Book Week: “Medium Raw” by Anthony Bourdain

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: Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and…

Now Open: Sweeties Candy

​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…

Zipp’s Sports Grill: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Zipp’s Sports Grill (one of seven locations across the valley) 3647 E Indian School Rd, 602-957-2112 http://www.zipps-sportscafe.com/ The Hours: Monday through Friday, from 3 to 7 pm The Details: $2.50 well, wine, and domestic beer. $3.00 premium pints and frozen Zipparitas. $3.50 32 oz domestic drafts. $1.50 slices…

70: La Potence at Le Chalet

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…

Brownie Showdown: And the Winner Is . . .

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…

D-Backs vs. Cubbies Pre-Game Party at The Duce

If you’re hitting up the ballgame tonight, chances are, you’re already building up an appetite for some ballpark eats. But there’s good reason to eat ahead of time. I just got the word that the fabulous Mark Grace — announcer and former D-Back — will be in attendance at this…

Mi Patio: Lunch $10 and Under

We are well aware that there is a million and one places to grab a burrito in this town, but how many of those places offer a Gyro Chimi on the menu? We can only think of one place — Mi Patio.  Mi Patio doesn’t have a patio, which is…

Joe Arpaio at The Grind: Not Very Appetizing, Frankly

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…

Berry Cisco

Anyone who has searched the couch cushions for a handful of change knows that boozing on an extreme budget can be a risky proposition. To help you decide how to spend that meager pile of pennies, we’ve scraped the bottom of the barrel to review some of the cheapest, most…

Gorge on Gooey Poutine at Caffe Boa Bistro

Poutine in the middle of summer? That’s right, Caffe Boa Bistro in Mesa is serving up hot plates of Canadian comfort food — that is, fries embellished with mushroom gravy and cheese. Owner Christine Wisniewski is Canadian, so this is her brainchild. The notion struck me as sort of funny and seasonally inappropriate,…

Ana Borrajo of Sapna Cafe, Part One

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…

Now Open in Tempe: America’s Taco Shop

America’s Taco Shop’s manifest destiny has turned the quaint carne asada joint into a three-location local mini-chain. Restaurant number three opened its doors yesterday in Tempe, in a former Papa John’s building at the southwest corner of Rural and University (735 E. University). Owner Terry Bortin tells me that the…

From Inedible to Incredible to Couples Counseling

Seriously, folks, TLC’s new cooking show, Inedible to Incredible, is like a recipe for couples counseling. • Take married dudes who don’t have the balls communication skills to tell their wives their cooking stinks and can’t (or won’t) cook a meal themselves and then get them to lie to their…

Jen Deveroux, What Are You Eating?

Jen Deveroux The self-proclaimed “doctor of parties” is currently promoting Kung Pao Radio at The Lost Leaf and Ivy League at Disco.What did you eat for dinner last night? Gazpacho and hummus. Favorite food: Deconstructed deep dish pizza from Oregano’s. No cheese, extra sauce and tons of veggies. Least favorite food:…

Blind Wine Tasting and Chicken Ole! in Today’s Eater’s Digest

Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Armitage TastingTomorrow night, join Armitage Bistro for the First Wednesday Blind Wine Tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. in Scottsdale. Every Wednesday Armitage holds wine tastings but they make it a little more exciting the first…

Mediterranean Tuna-Noodle Casserole

This week’s challenge on Monday Night Martha: Tuna Casserole. We are pre-heating the oven to 400 degrees (when it’s 104 degrees outside) to answer the question: is it possible to make tuna casserole taste fresh and good? The words “tuna casserole”, probably conjure up the memory of a dish comprised of egg…

Book Week: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

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: “The Particular Sadness of Chocolate Cake” by Aimee Bender. ​Aimee…

Javelina Leap Wine Dinner and Sangria in Today’s Eater’s Digest

Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?FnB Wine DinnerTomorrow night FnB will host a wine dinner with Arizona winery, Javelina Leap. Owners and winemakers Rod and Cynthia Snapp will be on hand to talk about their Northern Arizona wines. Seating is limited…

71: Brisket at Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue

​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…