Recently, I got an e-mail from a regular New Times reader who was looking for some good restaurants in the far East Valley. I mean really far — somewhere closer to Apache Junction than Tempe’s Apache Drive. “It’s not all chains on this side of town,” he wrote, urging me…
This is the sign out front of Tammie Coe Cakes today, where the doors are wide open and you can see workers putting final touches on a renovation that’s set to be finished for tomorrow’s reopening. (Was that a hot cocoa menu I saw in there? Hmm…)There’s going to be…
Saber Rouin’s father always wanted him to be a doctor. Rouin was born in the North African country of Tunisia. His story begins on the deck of a cruise ship, a Love Boat of sorts, where he launched his early culinary career, and met his wife. From there, he journeyed on…
Do you still get night terrors from that one time your friend made you take a shot of hot sake at her favorite sushi place and it made you gag from the weird taste and acute burning sensation? Don’t let your traumatized virginal palate cause you to swear off sake…
What’s pastry chef Tracy Dempsey been up to since she left Digestif? Find out what desserts she’s whipping up at her new gig in Old Town Scottsdale in this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter. We’ll also have the scoop on two local Irish restaurants that offer more than just a spirit of craic (Irish…
So you finally bought that fab set of Wusthof kitchen knives. Now what do you do? Lee Zierten not only makes beautiful decorative and functional knives; he also does professional sharpening and restoration. We caught up with Zierten at his most recent Knife Skills Workshop this past Sunday at Practical Art…
Even as restaurateur Sam Fox’s culinary empire continues to grow, one of his spots has just gone indie. As of January 1, Chloe’s Corner, the pint-sized lunch counter at Kierland Commons, is under new ownership, purchased by general manager Ashly Young. This is the first time a Fox restaurant has been sold…
Looking for an upscale dining option before getting a culture fix at Mesa Arts Center? You’ll have to look a little bit harder now that S’Bistro has closed. A dispute over rent between chef-owner Brian Banasek and landlord Craig Pouty led to the shuttering, as reported in detail by The Trib…
Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a good time? “Let’s go to Garnett’s,” offered my good friend, Ronda, ex-co-proprietor of the recently departed Ruby Room and Day Drinker play-date on the discussion of our next venue. “It’s kind of a rough place, though…
We’ve been to Turf Accountant (705 N. First St.) several times to drink and watch bands, but we hadn’t eaten there until recently. We went to watch the Arizona Cardinals have a horrible loss this past weekend, and even though the game was disappointing, the food was good…and cheap. The…
As if we needed another excuse to hit up one of our favorite spots — Gallo Blanco, the cafe at the Clarendon Hotel in CenPho, home of the best roasted corn on the cob ever — we just logged onto Twitter and learned that @galloblanco is offering a deal today…
Now that they’ve mastered mind-blowing authentic macarons, the talented folks at Essence Bakery Cafe are branching out to croissants. Chef-owner Eugenia Theodosopoulos says this is the first time her Tempe shop has offered freshly baked croissants and chocolate croissants. It’s no novice attempt, though. Theodosopoulos got some expert guidance from…
[jump] Chef Jay started by preparing the salad base, which had mandolin-sliced cucumber, cabbage, carrot and diced bell pepper in a sauce of Kewpie mayo (“After you try it, it’s the only mayo you’ll use,” said Carter), tahini, ginger and garlic. Soba noodles would be added later. …
As avid film buffs we think that nothing compares to catching a new release on the big screen while munching on a large tub of the theater’s finest. It seems we’re not alone, according to the National Popcorn Board, the average American consumes 52 quarts of popcorn per year. Today is National Popcorn…
How well do you know your favorite cookhouse contraptions? Can you tell a melon baller from a cookie scoop? 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: – Bowling…
Andrea Beesley-BrownThe Midnite Movie Mamacita is the film programmer for MADCAP Theaters, which presents The House of the Devil and Bronson Thursday, January 21 through Saturday, January 23. She’s also involved with International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival, the Phoenix Film Festival and Phoenix Comicon. What’d you eat for dinner last…
Why try to come up with a new concept when you can resurrect and refresh a time-honored Valley favorite? La Hacienda at The Fairmont Scottsdale was an iconic fine dining destination before it unexpectedly closed back in 2008, a high-profile victim of the recession. It was one of only two upscale…
If you’re thinking about eating Japanese food this week, do it on Tuesday, January 19. Sushi Roku, the stylish in-house restaurant at the W Scottsdale, is hosting a special day of fundraising to benefit Haiti earthquake relief efforts by the American Red Cross, Yele Haiti, and the Clinton Foundation. Dine…
Fox Restaurant Group has announced next week’s scheduled opening of a new gastropub concept at the Scottsdale Waterfront, called Culinary Dropout. Situated in a completely revamped space that used to house Pink Taco, the restaurant will open its doors on January 27…
Along with a $2 million remodel of the Hermosa Inn, Lon’s at the Hermosa has new kitchen leadership as well. The AAA Four Diamond restaurant has just named its new executive chef, Jeremy Pacheco, who comes on board after a two-month search; the previous exec chef at Lon’s was Michael…
Farewell to a place with real character. Word from a very reliable source is that Tempe favorite Efes Turkish Cuisine has closed; there’s no answer at the restaurant’s number during scheduled business hours. The six-year-old eatery was well-known for its exquisite kebabs, friendly service, and exotic, cozy Turkish decor…
Local knifemaker Lee Zierten has made a name for himself among home cooks who appreciate that his lovely, decorative blades are quite functional in the kitchen. Zierten also does knife sharpening on request through Practical Art in Phoenix, the lone store which carries his handmade knives. A chef is only as good as his…
