We will admit to being wildly enamored of the classic old school steakhouse. When we think red leather banquettes, old men tucking into their scotch, and vats of heavy bernaise sauce over a bloody filet, we think of heaven.Which is why we were curious to check out Modern Steak, Sam…
The Rhythm Room has built a reputation over the past two decades as the Valley’s premier destination to hear the best in rootsy, down-home music like the blues, Americana, and rockabilly. But what about its drinks? Not so much. That’s not to say that bartender Mona Watkins doesn’has never gotten…
Sushi chef Shin Toyoda likes to keep his dishes simple at Sushi Roku, letting the super-fresh, high-quality ingredients speak for themselves. However, he does admit there are a lot of other sushi restaurants near Old Town Scottsdale that he has to compete with.One thing that sets Toyoda’s sushi bar apart…
In this week’s Cafe column, Food Critic Michele Laudig can’t help but wonder if Chef Aaron Chamberlin is holding back at his new Phoenix eatery St. Francis. Food Critic Michele Laudig on St. Francis: The food was comforting and tasty, but I can’t stop thinking there was a disconnect between…
Recently, we’ve noticed that the kitsch factor on candy corn has really kicked up a notch. One kids TV channel has its own homage to (rather, against) the sugary treat, called “I Don’t Like Candy Corn”. And lately there’s been a lot of discussion on the Web about how to…
There’s nothing like candy to release your inner 5 year old. From all day suckers to wickedly sour candies strong enough to make a grown-up wince, there’s a sticky sweet treat to satisfy every taste bud. Nowadays, it seems like nostalgia reigns supreme as quirky candy from the good old…
wo separate events are donating their proceeds this week to St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, a non-profit organization that serves 300,000 meals to the hungry every day.Hickman’s Family Farms has challenged local restaurants and culinary students to create a tasty “Egg on Top” dish; one dollar of each dish sold will…
Things must be going well for the wine industry — or at least for the vino superstore Total Wine & More. The retail chain is stocked from floor to ceiling with thousands of bottles from around the world, along with beer, booze, cigars, and bar-friendly accoutrements. Today’s the opening of…
Like any bartending pro, Mona Watkins has a cadre of regulars and knows their preferred poison by heart. Thing is, a good chunk of her return customers are bit more noteworthy than your garden-variety barfly or martini sipper. As one of the main barkeeps and manager at the Rhythm Room,…
Armed with a super sharp sushi knife and some of the freshest fish to be found in a desert, sushi chef Shin Toyoda takes Arizona tastebuds to Tokyo, one happy customer at a time.Toyoda got his first job in a restaurant when he was 16 as a busboy and has…
When rustic American restaurant St. Francis finally opened its doors for Labor Day weekend, I think Phoenix food fanatics heaved a huge sigh of relief. Why? To say the place was highly anticipated is an understatement. First, take a look at chef-owner Aaron Chamberlin’s résumé. After working in Washington, D.C.,…
There’s nothing like candy to release your inner 5 year old. From all day suckers to wickedly sour candies strong enough to make a grown-up wince, there’s a sticky sweet treat to satisfy every taste bud. Nowadays, it seems like nostalgia reigns supreme as quirky candy from the good old…
With Digestif being the latest in a line of popular Phoenix-area restaurants to close, we’re not exactly holding our breaths as the ecomonic forecasters declare the recession over. But there are definitely a few good signs here in Phoenix, especially in the restaurant industry. New eateries are popping up all over…
I can only go so long without a Gallo Blanco fix. Even after having been there too many times to count, I still get indecisive when I look at the menu, just because I want one of everything. So I dragged my colleagues there for a meeting yesterday, and once…
Seems like there’s no end to the gourmet burger trend. Delux has been getting the lion’s share of the attention for the past few years, but come December, there will be a new kid in the neighborhood. Headed by chef Matt McLinn (former chef-owner of Methode Bistro) and owned by…
The folks behind Crave Arizona set the bar really high with the event’s debut last year (it was originally dubbed Eats3), but round two, set for October 22 to 24, promises to be an even bigger culinary blowout, featuring 50 high-profile Arizona chefs and a handful of celebrity guests who’ll…
Fans of the Big Butter Burger at Matt’s Big Breakfast can rejoice. This Friday night, Matt and Ernie Pool’s homage to the all-American classic will be the featured flavor of the week at Welcome Diner, as owner Sloane McFarland continues his series of weekly culinary one-offs. “We’re really excited about this,”…
There’s nothing like candy to release your inner 5 year old. From all day suckers to wickedly sour candies strong enough to make a grown-up wince, there’s a sticky sweet treat to satisfy every taste bud. Nowadays, it seems like nostalgia reigns supreme as quirky candy from the good old…
I know there are some longtime Chow Bella readers who go crazy for bouillabaise, so this blog’s for you. Petite Maison PR gal Wendy Goldman just dropped a line to tell me about the latest menu change-up at the bite-sized Scottsdale French restaurant. Although their whole fish for two (so…
Chef Payton Curry had planned on staying with Digestif through this coming weekend (for the Crave culinary festival), but last night was his final turn in the kitchen there. Curry recently gave notice at the Old Town restaurant to make a move to Tempe’s Caffe Boa. Spaghetti Western “buzz and…
Will it be the gourmet panini restaurant, inspired by Ino in New York City, that he’d been trying to open before the economy took a dive? Or will it be an entirely new concept? It remains to be seen, but Prado general manager Pavle Milic — one of the city’s…
We love the East Coast-style pizza at Mamma Mia, but this latest special has us thinking twice about our order. With all of those fried goodies shoved into a cheesesteak, that sandwich has got to be one fat bitch. Do we dare eat one?…
