Why is it so hard to get a good Martini in this town? Hell, why is it so hard to find a good Martini anywhere? For such a simple drink, you’d think you could saunter into any bar short of a sleazy dive and get a Martini done right. The…
The Spot: America’s Taco Shop, 735 E. University Drive, Tempe, AZ 85281. (480) 751-6250. (Two more locations in downtown Phoenix) www.americastacoshop.net The Hours: 2 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday The Details: Tacos Al Pastor (with marinated pork, cabbage, guacamole, cilantro, and grilled pineapple, served with tomatillo salsa) are just…
Beer: 7 Wives Saison Brewery: Sonoran Brewing Co. Style: Saison ABV: 5.2-ish While brewers I’ve talked to usually sing the joys of collaborating with others in their craft, a few have confessed that the process is a pain. Attention spans are short among beer-makers, they say, and coordinating a…
This week, I’ve had enough of watching people play horrible games of pool at the table where I work. I’m stepping out from behind the bar to show all of you how to play pool. Head on over to Jackalope Ranch for your lesson in how to play a game…
The Spot: Cornish Pasty Co., 1941 W. Guadalupe Road, Mesa, AZ 85202. (480) 838-3586. (Other location, newly expanding, in Tempe) www.cornishpastyco.com The Hours: 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. until close every day; all day Sundays The Details: We’ve worshipped at the altar of Cornish’s $3 car bombs before,…
Beer: Big Sky KriekBrewery: Big Sky Brewing Co. Style: Fruit BeerABV: 10 percent As with restaurants and hotels, there’s a wealth of consumer-generated review content floating around the interwebs that pertains to beers. From video reviews to expansive rating databases, sites available at your fingertips can tell you whether that…
It’s that time again, time for the students at ASU to be on spring break, heading off to Puerto Peñasco or Lake Havasu or goodness knows where. And with spring break comes a time-honored tradition for college students everywhere: binge drinking. One of the most popular mixed drinks for copious…
The Spot: Pita Jungle, 4921 E. Ray Road, Phoenix. (480) 785-PITA (7482). More than seven other Valley locations, including Tempe, Scottsdale, and downtown Phoenix. www.pitajungle.com The Hours: 3 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Reverse happy hour is from 9 p.m. to close daily. The Details: On the drinks menu,…
Beer: Deviant Dale’s Brewery: Oskar Blues Brewery Style: American IPA ABV: 8 percent Let’s talk for a moment about cans. See, from years of being exposed to canned beer that just happens to be the cheapest, blandest stuff on the market, we’ve been conditioned to think that cans denote…
Since I sling drinks for a living, I get to hear quite a bit about people planning soirées at their houses. These descriptions of upcoming cocktail parties always come with an implication that they are looking for feedback on how to better throw their party. So, since many of you…
The Spot: Cafe Bink, 36889 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree. (480) 488-9796. www.cafebink.com The Hours: 3 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday The Details: They’ve made it easy: All well drinks, beer (draft and bottle), and wine is 50% off. That brings a glass of the San Tan Sex Panther…
Beer: DeliveranceBrewery: The Lost AbbeyStyle: American Strong AleABV: 12.5 percent We’re all seeking deliverance from something. Maybe evil, if you’re the religious type. Taxes. In-laws. Me, I seek deliverance from bad beer, from the desolate landscape populated by bland, cheaply-made lagers and ales crafted by a lazy hand. This week,…
It’s that time of year when my thoughts turn away from warm, comforting Irish Coffees and Hot Buttered Rums. Balmy days like these call for a light, refreshing tipple. Few drinks can match the refreshing power of a personal favorite, the Mojito. Problem is, it’s next to impossible to find…
The Spot: Cafe ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale, AZ 85251. (480) 421-7997. The Hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday The Details: Labeled “Cool Redux” and printed on pretty cyan paper, the Cafe ZuZu happy hour features five appetizers for $5 (including Spinach Artichoke…
Beer: Hop RideBrewery: Tenaya Creek BreweryStyle: IPAABV: 7.2 percent “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” is clever marketing, but it’s far from true. Arizona benefits from several Sin City exports — a liberal approach to strippers and gambling is one; yours truly is another (I grew up in the…
I find it kind of ironic that I decided to call this column “Last Call”. I do like the sound of it for a column title; last call is the literal last word of authority for bartenders across the country. It’s a definite sign that the night’s revelry is drawing…
The Spot: Cheuvront Restaurant & Wine Bar, 1326 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, (602) 307-0022. cheuvronts.com The Hours: 4 to 6 p.m. every day; Reverse Happy Hour is 9 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 p.m. to Midnight Friday and Saturday The Details: A wide selection of martinis -…
Beer: Red Rover Brewery: Sleepy Dog Saloon and Brewery (1920 E. University Drive, 480-967-5476) Style: Irish Red Ale ABV: 6.5 percent Red Rover, Red Rover, send Sleepy Dog right over. Thanks to Four Peaks, most beer drinkers in Phoenix are familiar with the Scottish ale style. Kilt Lifter is everywhere…
After working at Trader Vic’s for its entire five-year run at the beautiful Hotel Valley Ho, I developed quite an appreciation for rum. Most people’s familiarity with rum is limited to a mere two brands: Bacardi and Captain Morgan. Sometimes people are also familiar with Sailor Jerry. It’s a crying…
Beer: Footprint RegionAleBrewery: Odell Brewing Co.Style: American Strong AleABV: 9.5 percentPeople like to say it’s not about where you’re from, but rather where you’re going. Weird thing about beer is, where you’re going in a way becomes where you’re from. Choices of where to distribute are not made lightly –…
The Spot: Coronado Cafe, 2201 N. 7th St., Phoenix, (602) 258-5149. coronadocafe.com The Hours: 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday The Details: Beers, Mimosas, and Bloody Marys are all down to $3, while the Cocktail of the Day is a steal at $4. House wines are down to $5…
Who hasn’t wanted to chat up the guys who make their favorite brews? The Chow Bella team, lucky dogs that we are, recently got the opportunity to do just that. Thing is, we only got a few minutes with each one. These guys are busy! Watch the short video below…
