Check the scene: A music festival in Tennessee 25 years ago. Chicagoan Rich Hollerbach meets Philadelphian Tony Scalia. They know big cities, and they know big-city food that packs a punch. Rich has downed dozens of Chicago dogs, and Tony’s chowed enough cheese steaks to fill the Liberty Bell. Cue…
The Passover seder — simply put, a Jewish ceremony commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt — is all about suffering. There’s a lot of talk of plagues like boils and lice, you eat bitter herbs and, traditionally, the service includes a meal featuring some pretty inedible food. Not this year. This year,…
Been eager to look at the menu for this new noodle joint opening up in Tempe on Saturday, and finally got a copy of the rundown. Miso ramen with char siu pork sounds good . . . Read on for the full menu:…
Yesterday we heard from Chef Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas. Gitenstein joined the Lola team and now works with owner Felicia Ruiz on menu items and seasonal concepts. Coming up? Gitenstein says they’re working on bocadillos, or Spanish sandwiches and a gaspacho-inspired take on the bloody mary (think cucumber-infused vodka…
Craving Japanese for lunch? If you’re in North Scottsdale, now you have one more option. Upscale Japanese eatery Roka Akor just kicked off weekday lunch service (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) this week. The daytime fare is more casual (and wallet-friendly) than the dinner options. Look for salads, sushi, rice bowls, and noodles, including…
George and Laura Duerr already have countless celebrities and private clients in their Rolodex from 13 years of special event and wedding planning for their company Ashley Manor in Chandler. Now, they’ve gone into the restaurant biz, in a completely different part of town. Their new grill and smokehouse, Cody’s, just…
The white wrapper of Wicked Bakery’s entry opened to a slightly greasy caramel — not a good start. But once I bit in, the soft treat exploded with a sweet and slightly sour taste and a salty crunch that fooled our taste buds. Peanut? Toffee? The suggestions were endless, but no one…
Who says you have to wait until the sun goes down to have a good time? “I’m later than I thought,” the tall, white-haired, white-mustached man apologizes to Tana and I as he jumps out of his pickup in the back parking lot of The Recovery Room. It’s a little…
Don’t these precious little gems look like some kind of exotic bonbons? They’re quail eggs from my friend Rachel Bess, who raises chickens and quail in her CenPho backyard, better known as “Rachel’s Tiny Farm.” She blogs about her experiences, occasionally sells eggs at the Phoenix Public Market on Saturdays, and even…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Fred’s at Barneys had announced their new series of wine dinner that will be held on the first Tuesday of every month starting April 6th. The first dinner in the series will feature a four-course dinner with wine…
The Spot: The District American Kitchen and Wine Bar 320 N. Third St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 602-817-5400 www.districtrestaurant.com The Hours: 3 till 7 p.m. and reverse happy hour is 10 p.m. till close Monday through Friday. The Details: $3.75 sangria, $3 microbrew pints, and deals on small plates. Nothing on…
Eric Gitenstein was the kind of kid with food on his brain; after realizing he spent more time thinking about his restaurant jobs than his university classes, he made a culinary escape from traditional study. After culinary school, Gitenstein tested out a few local kitchens — from Sassi and Olive…
Who doesn’t love getting chocolate rabbits for Easter? It’s naughty yet socially acceptable fun to cannibalize your bunny — first nibbling on the ears, then biting off the fluffy chocolate tail. Chocolate is one thing; actual bunnies is another. I blanched a little when Chef Payton Curry first advertised his Easter dining specials at Caffe Boa…
I didn’t expect to publicly share the fact that today is my birthday, but one of my darling friends just sent me the coolest, coolest surprise. “Sushi” cupcakes! These are like the eye candy you see in glossy cookbooks about fancy, creative pastries, and here they are on my desk,…
The mission: try to have lunch – for two – on ten bucks. I meet up with my thrifty lunch companion and say, “I don’t know if you’re up for an adventure, but I heard of this place that’s supposed to do a really cheap lunch, wanna try it?” “Sure”…
About a month ago we reviewed a new locally-made hangover remedy called RESQWATER. The verdict was, shall we say, less than favorable because whether or not the stuff works it tasted so “vitaminy” that it was a real task to actually swallow (and this was after a night that included…
Sushi restaurants are clearly not evenly distributed in the Valley. I can think of at least half a dozen, off the top of my head, that are in or around Old Town Scottsdale, but downtown Phoenix only has one, Moira Sushi. Later this summer, though, a new spot called Silk…
Get ready for The Duce, an innovative food and shopping experience set in a once crusty downtown warehouse in Phoenix’s now defunct produce district. (Latest word is that it’s set to open in April.) Back in the day, the area was referred to by local cops as “the Deuce,” because it was…
How well do you know your favorite cookhouse contraptions? See if you can guess today’s gadget and check back next week for the answer, and to see if you’ve won a most-awesome prize. Here are a few shots at this week’s trickster, add yours to the comment box below: -…
Aaron JohnsonThe local poet hosts First Friday Ignite at The Firehouse this Friday, April 2. What’d you eat for dinner last night? All-you-can-eat sushi at Koi Sushi Bar and Grill (4372 West Olive Ave., Glendale). Favorite food: Anything with green chile, or good seafood. Least favorite food: Jello, or bad…
An early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives. Starting Today, Over Easy and Hickman’s Farms are teaming up to help out St. Mary’s Food Bank stock up for Easter Sunday. Bring in a minimum of five non-perishable food items to one of the two Over Easy…
