Is Scottsdale so 2008? It’s a fair question, given all the Scottsdale-based restaurateurs who are eyeing central Phoenix for their newest ventures for 2010 and beyond. Chef Aaron May, Sam Fox, and Kyle Shivers are the latest to sign on at CityScape, the ambitious 1.8 million square foot downtown development that’s replaced Patriot’s Square…
Forty years ago, Leslie Curry changed her diet. She stopped eating processed foods and started eating the kinds of foods Madonna would famously advocate 3 decades later. It was macrobiotic, and it was, to put it kindly, out of the ordinary. Today, however, Curry feels vindicated. The proof? Now, a…
It’s simple-made-elaborate for Chef de Cuisine Jacques Qualin, the man in the kitchen at celebrity chef Jean-George Vongerichten’s J&G Steakhouse, which sits atop The Phoenician. “It’s a steakhouse but we don’t want to do like a basic steakhouse,” he said. “[So] we’re trying to play on the side dishes, and…
What’s cooking this weekend? Considering that Saturday is July 4th, we’re guessing some rich, tangy barbecued meats — or at least hot dogs and burgers on the grill. In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, get grilling tips from the award-winning Joe’s Real BBQ in Gilbert and find out where…
In a world teeming with celebrity chefs, Jacques Qualin isn’t particularly well-known. The J in J&G Steakhouse — the newish, top-of-the-bill restaurant at The Phoenician — stands not for Jacques, but for Jean-George, as in J&G’s creator, namesake, head chef and owner – Jean-Georges Vongerichten. But if you’re lucky enough…
More to love, baby. It’s always fun to report on a new restaurant opening, but this tidbit is particularly delectable because it’s all about tortas. Tortas El Guero, that is. Last week, the Mexican sandwich shop just opened its fifth Valley location, at 4121 E. Thomas Road (602-840-2889). It’s no…
You want to see locally owned restaurants thrive? Put your money where your mouth is. The folks at Local First Arizona would be happy to help. Once again, they’ve organized dozens of local businesses for the annual Independents Week — going on now through July 5. Visit the website, and you…
This is a slightly bizarre but delicious summer soup made of pureed watermelon and tomato. The soup is served cold and requires no cooking, so it’d make vegetarians, vegans and even the raw food crowd happy. The recipe comes from Epicurious by way of Self Magazine. Self says the soup…
Move over, Napa. Arizona’s young wine industry is currently undergoing a growth-spurt akin to a 12 year-old basketball player. For proof, see Michele Laudig’s cover story from last year, all about former Tool frontman and owner of Stronghold Vineyards in the Verde Valley. More evidence was available this past Saturday…
Locally-owned Jolta Java’s beverage menu reads like a wish list for sugar freaks: caramel espresso blends, fruity tropical teas, Italian sodas, smoothies, and whipped cream on pretty much anything you want. We decided to combine our quest for caffeine with a massive sugar rush by ordering Jolta Java’s Mexican Joltachino…
Hit print on this one, people. Or at least cut and paste. Here’s your guide to good happy hour deals across the Valley, with food and drink from around the world, at all levels of sophistication. Happy Monday. 1.Rosie McCaffrey’s 906 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix 602-241-1916 Good Irish pubs are…
This week we checked out the beers on tap at Santan Brewing in Downtown Chandler. Yup! We ventured far into the depths of Chandler to bring you this week’s update. At last weekend’s Craft Brewing Festival we ran into some Santan Brewers keen on their Strawberry Wit. To see what…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Caffiend: Cartel Coffee Lab’s Iced Toddy Open Casting in…
It turns out you can’t please everyone. I think we can agree one a few things, thought. For example: I scream. You scream. We all scream for ice cream. We also scream and shout and salivate at the thought of great beer. What if I told you that I combined…
“It’s not just about vodka and Red Bull” any more, according to Dave Johnson, sommelier at Sol y Sombra. The emergent cocktail culture that’s dominating the bar scene today, he says, goes back beyond Prohibition, to the Gilded and Edwardian Ages (the “flowering zenith” of the Cocktail Age, as he…
Who needs Restaurant Week to get a taste of some of the swankiest spots in town? Instead of waiting until September, lots of local restaurants are promoting special prix fixe deals right now — a great way to sample the offerings at a sweet discount. J&G Steakhouse just announced its…
It’s a little overcast outside right now, but soon enough we’ll feel the full force of the Summer heat pouring down over The Valley. Our favorite way to cool down: a nice Thai tea. We’re guessing we’ll find a glass of the good stuff at the Thai eatery that happens…
The new iPhone is a lust-worthy gizmo to begin with, but if you’re into food and wine, there are even more reasons to chuck your Crackberry and give in to Apple: the apps. One of the newest ones, WinePhD, was created by two locals, sommelier Brian Pierce and his business partner/co-inventor Dave…
When I think back to some of my culinary shortcomings, Denny’s often comes to mind. I always used to order Moons Over My Hammy, which was an egg sandwich of extreme-calorie proportions. Keep in mind this was over a decade ago, when you could still order a cocktail at Denny’s…
Been hungry for Thai food lately? If so, call yourself a trendsetter. This is purely anecdotal, but it seems to me that there’s been a visible proliferation of Thai restaurants across the Valley in the past few years, even more so than sushi bars or Vietnamese pho joints. There are…
We eat. We tweet. New Times food critic Michele Laudig is working all the angles for you, Phoenix — including Twitter, where you can follow her cravings. She’s easy to find: @michelelaudig. We’ve been on Twitter for a while now, and in between the tweets about Iran and Mark Sanford’s…
In case you were wondering: Gin was the first flavored vodka; the word “sommelier” originally meant “keeper of pack animals;” and organic spirits will be the next big wave in designer drinks. Oh, and Grey Goose is not any better than any other vodka — it’s all marketing. That is…
