In the foodie blogosphere, you can be somebody. Just pick a site (Chowhound, Yelp, EGullet, et al.), a clever byline, and you’re in. It’s like AA for food junkies — a sympathetic forum in which Epicurean souls are bared and horror stories are exchanged in catharsis. Of course, it’s just…
What is it about candy thermometers that are so intimidating? Is it that they look a little dangerous? It took a really easy but delicious-looking fleur de sel toffee recipe to help me overcome my fear of using one. The ingredients for the toffee are pretty much butter and sugar,…
Happy New Year, Phoenix. Here’s one last look at 2008 with the top five blogs as determined by the sheer number of eyes that read them. Catch the top three slots after the jump. 5 – Liberty Market set to open in Gilbert The charming stretch of Gilbert Avenue that…
Anybody want to buy a bistro? Madelyn’s chef-owner Brian Ford says he’s looking to sell his Anthem eatery, and it’s just about turnkey. “We were unfortunately pushed into closing our doors by our own bank, out of the blue, two days before Christmas,” Ford says. “They didn’t notify us, and…
Chef-owner Joshua Hebert was hoping that Santa would bring him a new restaurant, but instead, he got a New Year’s “baby”; Posh quietly opened on New Year’s Eve. Located inside the gorgeous Optima Camelview Village, the restaurant serves “improvisational cuisine,” which Hebert describes as a “very seasonally adaptive” take on…
Jolt Cola, created in 1985, was the first soda to contain obscene amounts of sugar and caffeine, well before the first “energy drinks” started to hit store shelves. So it’s not unrealistic to expect Jolt’s new Endurance Shots to offer a high-octane rush superior to other energy shots, such as the “5-Hour Energy Shots” that started appearing at Walgreens about two and a half years ago.
There’s no question that the land of beer is populated by a dizzying array of bizarre mascots. From arrogant bastards to fat tires and even John C. McGinley as commissioner of the “more taste league,” beer aisles are stocked with creatures staring at you in the hopes you’ll pick them…
You can call Jeff Grenfell cheesy, and he won’t mind a bit. The Arizona native can be found at Cheuvront’s Restaurant on Central Avenue, where he is not just sommelier, but also “fromagier” – reportedly the only one in town. Can’t tell your Camembert from your triple crème brie? Never heard…
This hearty dish consists of black and white pudding, two fried eggs cooked to order, rashers (potatoes), sausages, tomatoes, and brown bread. Black pudding (sometimes known as blood pudding) is a staple of a traditional breakfast in England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Two doctors sit at a bar and start talking shop. “Why proctology, for God’s sake?” one asks. “I know,” the other answers, raising a hand with his thumb and forefinger an inch or two apart. “I was this close to being a gynecologist.” That same gag works…
One night, around 10 years back, I slaved to create this fantastic Moroccan lamb dish. I was drinking wine in the afternoon when my date showed up. For once, I had a date with someone over 25 — in fact, she was over 40! With no kids, she had plenty…
A lot of excitement about the Metro light rail has revolved around the easy new connection between downtown Phoenix and downtown Tempe. And when it comes to dining options, that’s definitely a good thing, whether you’re a commuter, a student, or just a foodie-about-town. Hop off the train in either…
As far as I knew knew up until a few weeks ago, Crush came in two flavors: Orange and Grape. Recently I was visiting my family in Ohio when I came across Pineapple, Peach, Strawberry and Tropical Punch. Shocking! Then, I did a little more research and found out that…
Follow this slide show’s step-by-step guide to making this week’s dish.C.M. Redding is back this week, Forking for the New Year. Here’s his recipe for champagne soup: Champagne Soup AperitifNote: the recipe is per serving, so adjust accordingly — you might need more cantaloupe if you’re serving more than 2…
What the heck is a turf accountant? I had to Google that one. The American Heritage Dictionary says it’s a British term for a bookmaker licensed to take bets on horses. Huh. In downtown, though, Turf Accountant is the name of the new Irish pub set to open at 705…
What’s in store for 2009? Will the world go to hell in a handbasket, or do we stand a chance of seeing our local restaurant scene flourish? I’m not psychic, so ask Joseph Anthony. He’s the astrologer who gives readings at Lisa G Cafe & Wine Bar every Wednesday night. And since…
A platter filled with Ethiopian entrees, as served by Cafe Lalibela in Tempe. We hate to sound like a nagging mother, but it might be a good idea to make sure you’ve scrubbed up good and proper before sitting down to eat at Cafe Lalibela (849 West University Drive in…
Two new nightspot/restaurants opened late last month, right down the street from each other in Scottsdale. Pictured above, The Lodge, 4422 N. 75th St., is a ski-lodge-themed hangout that bills itself as a “quaint, Midwestern dive bar” amid the flashy Scottsdale nightlife district. Is townie-bar chic the new thing? I…
Back in the days before TV talk shows brought Tourette’s Syndrome into our mainstream consciousness (circa 1985), I hung my server shingle at a lakeside seafood restaurant in Scottsdale. I’d gotten the job through a drinking buddy, just days after being fired for arguing with my former supervisor (and that…
For years, the hunt has been on for just the right sweet/salty/spicy nut mix recipe, to no avail. Either the recipe calls for something hard to find (an unusual spice), something not very appetizing (some of us just don’t like rosemary or other plants in our nuts) or a step…
Saturday afternoon. The light rail trains are packed. It’s a good time for a pint. So some friends and I wound up at Sonora Brewhouse, just a few blocks’ walk from the train. And look at what was there to tempt us before we even got in the door –…
If you read Chow Bella, I have a feeling your priorities for New Year’s Eve might revolve around seeking out a great meal. And trust me, I know what a pain it can be to figure out what your options are — I am the queen of considering too many…
