Matt Duske’s BC Squirt

​Yesterday we met Matt Duske, the bespectacled former teacher slinging drinks at the trendy Vig Uptown. Today he shares with us a recipe crafted by Brandon Cooper, a fellow bartender who worked with Duske in Seattle. “A lot of times, girls would come in and ask Brandon to make them a…

Ask the Critic: Where Should I Take a Teenager for Dinner?

This latest question came in via text from a friend whose teenage brother was visiting, so the specific request was for an affordable, dude-friendly spot to go for dinner. My first thought was, how about Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles? Boys like soul food, especially since they likely haven’t gotten to…

52: Fish Tacos at Barrio Cafe

​ Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog,…

Chef Aurore de Beauduy’s Summer Salad

This week’s Chef Chat was with Aurore de Beauduy of Vogue Bistro. Here’s Part One of our interview with her, and this is Part Two. Below is a recipe for her simple, fresh salad featuring heirloom tomatoes and purple basil. Bon Apetit!…

Matthew Duske at the Vig Uptown

​Young, bookish and personable, it’s not difficult to imagine Matt Duske at the front of a classroom. And it shouldn’t be, since the bespectacled bartender spent two years teaching math to disgruntled high school students. He recently made the change from enriching minds to enriching livers, and has been at…

Cafe: Zinburger

What’s the best thing about hamburgers? You can get them just about anywhere. Trust us, there’s nothing wrong with another burger joint; especially if it has something new to bring to the patty. That’s why we’re stoked about Zinburger. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Zinburger: The menu here is so…

Local Eateries Finally Hit the Airwaves This Weekend

What ever happened to that TLC show Best Food Ever? The six-episode series debuted back in May, and was slated to feature several Phoenix-based businesses. But the production mysteriously stalled. Now it’s back on the schedule. Tune in this weekend to see the remaining episodes, featuring The Lodge, Sweet Republic,…

Aurore de Beauduy of Vogue Bistro, Part Two

On expectations of women: Cooking is not hard. It’s what comes with it. It was dominated by men. And this was in the ’80s. It’s not like it was in the ’60s or anything like that. When I started cooking, the chefs were like, “What are you doing here? You…

Maui Dog and Loving Hut Open on Indian School

Two new restaurants just a few blocks apart, both opening the same week? Not bad for a particular stretch of Indian School Road that hasn’t see a lot of action lately. The brand-new dining options are cheap, cheerful, and casual. Maui Dog is a brightly painted joint that took over…

53: Reuben at Matt’s Big Breakfast

Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…

54: Short Ribs at J&G Steakhouse

Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…

Braised Oxtails: A Taste of the Caribbean

Despite what the supermarket aisle may lead you to believe, there’s more to an animal than neatly wrapped styrofoam trays of meat. From tongue to tail, offal (pronounced awful) encompasses all those taboo edibles that don’t make the cut at your local grocer. Just Offal is here to explore these…

55: Mole Poblano at Los Sombreros

Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…

Aurore de Beauduy of Vogue Bistro

Chef Aurore de Beauduy’s vibrant, spritely personality is not unlike her food. It’s fresh and full of bold statements. The French trained chef is the owner of Vogue Bistro in Surprise, which offers up her own unique brand of contemporary American cuisine. In addition to paying special attention to freshness,…

56: Chicken Fried Steak at Texaz Grill

Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…

Eat, Pray, Love Tea Won’t Cure The Fatigue

Who doesn’t love a good book-turned-movie-turned-tea?The Republic of Tea joined efforts with Elizabeth Gilbert and her marketing army to blend flavors from the three different countries Gilbert describes in her New Age spiritual (read: Girl’s Night) novel, Eat, Pray, Love. While our artsy, sister blog Jackalope Ranch covered the exhausting…

Mary Rose Wilcox’s El Portal: Eater Beware

As soon as we’re done dealing with all this pesky SB1070 nonsense, someone should really look into what’s going on with the restaurant inspections at Maricopa County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox’s El Portal, a Mexican restaurant just south of downtown Phoenix.   Talk about a Gross Out. And possibly an example…

Gator Eats Tempe Town Lake Fish, Lands on Our Plate

In case you haven’t heard, the poor fish that didn’t survive The Great Tempe Town Levee Break of 2010 were fed to a six-foot alligator named “Tuesday” — just one of nearly two dozen Arizona Herpetological Society reptiles that will feast on the receding water’s tiny victims. That inspired us to use our higher…