As the crowd counted down the final seconds of Flancer’s 10th annual charity pizza-eating contest Sunday, Chiun “Jimmy” Peng had to have figured he won. The defending champion consumed 17 extra-large slices — the equivalent of more than two 18-inch pizzas — in just 15 minutes, making his 2009 record…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Tomorrow night, April 13th, join 5th and Wine as they present their Zaca Mesa Wine Dinner. Each of the four courses will be paired with Santa Barbara Vineyard’s wines. Dinner starts at 6:30 and reservations can be made…
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: Ramen for the Soul at Republic Ramen Read This:…
Extra PEEPS in the back of the freezer? Leftover hard-boiled eggs from that Easter hunt? Bring them down to the Arizona Science Center this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and have some fun. The science folks will explain what really happens when you put a PEEP in…
We saw these treats featured on seesaw design’s blog, and had to share. Hungry for Mexican food but can’t spare the calories? Enjoy the tasty sight of chips & salsa, tamales and pan dulce — all made entirely of felt, available for sale on etsy by Feltalicious (based in…
Last time, In the Kitchen brought you Italian Wedding Soup, this week we had a much different experience with the firefighters of Chandler. Today I’m eating lunch with engine 287 of the Chandler Fire Department. I’ve been given a tip — bring ice cream — so I arrive with two…
It’s good to be in Phoenix for the food and the architecture these days. We’ve even heard of people coming here for just those two things. As part of the Modern Phoenix Week events, last night a group gathered at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art to ponder the notion…
Yesterday, Josh Warner shared some of the finer points in creating fun and fresh cocktails. The Spa-tini at Wildfish Seafood Grille certainly fits that description. It’s no wonder it’s one of the house favorites–the combination of cucumber and pineapple with a twist of lemon sure seems like a recipe for…
Vintner Eric Glomski’s Page Springs Cellars winery and tasting room, as well as winemaker/rock star Maynard Keenan’s Caduceus tasting room, are two great destinations for a Verde Valley road trip. Three is a better number though, so to complete the trifecta, Glomski and Keenan are unveiling a new tasting room for their shared…
I doubt the AZ BBQ Festival will be a one-off event. Those guys over at the EaterAZ blog, Rick Phillips and Dave Tyda, have done a bang-up job with organizing and promoting their brand-new culinary festival, which takes place this weekend at the Scottsdale Waterfront. I drove by the site yesterday and got a…
Just because the bartender doesn’t hand you a nutritional information packet with your cocktail doesn’t mean those calories don’t count. For some, a night of binge-drinking can reach an entire day’s worth of calories, and it’s gonna take one hell of a workout to counteract that effect (especially with your…
One can never have enough Thin Mints. At least that’s what we thought until Managing Editor Amy Silverman brought in a dozen unsold boxes to a recent Chow Bella meeting. If one must make lemonade when life hands one lemons, we theorized one must make dessert when life hands one…
Can cooking a hot meal help an average guy bed smokin’ chicks? According to a new book hitting store shelves in May, absofrickinlutely! This amazing piece of culinary literature, Cook to Bang: The Lay Cook’s Guide to Getting Laid, is based on a website that features sexy recipes the average Joe can prepare at…
While a friend was knee deep in a Japanese conversation lesson from the owner (he says “you’re welcome” in Japanese sounds a lot like “don’t touch my mustache”) a chorus of edamame, yakitori, tonkatsu and gyoza demanded my undivided attention. The tiny place has been serving Japanese comfort food since…
This is only just the beginning for Matt Kolacz, who’s the sous chef at The Vig in Arcadia. His new tat is a work in progress, but he graciously shared a shot of the first five hours of ink work.Are you a chef with a tattoos you think Chow Bella…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Get ready for a busy weekend, folks. With so much going on around the Valley it’s going to be hard to choose what to miss! First up is the Arizona Barbecue Festival, happening Saturday, April 10th at the…
Gastropub has the word “pub” in it and frankly that should be enough to grab your attention. Of course a little professional direction as to where one may experience the best gastropubs Phoenix has to offer couldn’t hurt either. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Culinary Dropout, Mabel’s on Main, and…
One can never have enough Thin Mints. At least that’s what we thought until Managing Editor Amy Silverman brought in a dozen unsold boxes to a recent Chow Bella meeting. If one must make lemonade when life hands one lemons, we theorized one must make desert when life hands one…
Josh Warner knows how to throw a party. The 30-year-old bartender at Wildfish Seafood Grille at the Scottsdale Waterfront might have a taste for light and simple cocktails, but he’s not light on entertaining skills. After learning about what brought him to bartending, it’s no wonder Warner is well-versed on…
Flancer’s is offering an all-you-can-eat pizza deal Sunday – with a catch. The special only is available from 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. That’s general manager Jimmy Tucker’s clever way of promoting the Gilbert restaurant’s 10th annual charity pizza-eating contest. Only 16 contestants have signed up for this year’s event,…
Have you been to Coronado Cafe lately? I’m loving how the new owners have made gradual improvements to the restaurant’s already-charming decor and menus, and I especially like their outdoor patios. There’s a small one in the front, and a larger one on the side. Both are a great place…
With its conservative politics, large Mormon temple and dearth of nightlife, downtown Mesa is just about the last place in the Valley you’d expect to find people parading around in scanty genitalia coverings and drinking hemp ale. But that’s what’s planned Saturday at Il Vinaio, a restaurant and wine bistro…
