As recently as a decade ago, grocery shopping in metropolitan Phoenix a la Mexicana was pretty limited. A carniceria here and there, and if you were lucky, your local grocer would stock a few spices and treats from south of the border. Now that salsa has left ketchup in the…
I don’t think “tapas” when I think of NOCA, but the new “Bar Bites” Thursdays are all about the small plates — that is, if you get a reservation to sit at the counter, and if they’re not doing a special tasting menu that night. It’s a fun way to…
For a full week in July (the 20th through 26th), the popular website Yelp will be sponsoring its own restaurant week, Yelp Eats!, showcasing 15 local restaurants that will offer three-course prix fixe menus for only $25 per person. Thanks to the crappy economy, restaurants have been dishing out prix fixe…
When it rains, it pours . . . candy. Last week I got the lowdown on Smeeks, a new candy shop coming to Central and Camelback. And now there’s already word of another place in the works for Grand Avenue — right between vintage tiki bar Bikini Lounge and alternative performance and music…
This Sunday, June 21 is Father’s Day. What are you doing for the special dad in your life? We’re pretty sure he’s thinking “not another tie, please!!”, so a better choice might be a special Father’s Day meal he won’t forget. In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we’ve got…
Did you catch this news? The Associated Press reported on SB 1113, a bill passed by a state Senate panel last week that would allow people to bring handguns into restaurants — provided they have a concealed carry permit and do not consume alcohol. Governor Janet Napolitano vetoed a similar…
We’re serving up a unique Monday Night Martha today. This recipe comes from Julia Child, by way of our friend Sean Collins. In the late 1980s, Collins was working as a producer on NPR’s Morning Edition when he was assigned to help with a project at WGBH in Boston. “It…
I hardly recognize Biltmore Fashion Park anymore. Haagen-Dazs is gone. Now the windows are covered up and adorned with a big sign announcing that Zinburger — a spinoff of restaurateur Sam Fox’s Tucson eatery — is “coming soon.” But the Republic reports that it’s not opening until January of next year…
Craving a burger? Bored with the usual? Well you’re in luck. Today’s the opening day for 25 Degrees, an upscale burger joint/wine bar at the new CityNorth in north Phoenix. (The name, by the way, refers to the temperature difference between a medium-rare and well-done burger.) It’s the third outpost of…
Unlimited Coffee is a quaint little coffee and pastry shop on Glendale Avenue, just north of Seventh Street. Their menu includes scones, croissants, brownies, teas, and of course, coffee galore. We asked them for their most caffeinated brew, and they gave us a large “Black Eye.” It turned out to…
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: Last Night’s Sea Saw Finale Last Night: Skyy Vodka…
As per @deonadee’s request, I checked out Sonora Brewhouse this week to find their best Summer beer selections. My discoveries: Armadillo Red Ale, Hefeweizen, and Stinger Pale Ale. Check out the updated slide show to cast your vote via e-mail or twitter…
This Summer Beer Quest is taking a toll on me. Don’t think for a minute that I’m complaining about writing and (in this case) photographing beer around our fair city. Far from it. It’s the subsequent eating that’s such a drag later on. Take the Sonora Brewhouse for example. Sun…
It took my living in Phoenix nearly four years and countless trips up and down 24th Street to stop at the Mexican restaurant with the goofy/charming hand-painted sign that depicts a blue parrot and the words “Asi Es La Vida.” The two-story building just north of Osborn Road looks just…
Adam Aponte loves P.F. Chang’s. A lot. In fact, he and a friend took off Thursday night on a cross-country road trip to eat their way through seven different P.F. Chang’s China Bistro’s, in seven different cities from Phoenix to Boston, over the next two weeks. “And I plan on…
In a bit of culinary news that’s something of a departure from our typical coverage here at Chow Bella, we must share the latest dining chapter at the county jail. You know, home of the green baloney sandwich. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio today issued a press release announcing…
Dumpings, rice congee and chicken feet; there’s nothing not to love about dim sum. Admittedly, we weren’t up on the best Valley location to go for this Chinese delicacy. Luckily this week’s cafe column has the answer: Great Wall Hong Kong Cuisine. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Great Wall Hong…
If you really want to make a statement while cooking for that special someone, then dress the part. Professional cooks wear a smock and a fancy hat, mostly because of hygiene requirements rather than an attempt to impress eaters. At home, it’s okay to be more relaxed. You don’t want…
Summer travel season has arrived. It seems everyone’s starting to leave town, talk about their vacation plans, or post quirky Facebook updates from far-off places. Me? I’m looking forward to an overdue jaunt to New York City, but it can’t come soon enough. And in the meantime, a good friend…
This afternoon, the City of Phoenix Planning and Zoning Committee has a scheduled hearing on the establishment, through rezoning, of the controversial Jackson Street Entertainment District — ground zero for those five new Bernie Kantak restaurants I mentioned yesterday. And it looks like a protest is in the works, too. I found…
You can find a kitchen towel just about everywhere nowadays. The cheap and obvious place to purchase is your local supermarket or Target store. Keep in mind, the local places are going to have cheap weave towels that usually have a tacky floral print or lame color scheme. You can…
Just got the skinny from chef Joshua Hebert that Posh is rolling out a special $35, four-course prix fixe dinner that will be available all summer long, from 5 to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. If you’re not familiar with Posh, go back and read my review from February. The…
