It’s no secret that the advent of the light rail has invigorated the downtown dining and nightlife scenes. Downtown used to be a concrete jungle catering to the 9-to-5 crowd, but has increasingly branched out to lure in Valley residents to eat, drink and be merry after hours. This interest…
The Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery is the latest business to sign on with the CityScape project, joining 14 other eateries in the works. This suburban chain with locations in Tempe, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Peoria will make the jump to Phoenix proper in the fall of 2010. The Tilted Kilt…
Each year, Taco Bell brings back its Bacon Club Chalupa. Then, after altering our lives forever, quietly discontinues it. Some might say it’s TB’s way of creating excitement (a la the McRib) to Bell-bitin’ fans eagerly anticipating the next wave of bacon-style chalupa-mania. But methinks the Bell’s painted themselves into a…
This, friends, is a different kind of chicken and waffles. It was a bit of surprise to see them on this Phoenix hot spot’s menu, but we’re glad we did. Served with a healthy side of syrup and coleslaw, this dish should tide us over for quite some time. Can…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
The bumper sticker on our car should read “Caution, this vehicle stops suddenly for outdoor markets.” On a recent Sunday in Sunnyslope, we took a sharp right into the parking lot shared by Central Slope, a sustainable living store, Bomberos Cafe and Winebar, and Neilson Galleries. Carol Blonder Central…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
Ana Borrajo of Sapna Cafe has lived in Phoenix long enough to know that come July we are ready for something, anything cool. Her recipe for Gazpacho Andaluz definitely hits the spot! It’s healthy, it’s simple, and you don’t even have to turn on the stove. See the recipe for…
What’s on your summer reading list? This week, Chow Bella contributors will answer that question with reviews of the food-related books we’ve read lately. If you have a recommendation for us, please leave it in the comment section. Today’s selection: Ratio by Michael Ruhlman. Part of simplifying my life has…
>Suffering from burger boredom? The fast-food joints are. Since last year, they’ve been banishing their buns in lieu of toast, delivering melted fare to the masses, waving the “Hey, look at me! I’m different!” flag. Enter the melt. The patty melt, the grilled melt, the meat and cheese melt. Whatever…
If you can’t change the burger, change the bun. That’s seemingly been the mantra of the many fast-food chains that have, since last year, banished their buns in lieu of toast, delivering a menu of melted fare to those suffering from burger boredom. Is the melt mode here to stay?…
When chef Doug Robson opened his hip, contemporary Mexican spot Gallo Blanco Cafe a little more than a year ago, it was clear that he’d nailed a prime location at the Clarendon Hotel. There, he could serve hungry hotel guests while also building the restaurant’s reputation as an appealing hangout…
Here is a quick look back at our new restaurant friends and the ones we unfortunately lost during the month of June. Lucky for us, the number of restaurants opening is still greater then the number lost. Open! Starlight Cuisine, AvondaleIndia Oven, MesaTwo Hippies Pizzaria, PhoenixCenturion, PhoenixRenegade Canteen, ScottsdaleSecreto, Ahwatukee…
Yesterday we spoke with Ana about the challenges of navigating a restaurant through a tight economy. Today we’ll pick up the conversation and get to know a little bit more about Ana and what she does when she’s not in the kitchen at Sapna. What is your favorite food? I…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
Though I may have some carnivorous tendencies (mmm…carne asada), occasionally I get an urge to get closer to Mother Nature via some fresh vegetables. When a salad just won’t do and a veggie burger seems too processed, there’s always the classic vegetarian sandwich — or as I like to call it, the Plantwich…
Locals have been drooling over the idea of a mega candy store ever since Ohio-based b.a. Sweetie Candy Company announced the impending opening of a new location in a Phoenix suburb. Drool no longer, folks. Sweeties Candy of Arizona opened this morning at 1050 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler. Planned hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
I can’t believe I went out and ate lunch before our blog meeting the other week — the day when a bunch of Chow Bella contributors showed up with brownies. What was I thinking? And yet, somehow I found room to try them all, complete with a big cup of…
See if you can guess today’s gadget and check back next week for the answer, and to see if you’ve won a most-awesome prize. Here are a few shots at this week’s trickster, add yours to the comment box below: – Penguin Armor – Silver Frosting Cake Icer – Silly…
I ate dinner with Joe Arpaio the other night. More specifically, my family and I ate dinner beneath a gigantic black and white photograph of Maricopa County’s sheriff, one of several “celebrity” photos lining a wall at The Grind. The Grind is strictly a burger joint (hailed in the July edition of Bon…
After the sad closing of Lola Tapas, we learned that no restaurant, no matter how amazing, is immune from a bad economy. That’s why we were relieved to find that despite the economic downturn Ana Borrajo, Chef and owner of Sapna Cafe remains optimistic about the future. And this is…
