Z’Tejas Grill sure is busy these days. In-between remodeling their Scottsdale location at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall, offering Mary Poppins attendees who bring their ticket stubs free appetizers and putting together a special Valentine’s Day themed menu, the Southwestern restaurant is also busy promoting its margarita mix, which is now…
If rock ‘n roll had an official drink, what would it be? I’ve had countless beer-drenched nights in the more than two decades I’ve been going to rock shows, but these days, a little vino with my music suits me just fine (even if I can’t take a wine glass…
Arizonans have an understandable affinity for all things cold and sweet — hello, that’s a survival mechanism most of the year! — so it’s no surprise that ice cream giant Haagen-Dazs is focusing on our state (along with California, Florida, and New York) to test out a new line called…
We were delighted to see something new (to us, at least) in the Valentine aisle at Walgreen’s — conversation hearts in Spanish, alongside the traditional English variety. Sadly, when we ripped into the bag, we couldn’t help but notice how piss-poor the quality was…
Here at Chow Bella, we try to follow food trends as they pop up. So when we started seeing little peanut-sized lumps of cheese at farmers’ markets and groceries around town, we figured it was time to stop and find out how and why they’re made. If you’re from the Midwest (especially…
For lunch we decide to try Al-Hana Restaurant at Baiz Market. Ok, so maybe the word ‘restaurant’ is a stretch, more like hole-in-the-wall, but we mean that in the best way possible. Al-Hana consists of a walk-up counter with a half dozen tables and chairs for eating in. It is tucked…
Today is National Bagels and Lox Day. We have to admit that nothing beats a New York city bagel. But since the NYC weather report is showing temps topping out at just above the freezing mark, we’ll stay put with the snowbirds in sunny Phoenix while we indulge.A bagel is only…
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 of our guesses, add yours to the comment box below: – Karl Malden spittoon. – Renaissance-Fair-Ready earthenware glug-chugger. – “Mr. Saddy” suicide…
Eli KlugerThe video producer of Phoenix Rising has a slew of other films at www.youtube.com/beatfilms What’d you eat for dinner last night? I ate a granola bar.Favorite food: My favorite food has to be pizza, or Peter Piper Pizza buffet, more specifically. I can’t resist all-you-can-eat deliciousness at a reasonable…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. In the weirdest food news we’ve heard in a while, two men robbed a pizza delivery guy and were caught by the trail of pizza sauce and wings that led police right to them. Read the Arizona Republic’s…
St. Francis chef-owner Aaron Chamberlin is hosting a special event on Wednesday, and he doesn’t even know what’s on the menu yet. That’s because he’s waiting to see what kinds of exotic organic produce farmer Patrick Duncan will drop off for his Brophy Farm to Table Dinner. Chamberlin will cook…
OK, so you’ve got those Valentine treats baked, and they’re too cute for a Ziploc. No worries. The blog Twig & Thistle has an adorable goody bag for you — and all you have to do is download the design and print it on bags. No charge. T&T has created a…
The evolution of Mill Avenue continues. While retailers might’ve taken the biggest economic hit along downtown Tempe’s walkable stretch (witness the sad row of empty storefronts just north of P.F. Chang’s), the restaurant scene is burgeoning. Open since Friday, Robbie Fox’s Public House is the newest addition to the mix, giving Rula…
From high-end burgers at swanky steakhouses to chains like Smashburger and Five Guys making their way into the local market, the lust for hamburgers shows no sign of ending. That’s what restaurateur Lobby Syregelas is betting on with his new concept, Lobbys Beef, Burgers, Dogs, which opened late last year…
Breaking tradition tends to set some into an uproar, so we can only imagine the even-more-disgusted-than-usual face of French sommeliers when they discover that several companies from the U.S. as well as Australia are now packaging wine in aluminum cans…
We popped into Luci’s Healthy Marketplace recently and discovered that they have added yet another offering to their ever growing and eclectic mix of deli, coffee, grocery goods, assorted sundries, organic produce, AND health food items – every Sunday evening from 5:30 – 7:30, Luci’s will host a cooking demonstration. …
This week for Monday Night Martha we decided to try Martha’s Curried Tomato Seafood Bouillabaisse. Bouillabaisse, basically a fish soup made up of various kinds of fish and a variety of herbs and spices, is generally thought to be an abbreviation of bouillon abaisse – meaning “broth lowered” or “to…
Just a second — Catherine Hayes is fluffing the decorative pillows in the outside dining area. She comes here, to Modern Steak, nearly every day. Hayes and her team at Hayes inc. were behind the architecture and design of the recent addition to the Fox Concepts empire. Hayes’ Phoenix-based firm is…
In the end, we get what’s coming to us. Let’s hope it’s sweet. Like Chanel No. 5, a bracelet from Tiffany’s, or Chuck Norris, a good brand name can pack a punch when it comes to impressing those we love. And, when it comes to name-brand sweet treats for Valentine’s…
Seems everyone’s getting into the alcohol business these days, from Olivia Newton-John and Dan Aykroyd to Ludacris and Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan. The difference is that Keenan is actually hands-on with his winery, while we’re guessing the Grease and Ghostbusters celebs aren’t getting their manicured nails dirty trimming vines or mashing grains. Filmmakers Ryan Page and Christopher…
Looking for the latest in tasty television? Need to know the need-to-watch episodes of your favorite foodie shows? Chow Bella is here to help. We’re reviewing the most delectable and dreadful with a handy, must-see schedule so you won’t miss a thing. Well, once again, the commercials during the Super…
The Tru Blood carbonated drink was introduced last year, one of many merchandise extensions of HBO’s popular show, True Blood. While viewers eagerly anticipate the third season of that show (currently in production), we decided to try the drink, which is modeled after the bottled “blood” that vampires swig on…
