This morning, celebrated pastry chef Tracy Dempsey officially announced that as of June 8, she’ll be leaving her gig overseeing desserts for Cowboy Ciao, Digestif, and Kazimierz, a position she’s held for the last five years. “It’s not an easy decision,” she says. Dempsey is busy working on opening Galette Dessert…
It’s everything I was afraid it might be. Hot. Sweaty. Loud. Stressful. With the only redeeming value being the rush you get – that is, if you are the type of person that thrives on frenzy and survival. Better than sex, said one of my classmates. Don’t believe it. You…
When I called Doug Robson, chef-owner of the fantastic new Gallo Blanco Café at the Clarendon Hotel, I almost expected him to ask me not to write about his restaurant. “I wanna be just kind of quiet about it,” he said, pausing to take a deep breath before talking to…
This afternoon, I finally got some time to catch up with chef Cullen Campbell in the wake of Fine’s Cellar’s recent closing, and he says he’s really upset about it. “It was pretty much the economy, and with the way things have going, the investors didn’t want to put more…
It’s about this time of year that Phoenicians — even some of the natives — start looking to get out. It’s not that we don’t love our warm, sunny spot on the map. It’s just that our hotter than hell summers are the equivalent of snowy northern winters; the time…
Just got the word tonight from chef Cullen Campbell that Fine’s Cellar is no more. To some, who’d seen the Old Town Scottsdale eatery not nearly busy enough in recent months, that might not come as a surprise, but to the many who’d become fans of wine guru Mike Fine’s…
It’s that time of year when we all start to crave ice cream, watermelon and light, refreshing sushi. In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we’ve got the dish on all-day food and drink specials at Pearl Sushi Lounge & Bomber Bar, plus tantalizing tidbits about new sushi offerings in…
Being a chef is more than just knowing how to cook. It’s about knowing how to manage a restaurant (or other food business) and deal with the public. So we’ve got a 3-week stint working the front of the house. Host. Server. Busser. Wine steward. With only 6 of us…
In the table-turning trade, every shift ushers in a new assortment of characters. And the luck of the draw can either make your day or make your day a ten percent, everything on the side and separate checks living hell. Focusing on the positive, here’s a short list of the…
Gather ye stickybuns while ye may! Tomorrow, May 27, is the last day in business for El Chorro Lodge, the Paradise Valley eatery where a scenic mountain view, killer eats (everything from eggs benedict to steaks) and old-school cool have earned it many Best of Phoenix awards over the years…
A holiday weekend is a good time for a soft opening, it seems. The Parlor quietly opened its doors a few nights ago, and incredibly, I’ve already talked to a few friends who’ve been there. People must be hungry for this stuff. Word is, the food is straightforward and pretty…
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: Monday Night Martha: Mexican Chocolate Tofu Pudding Bing Soo:…
Here’s some really new news: Event management company Pro Em is hosting a farmers’ market and rummage sale (plus an informal job fair) at their facility at 4707 East Baseline Road (just west of I-10) tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon. If all goes well, the event might return in…
Cyclo, a bright Vietnamese spot (www.cycloaz.com, 1919 W. Chandler Blvd, 480- 963-4490) in Chandler, delivers food with a fiery punch. This should come as no surprise, since the bistro’s owner, Justina Duong, is one fiery number herself. Known for her sharp wit, killer fashion sense and eye for design, she’s…
Maybe I took a few too many bocce balls to the Noggin at the Dogifh Head Intergalactic Bocce Tournament a few weeks ago, but I’ve had the stuff on my mind ever since. Specifically the Aprihop which Dogfish Head describes as “a serious India Pale Ale brewed with real apricots.”…
All hail Cheese ‘N Stuff. If you live anywhere near the corner of Camelback and Central, you owe it to yourself to check out this charming, old-school sandwich shoppe. Heck, even if you reside farther afield, Cheese ‘N Stuff may be worth the drive — while you’re in the ‘hood,…
We’re not into putting all of our eggs into one basket, but if Scramble is half as delicious as this week’s Cafe column makes it out to be, we’ll make an exception. Eggs? We’ll take two, scrambled. Bacon? Give it here. Cheese? You shouldn’t have. Food Critic Michele Laudig on…
I’ve seen the future of breakfast in Phoenix, and it is called Scramble. I say that not because the menu is so cutting-edge — it’s heavy on classics like biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and steak and eggs. But honestly, if the selection here got a few tweaks and additions for…
He’s been on board for a while, but as of today, former Digestif front-of-the-house personality Pavle Milic has officially been named the new general manager of Prado, the fine-dining restaurant at the InterContinental Montelucia resort. Another well-known local talent, Paul Xanthopoulos, has joined the team as maitre d’. Prior to this gig,…
We’ve discussed just about every way a restaurant owner can source local art, short of personally heading out to galleries and art fairs and soliciting artists to exhibit in their space. But there’s one possibility we hadn’t even considered — exhibiting artwork made by your own staff. Sure, this could…
After four years in her pint-sized bakery and lunch spot on 40th Street, just north of Thomas, Bertha’s Cafe owner Beth Goldwater was not able to renew her lease. April 24 was her last day in business. “It was a blessing in disguise,” she tells me. She’s since found a new space,…
As we speak, the 22-person staff of Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar is meeting at Cowboy Ciao, learning the sad news that Saturday night was the last dinner service for the five-year-old Scottsdale eatery. Chef-owner James Porter mostly blames the economy, but also says he’s had issues with the landlords…
