Those Smashburger folks are pretty ambitious. Their Arizona presence only dates back to August 2009, with the Tempe shop, and they’ve since added an Avondale location. Today, number three — in the Colonnade at 1949 E. Camelback Rd. — is open to the public. In case you haven’t tried one…
Truth be told, you can’t technically eat lunch at Eliana’s Authentic Salvadoran Cuisine for under $10. Not if you order an entree. But we know from experience that the entrees at Eliana’s are enough for lunch and dinner. We figured we’d be fine with the appetizer menu — and we were…
I know it’s officially spring because I’ve just gotten the first announcement of the year for a brand-new gelato shop. Puro Gelato just opened at Paradise Valley Mall, the creative collaboration of Hyun Wook Lee, former owner of Pure Sushi in Scottsdale, and JNK Concepts Restaurant Group, which owns Roka Akor, Bombay…
The competition is gonna be fierce. Sushi fans from across the Valley already head to Hana Japanese Eatery for a taste of chef-owner Koji Hashimoto’s latest catch, and now there’s even more incentive to swing by for a fish fix. This morning, the north central Phoenix restaurant announced on Twitter…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Eat great pizza, drink wine and score karma points all in one place. Tonight from 6 to 10 pm Tempe’s La Bocca Pizzeria and Wine bar will be hosting a fund-raising event. Twenty five percent of all proceeds…
Inside the VIP tent of the Great Arizona Beer Festival at Tempe Beach Park, it is difficult to tell if Magician Robert Ray is amusing a crowd of beer drinkers or simply amusing him self with their alcohol-fueled reactions to his tricks. He hands two foam, red balls to a…
“I am a chef of Toscana,” says Gabriele Bertaccini, with as much gusto as one would expect from an Italian-born foodie. The twentysomething may be new to the local culinary scene, but he says cooking plays a huge part in his oldest memories. Growing up smelling his mother’s lasagna every…
Phoenix definitely has a sweet tooth. Between the talented pastry chefs at the Valley’s best resorts and restaurants, the indie bakers, and the pastry wizards whipping up confections for myriad local cafes, it seems like there’s always news of something sugary and clever. The latest to come along is Sugar…
The Spot: Boulders on Broadway 530 W. Broadway Rd. Tempe, 480-921-9431 The Hours: Happy hour starts at 3 and goes until 7 pm Monday thru Friday. Reverse happy hour is 10 pm till close Monday thru Thursday. On Saturday, you can take advantage of happy hour deals from open to…
I once had a friend who grilled every restaurant server on the ingredients in her meal to ensure there was no trace of wheat. At first, I just thought she had jumped on the Atkins bandwagon and was a little hardcore about it. Turns out she had Celiac Disease, an inherited condition that…
Will Mexican cuisine do the trick? Papi Chulo’s Mexican Grill & Cantina just opened at the Clarion Hotel (5101 N. Scottdale Rd., Scottsdale), in the space that’s featured Mediterranean food (Cezar’s) and American-meets-the-world (Cafe Bistro Bar & Grill) over the last three years. This particular part of town isn’t overrun…
Spring Training season is one of the best reasons to live in Phoenix. Locals enjoy easy accessibility of games and players, cheaper ticket prices and more intimate stadiums, while the poor folks in states other than Arizona and Florida have to get on a plane and fly halfway across the country to get…
How well do you know your favorite cookhouse contraptions? See if you can guess today’s gadget and check back next week for the answer. Here are a few shots at the answer, add yours to the comment box below: – Broke-Ass Pipe – Pac-Man Stamper – God’s Gavel What the…
Brenna SakasThe actor, model, owner of Crowning Concepts Pageant Consulting, CW6 spokesperson, Miss Arizona USA 2006 and Chaos Comedy improviser has a musical improv show this Saturday, March 13 at Arizona Virtual Studios (4614 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix). What’d you eat for dinner last night? Steamed chicken with brown…
Breaking news on the local caramel scene: Veronica Arroyo — pastry chef at the Princess Fairmont’s Bourbon Steak — and the folks from Urban Cookies are joining the lineup of candymakers for Caramelpalooza, Chow Bella’s sweet little fete coming up at 7 pm March 26 at Smeeks. The Sweet…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Not that you need another reason to have a glass of wine, but new research shows that having a glass or two actually helps keeps weight gain at bay. A study of more than 19,000 women over a…
Last week, I reported the sudden closure of Tutto, chef Joseph Gutierrez’s Italian restaurant at SouthBridge, which took the place of Digestif last summer. At that time, there was a rumor going around that the new tenant would be Marcellino Ristorante, chef Marcellino and Sima Verzino’s award-winning north Phoenix eatery. Sima Verzino…
While it beats the heck out of driving home intoxicated, leaving your car at the establishment where you got drunk is generally less than optimal. Taking cabs to and from the bar to avoid the car situation gets pricey and time consuming. There are, however, several driver services in the…
There’s something daring, slightly rebellious about making a cake at night. For one, if you mess up there’s no running to the store to get more ingredients. Oh, I mean, you could, it’s possible, but who wants to — so there’s that. Then, there’s the alchemy of baking itself. Of…
In the end, we get what’s coming to us. Let’s hope it’s sweet. According to Sunset magazine, cupcakes are out, and exotic ice cream flavors are in. After visits to Mary Coyle and Pink Spot, delicious, creamy pay-dirt (and a hot tip) was unearthed at Sweet Republic…
Last night, the Academy Awards celebrated the hard work, dedication, and sheer awesomeness of professionals in the film industry. This week, the Travel Channel celebrates a show no one will care about, hosted by someone with scant credentials, and promoted in a commercial made by and for men. You go,…
We’ve covered so many caffeinated products in this column over the past year that sometimes it’s hard to find the next product for review. But whenever we’re looking for the latest in high-octane sodas and energy drinks, we just stop by Pop the Soda Shop on 74th street in Scottsdale…
