Justin Bolotnik may be a new face at Ticoz Resto-Bar (5114 N. 7th St., 602-200-0160), but he’s an old hand at bartending, having logged time at T.G.I.Friday’s (where he got his start at 17), Hard Rock Café (where he opened several international spots and helped rewrite the drink menu while…
The Spot : Picazzo’s Organic Kitchen, 440 W. Warner Rd., Tempe, AZ 85284. 480-831-5823 www.picazzos.com Picazzo’s has four other valley locations: The Esplanade; North Scottsdale; Paradise Valley; and Goodyear. Check each location for variations in menu and prices. Other AZ locations include: Casa Grande, Tucson, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Surprise. The…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Phil Edwards, the man behind the phantastic dive Philthy Phil’s in Phoenix. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Philster, a drink the bar sells in great numbers even though it’s not on the menu. Like most items on Phil’s menu (like the potent Phuck Buckets),…
Philthy Phil’s (2939 N. 16th St., 602-279-4339) isn’t exactly philthy, but the place is pretty phunky. The lighting is dark, almost cave-like, while the wood-panel walls emit old aromas of beer and cigarettes. A pair shoots pool in the back while the sweet sounds of Boston play over the speakers…
The Spot: The Kitchen Bar at Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge, 2502 E Camelback, Phoenix, 602-522-2344, www.christophersaz.com The Hours: Happy Hour prices are available daily from 3 to 6 pm at the Kitchen Bar and in Crush Lounge. The Details: A wide selection of items including wood fired pizzas, gourmet…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Richie Moe, the bartender savant who mixes the drinks at Scottsdale’s newest spot, Citizen Public House. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Citi-Zen. “It fits into our name — it’s the Citi-Zen. It’s our Zen City martini,” Moe says. “It’s a simple cocktail but…
Past the unassuming front door and the cozy lounge area, the actual eating space of Citizen Public House (7111 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale, 480-398-4208) is vast, interspersed by tables and booths between walls decorated with aged photos of the restaurant owners’ ancestors. In the center of it all, an expansive bar accented…
The Spot: Casey Moore’s Oyster House, 850 S Ash Ave, Tempe, 480-968-9935, http://www.caseymoores.comThe Hours: Happy Hour runs from 3-7 Monday-Friday and from 11-4 on Saturday and Sunday.The Details: Casey Moore’s features a beer special each day. The daily beer is available for $1 off the regular priced all day. During…
At what point does one elevate from merely drinking beer to being a full-on beer snob? Answer: when you feel compelled to tell other people what to drink. And the inevitable result of this peculiar ailment is the beer argument. In the spirit of all great beer-related discussions, we present…
Yesterday we met Steve Delaney, the bartender and all-around good guy working afternoons at Rula Bula. Today he shares with us the recipe for a classic college drink: the Irish Car Bomb. Drinkers may be familiar with this one, but little did you know, Rula Bula mixes it up with…
Easygoing, talkative and an expert pourer, Steve Delaney is a fixture at Rula Bula (401 S. Mill Ave., 480-929-9500), the Tempe Irish pub that won a 2010 Best of Phoenix award. A veteran of the industry, he’s managed several El Chorritos in California and Arizona, the now-defunct Bamboo Club, and…
The Spot: Papago Brewing, 7107 E. McDowell Rd., Scottsdale, 480-425-7439 http://www.papagobrewing.com The Hours: Score some craft beer for a wee bit cheaper from open to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. The Details: One buck off all 30 of their specialty drafts (most will run you about $3.50 after the discount),…
Yesterday we met Jake Dean, the rock star bartender who mixes drinks and packs the house over at Sushi Roku. Today he shares with us the recipe for the Passion & Spice, a cocktail made with citrus fruits and jalapeno. “I like to recommend this one if the guest is…
At the front of the swanky W Hotel, sits Sushi Roku (7277 E. Camelback Rd., 480-970-2121). Soft jazz plays over the speakers while fishing net-style ceiling pieces, wood floors and walls decorated with rope combine to make the place look like an ultra-modern Japanese fishing boat. Behind the bar is Jake…
The Spot: Ticoz Resto-Bar, 5114 N. 7th St, Phoenix, 602-200-0160 http://www.ticozaz.com The Hours: Ticoz offers relaxed pricing on drinks and apps every day of the week from 3 to 6:30 pm, and again from 10 pm to close. The Details: Half-priced drinks all around with their signature drinks (margs, mojitos,…
The end of 2010 is almost upon us (THANK GOD) and Friday night will be a time for popping bottles and sipping on some bubbly. But plain champagne is SO 2010, so we enlisted the help of two of our favorite bartenders to spice up our party drink menus. Courtesy…
The Spot: 1889 Saloon at Stockyards Restaurant, 5009 E. Washington St., Phoenix, 602-273-7378 http://www.stockyardsrestaurant.com The Hours: At this good old fashioned restaurant, the happy hours in the saloon are also traditional, the good old Monday through Friday from 4pm to 7 pm. The Details: All premium drafts are 2 bucks…
Dwell all you want on the poor economy, the dwindling job market or the plethora of depressing events of 2010 — it’s been a good year for beer. Despite a drop in overall beer sales, craft brews continue to rise in popularity, allowing innovative American brewers to stretch their muscles…
The Spot: Arriba Mexican Grill,1812 E Camelback, Phoenix, with 5 other locations across the Valley, 602-265-9112, www.arribamexicangrill.com. The Hours: Monday through Friday from 3 pm to 6 pm, with a reverse happy hour every day of the week from 9 pm to close. The Details: Arriba offers a 99 cent…
The beer geek is a simple creature, really. Plop a few bottles in front of him this holiday season and he’ll call it good. But when the holiday five-pack just won’t cut it, here are some gift ideas that’ll make your beer geek piss-drunk — with happiness…
