We decide to make a pot roast mainly because our husband spent the vast majority of his childhood summer vacations sharing the backseat of a silver stationwagon with his two brothers, while the family made their way from Philadelphia to Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina. They were on their way to…
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 face-planting,…
Rumors about Eddie V’s not renewing its lease at DC Ranch were never confirmed by the management of the upscale North Scottsdale dining and retail complex, but it turned out to be true. The seafood restaurant closed yesterday. In a press release today, Eddie V’s founders Larry Foles and Guy Villavaso…
What a shit show.I couldn’t count how many times I’ve spoken to restaurateurs frustrated with negative Yelp reviews. Thanks to internet democracy, the website gives anyone a chance to write their opinions — whether they’re thoughtful and warranted, or written sheerly out of spite/competition/sadism. I’ve always insisted that business owners…
With a seemingly endless supply of pineapples at their disposal, Carl’s Jr. is adding another new menu item to its list of those sporting the Dole seal of approval. The Hawaiian grilled chicken salad will join the Teriyaki chicken sandwich, and the single, double, and six-dollar Teriyaki burger in the…
Dreams are awesome. Especially the ones with zombies and double rainbows (oh my God!), but what about the waking dreams we have for our lives? Losing weight, running a marathon, starting a business. Those are cool, too. And for the most part, they take planning. Which is why Food Network’s…
Indie coffee shop/hipster gathering place Conspire (also known as The Coffee Conspiracy) is one of those places you go when you’re not in a big hurry to get your coffee. Conspire tends to be frequented by regulars and people from the neighborhood, and its not unusual for the baristas here…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?Hooray for Beer FestivalsIf your a beer lover and you have plans for this weekend — cancel them. Take another break from the heat and make your way to Flagstaff for the 2 day “Big Red Pour”…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Caffiend: Giant Coffee’s Smoke Jumper Night Train Express Chik-a-Rib’s…
After a grossly humid morning of packing and moving — highlighted by a few-too-many pivots with a queen-sized mattress up an outdoor staircase — we were on the hunt for anything cold and full of protein. Enter chicken lettuce wraps. Oh, but these aren’t your run-of-the-mill chicken wraps (if such…
“Food philosopher” Nikki Buchanan has been a pet subject on Chow Bella over the past few years, not only because I’ve enjoyed reading her work, but also because she’s had some interesting career twists. Earlier today, the news was leaked on EaterAZ that Buchanan just resigned from the Republic. Buchanan was the longtime…
Northern Arizona isn’t exactly synonymous with wine country, but Eric Glomski and Maynard Keenan (yes, that lead singer of TOOL) would like to change this assumption. Both are co-owners of Arizona Stronghold Winery, and while Cottonwood and Cornville may not share the same name recognition as Sonoma or Napa Valley,…
Yesterday we met Matt Duske, the bespectacled former teacher slinging drinks at the trendy Vig Uptown. Today he shares with us a recipe crafted by Brandon Cooper, a fellow bartender who worked with Duske in Seattle. “A lot of times, girls would come in and ask Brandon to make them a…
This latest question came in via text from a friend whose teenage brother was visiting, so the specific request was for an affordable, dude-friendly spot to go for dinner. My first thought was, how about Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles? Boys like soul food, especially since they likely haven’t gotten to…
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,…
This week’s Chef Chat was with Aurore de Beauduy of Vogue Bistro. Here’s Part One of our interview with her, and this is Part Two. Below is a recipe for her simple, fresh salad featuring heirloom tomatoes and purple basil. Bon Apetit!…
Hungry for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives?VEG OutVegans and vegetarians, mark your calenders for Wednesday, August 4th. Vegetarian meet up group VEGPhoenix is hosting their annual Summer Veg Dinner. This year’s event will be held at the new Loving Hut located on Indian…
Young, bookish and personable, it’s not difficult to imagine Matt Duske at the front of a classroom. And it shouldn’t be, since the bespectacled bartender spent two years teaching math to disgruntled high school students. He recently made the change from enriching minds to enriching livers, and has been at…
What’s the best thing about hamburgers? You can get them just about anywhere. Trust us, there’s nothing wrong with another burger joint; especially if it has something new to bring to the patty. That’s why we’re stoked about Zinburger. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Zinburger: The menu here is so…
What ever happened to that TLC show Best Food Ever? The six-episode series debuted back in May, and was slated to feature several Phoenix-based businesses. But the production mysteriously stalled. Now it’s back on the schedule. Tune in this weekend to see the remaining episodes, featuring The Lodge, Sweet Republic,…
On expectations of women: Cooking is not hard. It’s what comes with it. It was dominated by men. And this was in the ’80s. It’s not like it was in the ’60s or anything like that. When I started cooking, the chefs were like, “What are you doing here? You…
Two new restaurants just a few blocks apart, both opening the same week? Not bad for a particular stretch of Indian School Road that hasn’t see a lot of action lately. The brand-new dining options are cheap, cheerful, and casual. Maui Dog is a brightly painted joint that took over…
