Every week, there's a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you're like most people, you probably just don't have the time to get to all of it. It's kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won't all fit in your mouth ... or in this case, your day. So, here's a recap of some of the top stories from the week that you may have missed.
Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles' Big New Flagship Now Open for Business
For local success stories, few are as brilliant as that of Larry White. You probably know him better as Lo-Lo, as in Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles. He started out at his grandma's place, the legendary Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe. Then, in 2002, he started up his own place in a small converted house south of downtown Phoenix.
In the ten years since, White opened a second location in Scottsdale, and long ago outgrew the original 1,000 square-foot location. This past Wednesday, the little house quietly served its last customers. Three days later, a shiny new location opened right next door to the old place.
See our first visit to Lo-Lo's new diggs.
--JK Grence
18 Fall Food Festivals in Metro Phoenix
It's safe. You can come out now. It's September. And while temperatures may still hover uncomfortably for a bit, we feel fall in the air -- and that means outdoor festivals with lots to eat and drink. So get out your calendar (or your smart phone) and jot down the dates for these must-do events. And keep an eye out for our Oktoberfest round-up, coming soon.
Read the full list of Fall festivals in the Phoenix area.
--Rebekah Zemansky
A Downtown Phoenix Wish List: Maple Bacon Donuts and Eight Other Things We Desperately Need
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Downtown Phoenix is coming into its own. We've been hearing that fairytale for years now. Shall we talk about all the places we've lost -- Oakville, Sens, Vitamin T, Urban Grocery, Roosevelt Tavern and whatever else I'm forgetting? While it's true that the center of our city finally has a discernible pulse (thanks in large part to ASU's downtown campus), it still has some great big gaping holes in the food and drink department.
--Nikki Buchanan
Owners of The Grind to Open Second Location in North Scottsdale
The original location of The Grind, the restaurant named one of the 10 Best New Burger Spots in the United States by Bon Appétit Magazine shortly after it opened in Arcadia in 2010, will be getting a second location in the Greyhawk area of North Scottsdale this September. But the second burger spot isn't the first new venture this year from restaurateurs Allen and Traci Thompson. They opened Chick Rotisserie & Wine Bar (right next door to The Grind) in March and Mad G's Grill & Tavern in Tempe in June.
With so many restaurant openings in the last few months, are the Thompsons overextending themselves?
--Laura Hahnefeld
Freeze-Dried Scrambled Eggs, Emergency Toilets and More at the Honeyville Farms Store in Chandler
There are quite a few hidden gems in Chandler, not the least of which might be this non-descript office-building-looking retail store located just off the I-10 at Chandler Boulevard. They sell food storage supplies; freeze-dried foods; hard-to-find whole grains, cereals and seeds; and emergency preparedness supplies such as sun ovens, water purification supplies and hygiene kits.
From camping to solar cooking, baking or just getting ready for the end of the world there really is something for everyone at the Honeyville Farms retail store. Because everyone has some need for freeze-dried scrambled eggs and bacon or emergency toilets.
Right? Read on to see if they have something you might need.
--Lauren Saria
Don't forget to check out Chow Bella's continuing list of 100 Tastemakers.
