In case you didn’t already know, Check, Please! Arizona is kind of a big deal. Recently, the Arizona PBS program won its fourth Rocky Mountain Emmy award for “Interview/Discussion — Program/Special or Series” — and for the fourth time in five years. James Beard Award-winning chef Robert McGrath hosts the…
Being a professional baker, Mandy Bublitz has a white chef’s coat, but she doesn’t like to wear it. When we meet, the coat is unbuttoned, and she’s wearing a tie-dye T-shirt underneath. This is how she rolls: She’s easygoing, plainspoken, and good-humored. When she’s done with her overnight shift, she’s…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
John Sagasta, owner of Jobot, Melt, and Flowers Beer & Wine, all in the Roosevelt Row neighborhood, has confirmed that he plans to open a bar behind Jobot later this year. While the details are still very much in the works, Sagasta says that the bar will be “cabana themed.” A…
Banh mi is the sandwich love child of France and Vietnam. A basic sandwich usually contains sliced Vietnamese meats, pickled veggies, fresh cilantro, jalapeño slices, and a smear of mayo, all nestled between a freshly sliced French baguette. For a while now, our go-to banh mi spot has been Lee’s…
Four Peaks’ Wilson Street Tasting Room Friday, October 23 Four Peaks Brewery’s Wilson Street Tasting Room, previously open only for special events, will now open its doors to the public every Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. The tasting room will also have food trucks on site during its open…
Where: Barrio Urbano When: Breakfast served 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily Dish: Huevos Divorciados Price: $12 (including tax and tip) The Setting: Barrio Urbano, located at The Yard in Phoenix, is bright and festive with vibrant colors popping against wood furniture and concrete floors. A bright fuscia-colored bar sits on one…
With the unveiling of Two Brothers Tap House and Brewery’s first Arizona-made beers later this week, Jim and Jason Ebel (pronounced Abel), two veterans of the Chicago craft beer scene, will officially become the newest additions to Scottsdale craft brewing. Though the brewery, which is located at 4321 N. Scottsdale…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
It’s been about six months since chef Stephen Jones debuted yard bird + the larder, the Southern-inspired eatery inside downtown Phoenix’s DeSoto Central Market. But as of this week, the restaurant’s got a new name. It’s out with the “yard bird” and in with “the delta.” Jones’ food counter, known…
We’ve put the palate to the test in Drinking Problems, a video series in which our tasters, ranging from a James Beard Award-winning chef to a comedian who simply appreciates a good drink, give us the good, the bad, and the ugly of what they’re drinking. In this episode, three…
With its funky artwork and well-stocked bar, Carly’s Bistro is one of the culinary pillars of downtown Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row. The restaurant has been open almost every day since launching more than a decade ago, drawing artists, musicians, and a diehard base of regulars. At the heart of the business…
I have endured the popularity of the gastropub. I have smiled through clenched teeth at the new trend in slaws. I’ve remained silent while tacos have taken over nearly every menu; while food trucks continue to blot the horizon and chefs boast about their special “pan-fried” pork chops. (Precisely what…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Good news, Gilbert. You’re getting another weekly food truck event. That means no more counting down the days until your once-a-week opportunity to get a street food fix because starting this week, you can catch some of your favorite food trucks on the east side of town on both Thursday…
Open Bakery Day at Pistol Whipped Pastry Saturday, October 17 Pistol Whipped Pastry will open the doors of its commercial kitchen to the public Saturday. From noon to 2 p.m., the baked goods purveyor will allow patrons to place pre-orders online for pickup, or to stop by and shop a small selection…
Bad news for fans of fried chicken served in a waffle cone: Jorge’s Chicken and Waffles has shuttered after less than a year. The Tempe restaurant, which opened in early 2015, served fried chicken and waffles and Mexican food. The menu offered options ranging from carne asada tacos to a…
It’s easy to wax nostalgic about shuttered restaurants, particularly in our town, and especially lately. We’ve recently lost the pleasures of a patty melt at Mary Coyle Ice Cream, the down-home charms of Bill Johnson’s Big Apple, the steakhouse traditions of Pinnacle Peak Patio and Monti’s La Casa Vieja, arguably…
Where: Back East Bagels When: Monday-Sunday 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Dish: Turkey Tempe Price: $8.63 (including tax) The Setting: Back East Bagels, located in the plaza at 1628 East Southern Ave. in Tempe, is a cozy bagel shop. It smelled of freshly baked bagels and had an upbeat atmosphere on…
This month, the Valley’s own Hayden Flour Mills got a little bit of national attention in the form of a multi-page feature in the November 2015 issue of Martha Steward Living magazine. Last October, Hayden Flour Mills, a Phoenix-based milling company, was named one of ten finalists in the Martha…
David Arnce, owner of Cartel Brewery, has announced plans to open a new brewery in Tempe. The new location will be called The Shop Beer Company and will be located at 922 W. 1st Street in Tempe. This is the latest adventure for the Cartel Brewery team consisting of Chief…
In January of this year bakers Jason Raducha and Claudio Uricuoli opened Noble Eatery in a tiny building at 2201 East McDowell Road. For the last 10 months, the grain-focused restaurant has been one of the most buzzed about lunch spots in town — in no small part, due to the…
