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. So, here's a recap of some of the top stories from the week that you may have missed.
10 Best Burritos in Metro Phoenix
The burrito is America's Mexican food, and here in Phoenix, we're lucky to have some of the nation's best -- fresh, flavorful, and more often than not, fearsome in size.
Chicken burrito at Asadero Norte de Sonora
The chicken burrito at Asadero Norte de Sonora is refreshing on every level. First, there's the way in which your burrito is served, following a complimentary cup of frijoles a la charra as well as chips and salsa. Then there's the burrito itself, which is 100 percent fresh -- green guacamole, crisp cabbage, light sauce, and chopped rotisserie chicken with the skin on. Contrary to most garnishments, the cucumber slices, radishes, lime, and grilled jalapeño accompanying your burrito actually complement the dish rather than simply offer up aesthetic. But the most refreshing thing of all about this burrito turned multi-course meal? It's only $5. Five.
Check out our complete list of 10 burritos that remind you why you choose to live in Arizona.
--Katie Johnson
Wynkoop Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout: A Beer With Balls
This week's beer comes to us from Denver, Colo., where the rarefied air does things to a person's brain and makes the softball-sized gonads of your average male cow look like a tasty treat. Bull testicles, or Rocky Mountain Oysters, can be found all over the place in Colorado -- at Rockies games, even -- but had stayed out of beer until October 2012, when Wynkoop Brewing Co. decided they would sack up and make a brew using the delicate delicacy. Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout, which Wynkoop spokesman Marty Jones calls "another seminal moment in our 25 years of small-batch liquid art," made its way into cans (sold in two-packs, of course) last week.
Read the full brew review of Wynkoop Rocky Mountain Oyster Stout here.
--Zachary Fowle
Kevin Binkley Opens Bink's Midtown in Phoenix
Bink's Midtown, the restaurant from James Beard Award-nominated chef Kevin Binkley, opened this week in the former Sophie's Bistro space on Osborn.
And (bonus), the offerings from the chef-owner of the sophisticated Binkley's Restaurant, in Cave Creek, and the more casual Café Bink, in Carefree, are affordable.
Bink's Midtown's opening night was Wednesday, March 20, (dinner-only until March 25) with Binkley's Restaurant sous chef Justin Olsen heading up the kitchen, according to the Republic.
--Laura Hahnefeld
4 Phoenix-Area Chefs to Watch and What Their Big-Name Bosses Say About Them
If you're any kind of food geek at all, you're already familiar -- by fork and good press -- with local celebrity chefs such as Chrysa Robertson, Chris Bianco, Kevin Binkley, Greg LaPrad and Charleen Badman. But what you're far less likely to know are the names and faces of the behind-the-scenes chefs and cooks who help make it all happen, the unsung heroes who keep their heads down and work while their bosses get all the glory.
Here are four kitchen warriors and rising stars you ought to know.
--Nikki Buchanan
Pallets, a Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese Restaurant, Opens on Roosevelt Row
The once-vacant Canvas building, located on the northeast corner of Third and Roosevelt Streets in Phoenix, is showing some signs of life.
Last weekend, the second location of Scratch Pastries, Duc and Noelle Liao's patisserie and café in Scottsdale, opened its doors as did Pallets Food and Bar, a new, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night spot featuring Vietnamese, Chinese, and Japanese food.
Here's what diners can expect.
--Laura Hahnefeld
