I have to start wondering about the food when all people have to say about a restaurant is how neat it is. “Oh, it’s so Arizona!” “That place is really cool in an old-school way.” “You gotta check out the bar.” That’s fine and all, but what about your dinner?…
When I think of Drift Lounge, Old Town Scottsdale’s tiki-rific late-night hangout, I think of sipping fruity, oversized run cocktails out of a shrunken-head-shaped mug. It’s sort of like the bastard kid of Trader Vic, with a mod-meets-thatched-hut ambiance — cool blowfish lamps hanging from the ceiling, groovy seating, and…
Let’s hope third time’s the charm for the third restaurant in three years at 713 E. Palo Verde Road, near 7th Street and Bethany Home. I just got word from Jeff Ward, the new owner of Cafe del Sol, that big changes are in store for the tiny eatery: “We…
I wanted to fall in love. For years, I’ve been curious about a certain elegant stranger with the whole package: good looks, exquisite taste, and an impressive pedigree. I knew it would take money to get acquainted with this seductive presence, but for the effort, I’d be rewarded with a…
Kids’ beer: Now all you need is a pack of candy cigarettes Here’s more edible wackiness with weird packaging, this time from Fujiya Market in Tempe. Not sure which product cracks me up more, so I’ll share both with you. First, “Kodomo no Nomimono,” an apple-flavored soda from Japan. The…
I don’t know if it was the alignment of the planets or total coincidence, but China Chili’s back in action. The beloved downtown Chinese restaurant’s been on hiatus for the last few months, and I happened to name-drop it in my latest column (the folks who own the restaurant I…
Sometimes all it takes is a taste of something — or even just the scent — to transport me to another place. I think of sangria-fueled New York dinner parties when I eat ropa vieja, the tomatoey Cuban beef dish. Fresh cilantro in a hot bowlful of pho reminds me…
Have another drink, guys: Anarchy Santa Claus and the world’s best introverted dart thrower share a moment of celebration Oops, I meant to say punch FOR your coworkers. Nothing like a delicious little drink to take the edge off after a long day on the job, and there’s no better…
I want candy: Who knew that chocolate goes so well with so many unusual flavors? I don’t always shop sensibly. When I really do go grocery shopping, I break the bank. But most of the time, I have a cupboard full of edible things that don’t quite add up to…
I talked with Paper Heart owner Scott Sanders yesterday afternoon, and he gave me official word: the place isn’t closing after all. Turns out, the community really rallied around the place when Sanders brought up the strong possibility of shutting down at the end of 2006. Things are looking up…
When Malcolm Gladwell wrote The Tipping Point a few years ago, he pointed to fashion trends like Hush Puppies as evidence of how trends reach critical mass in the same way viruses spread through the population. But he may as well have been writing about restaurants. People B.S. about all…
My weekly column is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot to devour in this town, and with this brand new blog, readers can finally start digesting it all, bite by bite. I’ll be hitting the streets for more restaurant action, special events, recipes, reviews, shopping adventures, gossip,…
oprah.com Chris doesn’t give in when Gayle asks for extra toppings “Is this pizza really that good?” “How long did they say the wait is?” “Damn you, Oprah!” I couldn’t help but eavesdrop a little bit on a recent visit to Pizzeria Bianco. It was a Saturday night, and I…
That’s good enough for me: Urban Cookies’ namesake snack is full of chocolate, oats, walnuts and coconut I’d like to keep cookie baking on my pre-Christmas agenda, but just in case the marathon of holiday parties catches up with me, I have a sweet back-up plan: buy a few dozen…
Evil genius: Tammie Coe’s irresistible Ooey Gooey cupcakes Tammie Coe, where have you been all my life? Okay, I know you’ve been around for awhile, with your beautful fondant-draped cakes calling my name at La Grande Orange, and your platters of Ooey Gooey cupcakes tempting me whenever I stop by…
Kobe Beef America Gimme my Kobe It’s nice to have options. If you live or work in North Scottsdale, now you have even more: Taneko, the new Japanese concept from the P.F. Changs peeps, and Ippei Japanese Bistro, an upscale spot across from Cine Capri, are now open for lunch…
Larry Fitzgerald works up an appetite Ever wonder how pro athletes chow down? Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald usually chats about football on his weekly Alltel Audibles podcast, but on a recent episode, he dished on local restaurants. Here’s a look at his top ten favorite restaurants in town:…
Either the wine went to my head, or that was really Santa dropping in to say hello From the looks of the prepackaged beer pong sets they’re selling now at BevMo, you’d think beer fanatics have all the fun. But this kooky event I just stumbled upon tells me wine…
Hey — got some hot-outta-the-oven news? Hit me up at michele.laudig@newtimes.com…
“Geez, Michele, are we driving to New Mexico?” The two guys I was dragging to dinner weren’t particularly hungry when we hopped on the I-10 in central Phoenix, but by the time we were pretty far out on the Santan 202 — that new stretch of highway south of Chandler…
My Japanese friends must get a kick out of me. I hang out with Yuko and Chinatsu every year when I visit Japan, a place I’ve been obsessed with since childhood. (Blame it on Hello Kitty, Mr. Miyagi, and the early ’80s wave of Japanese fashion designers.) I met the…
So much eye candy, so little time. Visiting Olive & Ivy, a new dining hot spot at the Scottsdale Waterfront, is sensory overload in every way. Open about a month now, Olive & Ivy is the latest enterprise from Fox Restaurant Concepts’ Sam Fox, mastermind behind a number of other…
