Riding on the wave of popularity that local farmers markets are having these days, two sister eateries in central Phoenix, Switch and Ticoz, just started hosting weekly parking lot farmers markets of their own last weekend. According to employees at both restaurants, the markets feature vegetables, flowers, jam and salsa, baked…
I don’t know what it was about this past Christmas, but for some reason, I found it a whole lot easier to get out my checkbook and send some dough to local non-profits than to slog through the list of presents I had to buy. And seriously, right after I read…
For years, a restaurateur named Luigi Lamentini performed in the Italian dining theater – lucky for us, right here in Phoenix, where he operated several restaurants. A Florentine by birth with a thick, nasal accent, he’d take flight on fluid rants in his native tongue; singing a sad song about…
One fish, two fish, red fish–yellow fish? With so many choices of sushi available it can be difficult picking out the perfect appetizer to start a course; but Sakana Sushi & Grill ( 20250 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale. 623-566-3595) makes it simple by offering Hamachi Kama, an all around crowd pleaser…
I’m settling into my new routine. No great surprise, but life in a kitchen is a world or two away from sitting in a cubical on the 4th floor of an office building downtown. Here’s my early take on culinary school: It’s fairly militaristic, at least to an old hippie…
Growing up in rural Arizona, certain events were anticipated because they were known to be accompanied by a homemade Navajo taco. From Christmas parades to corn festivals, eating a Navajo taco meant sampling Arizona street food at its best. But finding a Navajo taco in the Valley?…not always so easy. Sacred…
My mom and my Grandma Laudig get top credit for shaping my attitudes about food, but Brian Preston-Campbell probably deserves the bronze medal. I’ve known the guy since I was a high schooler and he was a C.I.A. student. He introduced me to pho, tasting menus, smoked mozzarella, and expensive…
You don’t have to be ultra-rich to pamper your puppies. Here’s a recipe for DIY dog biscuits that costs of next to nothing to make. Best of all, your mutt will go nuts because the treats are packed with garlic. In small quantities, garlic is good for dogs. Some folks even…
Sideways may have been a fictional tale, but the elusive and obsession-inducing qualities of Pinot Noir are completely true. Consider Siduri Wines, a winery that produces only Pinot Noir, all single-vineyard releases from its 20 vineyards in California and Oregon. Owners Adam and Diana Lee’s devotion to the grape has…
Now that Sens Asian Tapas & Sake Bar is up and running with its dinner service, chef-owner Johnny Chu has finally added lunch hours (11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday) and a new wok menu. (***Update: Lunch starts Monday, February 9.) By “new,” I actually mean new to Sens,…
As suggested by one of our readers in the comments of a previous Caffiend, the new Blu Frog “Wildly Healthy” energy drink is supposed to provide an energy boost similar to the most popular energy drinks on the market, but with healthier ingredients.
We’ve made no secret here at New Times who we’re pulling for in the match-up between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers this Super Bowl Sunday. Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re pulling for the Cardinals despite jumping on the bandwagon only after they won the NFC championship…
A brand-new spot called Second Line Creole Caribbean Cuisine just opened on Monday, in the place where Irie Jamaican Restaurant used to be before it moved up the street. Owner Duma Shange, a native of uptown New Orleans, tells me he makes “the best waffles in town, from scratch.” The…
Thanks to Dee Logan and the Arizona Community Farmers Markets, these days you can add ‘local’ and ‘pesticide free’ to the list of coveted labels found in tony downtown Scottsdale. But in this case, the designers are farmers, growers, producers, and local chefs who supply fresh, healthy food. After several…
Finding authentic Filipino eats in the West Valley is like finding a needle in a haystack. But for you, we’ll risk getting poked with a few false starts. Particularly if it means landing on a place like Casa Filipina Bakeshop and Restaurant (3531 W. Thunderbird Rd. Phoenix. 602-942-1258), where we…
The Cove Trattoria’s new location makes the name more appropriate than before. The new digs are tucked deep within the Scottsdale Seville Center, located at the corner of Scottsdale Road and Indian Bend Road. Keep heading toward the back and you’ll find it. Whether you’re a long time Cove cust…
Farmers market regulars know they need to show up bright and early to get the best pick o’ the veg — especially if Seacat Gardens is going to be there. Carl Seacat’s lovely heirloom veggies are always in demand at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, but lately he’s been busy…
Try being a grump in the aisles of AJ’s when you come across a display for Bitch wine, an Australian grenache from the Barossa Valley. I spotted this last night, and got a laugh like I always do when I see some kind of cheeky wine label. (Seems like a lot…
All my life, passion, rather than reason, has led to my relationships, my jobs and my extracurricular activities. It’s why I ended up in culinary school when I have a house, some kids and a few pets to support. Here’s the short version: I’ve always been a late bloomer. Dated…
Cookbook author Elizabeth Yarnell is a whiz with the dutch oven — to the point that she’s filled an entire cookbook with a globetrotting variety of healthful recipes that can be made in one pot. Even better, the dishes in Glorious One-Pot Meals take under half an hour to prep,…
Dating someone with kids is tricky — are you a parental figure or a friend? And there are plenty of awkward talks with the ex, if he or she is still around. Such conversations usually are accompanied by yelling, threats, and, eventually, quiet weeping. I have found that there is…
The City of Glendale may grab attention for its big retail developments and the high-tech Cardinals stadium, but to me, the most appealing part doesn’t feel like a city at all. Instead, it’s got the close-knit charm of Main Street U.S.A. — a rare thing in this sprawling Valley of…
