Sure, we’re used to enjoying the food of top-notch Valley chefs, but when’s the last time we chug-a-lugged their culinary styles in beer form? The craft beer experts at Scottsdale’s Sonoran Brewing Company are setting out to change that. They’ve teamed up with four, well-known Valley chefs as part of…
Fans of Bianco DiNapoli canned tomatoes, the organically grown plum-shaped beauties in yellow containers from taste maker Chris Bianco and California cannery expert Rob DiNapoli, already know the goodness they bring to foods like marinara sauce and salsa. Now, it seems as if folks in Chicago are destined to find…
When a reader recently suggested checking out Durant’s Strawberry Shortcake, our first reaction was skepticism. However, there’s quite a buzz about this dessert online, and Durant’s has been a local hit since the ’50s.
Yesterday we discussed Miller Coors’ recent buyout of Crispin Cider as well as Anheuser Busch’s foray into the apple wine category. Cider is growing in popularity for a reason — it’s great on its own — but it can also play very well with others. Like Batman and Superman, cider…
Many East Coast transplants in the Valley might argue that getting a decent bagel in Phoenix is difficult, if not impossible, to find. Then there are others who say Hot Bagels & Deli comes pretty damn close. Hot Bagels & Deli, the little breakfast and lunch spot with three locations…
The Market: Saturday’s Camelback Market behind Vincent on Camelback is one of a kind. Surely, no other restaurant sets up shop with a series of tents offering freshly prepared breakfast and lunches — wood-fired pizzas, barbecue, crepes, omelets, pastries, pin-inis, and farm produce — like ducks in a row. If…
For all of you procrastinators out there, we’ve dug up 10 more Valley restaurants that would love you to dine with them on Valentine’s Day. (Here’s our original list.)This is it though. There isn’t going to be anymore help after this. So make a decision and make reservations. You don’t…
Editor’s Note: The original headline on this post was “The Manly Man’s Guide to Cooking for Your Woman,” but since our intern Jayson Swearington is still in high school, that didn’t feel quite right. And yet you’ll likely agree after reading this post about making chicken piccata for Valentine’s Day…
Cider is so hot right now. On Monday, Miller Coors craft/import division Tenth & Blake purchased Minneapolis, Minn.-based Crispin Cider. The deal also includes Fox Barrel Cider Company, a Crispin affiliate that produces multiple varieties of pear cider. Not to be outdone, Anheuser-Busch announced in a memo to distributors that…
Since Peter DeRuvo left Prado, the Andalusian-inspired fine-dining spot at the Montelucia Resort & Spa, last September, the Paradise Valley luxury hotel has been looking for a new executive chef. Now, a little over four months later, they’ve got one. Chef Michael Cairns will head up all aspects of dining…
Werner Herzog on Chickens from Tom Streithorst on Vimeo. Hey Werner Herzog, famous German film director, why don’t you tell us what you really think about chickens? I found this video over on the Tosh.0 blog (I don’t know how I ended up there. I swear I have been doing…
Traditionally, white pepper is used in white or pastel foods to avoid seeing little black specks. The French hate seeing those little flecks in their bisque.
Next Tuesday, February 14, Arizona celebrates 100 years of statehood. So where are the eats? The official state food eats? Sadly, there’s not one to be found. Which is why, after this long, it’s time to get hungry for an official state food. Here’s an excerpt from my column in…
You would think that after 100 years of statehood, Arizona would have gotten hungry enough to give itself an official food. Nope. Today, the only state symbol you might want to eat is the state fish, the Apache trout. But given its listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act…
If the most creative thing you’ve done with your seasonings lately is re-organize your spice rack, get an eyeful of artist Kelly McCollam’s works created using salt, spices, and food coloring. The Ohio-based McCollam is primarily a fine art photographer, but took a step out of her comfort zone to…
As if the stars were aligning to ensure at least one of my predictions for the Valley food scene actually comes true, Windsor, the cozy North Central neighborhood bar and restaurant from restaurateurs Craig DeMarco and Lauren Bailey, has announced it will debut its very own brunch menu — which…
If you let yourself be romantic, a morning stroll through an open-air farmers market like the one in Old Town Scottsdale isn’t all too different than a walk down the shops at Rue Cler in Paris. You can still tuck a baguette under your arm, walk down narrow(ish) streets where…
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeet. That’s all we can say about the line-up for Caramelpalooza 2012, the third annual caramel tasting event co-sponsored by Smeeks candy store and Chow Bella, going down Friday, March 2 at 7 pm. But don’t take our word for it — check out the list for yourself. Please, try…
Earlier this week we mentioned that The Uprooted Kitchen, a vegetarian food truck getting ready to start serving around town, plans to reveal its menu of salad bowls sometime in the near future. These bowls won’t be your standard lettuce with dressing B.S. They’re loading them up with hearty greens,…
Lately, in this In Season series, we’re taking a look at what I take home from Crooked Sky Farms each week and see what I’ve done with my CSA share, or part share. This week I’m using carrots and onions…
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. No, seriously it’s six days from right now. You have made dinner reservations, right? NO?! Well you better get to it. Good thing we know of a whole mess of restaurants that are celebrating the big V-Day. And guys — if the lady…
Sheesh Portillo’s, what took you so long? That’s what a lot of Chicago transplants in the Valley may be saying to themselves upon hearing the news that the Chicago-area restaurant company is bringing its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, hamburgers, Maxwell Street Polish, salads, and desserts to several locations in…
