Scottsdale Quarter location this past January after a little over a year in…
The new fast casual “burgeria,” Coal Burger, opened its doors yesterday at Scottsdale Quarter. Rolled out by the group behind Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Coal Burger features natural grass fed beef burgers cooked in a coal fired brick oven (designed like the ovens used in the groups popular pizzerias) and served on…
Got some Girl Scout cookies in the pantry? So did we — hence, the Chow Bella Trefoil Showdown. I like to think of my food as the Iron Giant or Elephant Man — hideous monsters with a heart of gold. These sweet potato pancakes aren’t much to look at,…
City Market Deli opened yesterday at SkySong in south Scottsdale. Build-your-own omelets, breakfast burritos and sandwiches round out the breakfast menu along with a variety of Starbucks coffee drinks and teas. Lunch is really where this new restaurant could excel, because, for the most part, the SkySong area is seriously lacking in…
Of the six dirtiest eateries on Maricopa County’s latest restaurant-inspection list, three have the word “super” in their names. Call it a not-so-delicious irony. At the very bottom of the list of 1,086 food joints is the restaurant of La Mexicana Super Carniceria at 5045 West Thomas Road in Phoenix, where…
Did you know that McDonald’s restaurants offer a real lobster sandwich? Apparently, if you hit up the Golden Arches in New England or Eastern Canada, you’ll find the McLobster: a combination of questionable seafood chunks, mayo, tartar sauce and lettuce packed in an overrated hot dog bun. In early March,…
Got some Girl Scout cookies in the pantry? So did we — hence, the Chow Bella Trefoil Showdown. When the challenge was given to create something tasty using Trefoil (shortbread) Girl Scout Cookie, the stress was on. The question is to do something savory or something sweet, to totally transform…
The Lexington Hotel was an unexpected stop on the Art Detour route over the weekend, as the group behind Cycle, downtown Phoenix’s first pop-up restaurant, opened their doors for a secret opening. There was no kitchen unveiling or menu sampling during the event. Instead, Art Detour volunteers served up local…
Winter and early spring visits to the farmers markets around town have us obsessing about vegetable tarts. We started out thinking of the quintessential tomato pie, the kind we used to crave in the mid-west in August, brimming with juicy Big Boys and fresh-picked sweet summer corn. But this weekend…
Last night’s line up on Food Network’s All Stars Tournament Round 3 pitted Beau MacMillan against Nate Appleman, Anita Lo, and Jacques Torres. You all know Beau from elements at The Sanctuary, as Iron Chef winner besting Bobby Flay at his own American cuisine game, and Season 1 of Worst…
Film: Winter’s Bone (2010)Popcorn Alternative: Root Beer Glazed PopcornEntrée: Rabbit Stew with Bread and ButterBeverage: Beer or Root Beer See what we’re cookin’ after the jump…..
Yesterday we finished chatting up Patrick Boll of The Spotted Donkey Cantina ii and today he will guide us in putting together a super simple fish tostada. With the dog days of summer just nearly here, lighter fare incorporating fish just sounds all the more appetizing. This dish fits the…
There’s something about The Herb Box that makes me want to play hooky. As spring fever strikes with a vengeance after a fairly gloomy winter, it doesn’t take much to justify an extended lunch on the patio here. All it takes is an appetite. This new Old Town Scottsdale location…
Last Friday, locals craving a sugar rush lined up in the parking lot of Smeeks at Central and Camelback roads for Chow Bella’s second Caramelpalooza event. The judging is over, and a favorite was selected by both the audience and a judging panel — Essence Bakery’s delicious caramel macaron, served…
