Yesterday we spoke with Alex Padilla of Taberna Mexicana and today our conversation continues… Honduran-born Padilla is notably health-conscious — nothing on Taberna’s menu is smothered in cheese and rice and beans are not automatic. Padilla tells us he is appreciative of all different types of cuisine and it is reflected in his…
Leave it to Americans to come up with yet one more day that allows gluttony to prevail over common sense, class, and dignity. Yes folks, we are talking about the Super Bowl. What was once just a simple day to watch a championship game has been turned into to a…
Yesterday in Sweet Talk, Executive Pastry Chef Travis Watson described his philosophy on the discipline and art of pastry creation and the important elements of any carefully crafted dessert. Chef Watson favors desserts that are refined and include only deliberate elements (flavor, texture, and presentation). Chef Watson reminded us there…
Chef Alex Padilla may be new to the Valley, but not to the kitchen; he’s currently donning his apron at Taberna Mexicana in Scottsdale. Padilla recently moved here from Houston, where he was raised, to open Ninfa’s Mexican Kitchen, in Glendale, and now Taberna (in Scottsdale Seville, Roy’s former spot). The menu…
Has it really been almost a year since we stood in the parking lot of Smeeks — sticky and sweaty from a night of caramel tasting/swooning — and swore we’d never eat sugar again? Indeed it has. And we have one thing to say, Phoenix: Bring it. Get the date and…
Find out more about country/pop band Arrowheart here.Sara Robinson What’d you eat for dinner last night? I had a 6-inch turkey sub from Subway, Sara-style! Favorite food: During the week, I eat healthy, but on weekends I eat my favorite food, which is the breadsticks from Olive Garden and Orange…
Whether you’re a CSA devotee, a farmers’ market weekender or consider ketchup a veg, we’ll bring you fresh inspiration for how to prepare our local produce. Today’s harvest: Tatsoi. Before we talk about this sexy spoon-shaped Asian green, I thought you might want to look at a complete list of…
Singapore Noodles are a favorite Asian street food gone international. We typically enjoy this recipe from a friend with just vegetables and noodles. But with tofu on our mind, we decided to add some to the dish for a little protein and a little practice. We are exploring different methods of…
Taco Bell is calling bullshit on a lawsuit filed two weeks ago challenging the actual beef content in its tacos with a massive marketing campaign launched last Friday. In addition to a YouTube campaign starring TB’s president, Greg Creed, proclaiming the taco mixture is 88 percent beef (not 35 percent…
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: Food and Fun at the 2011 Winter Fancy Food…
Staying in? We’ve got you covered — both on the culinary and entertainment fronts. Now presenting Dinner and a Movie — a guide to a do it yourself evening of food and film.After spending time with a pregnant friend last weekend and noticing many glorious pregnant mamas while strolling through…
Nothing says “I love you” quite like an inappropriate public drunken make-out session at your local bar. It’s also a good way to scare off your friends and the fastest way for the entire place to suggest the two of you get a room. Save yourself the embarrassment and keep…
There are several joints for a little chinese food in this town. To stand out, you need to stand out; you need to prove you’re better than the rest. That’s why we’re taking on the two restaurants in this week’s cafe column. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Jimmy Woo’s and…
China’s on the rise, and I’m not talking about the global economy. In Old Town Scottsdale, two Chinese restaurants opened within a month of each other late last year, and it’s easy to predict that they’re both gunning for a chunk of business from P.F. Chang’s, a behemoth founded in…
Hawaiians call it manapua. The Chinese call them char siu bao. We’re not talking about mythical creatures or ancient gods here. These exotic sounding terms boil down to something the modern American palate is familiar with: BBQ pork buns. . …
Last week, a California woman brought a false-advertising lawsuit against Taco Bell claiming that their products contain very little meat. And for those of us who have eaten their Cantina Tacos, this should resonate like the sun exploding. The class-action suit, which does not ask for money, objects to TB’s…
Yesterday, in Sweet Talk, Shannon Dufresne, chef-owner of Crave Artisan Ice Cream gave us the scoop on her sweet tooth, creating a co-op kitchen, and why cooking from scratch inspires her. Shannon, known as the “ice cream chick” in her culinary program, likes to combine flavors and textures in her…
The Valley of the Sun saw a lot of activity in the restaurant world in 2010. More than 100 new restaurants opened and fewer than 50 closed their doors for good, according to our tally. Here is our Restaurant Round-Up for 2010RESTAURANTS THAT OPENED IN 2010Al’s Beef, ScottsdaleAmaro Pizzeria and Vino Lounge,…
Chris Wahl The lead guitarist for local pop/rock band Crash Coordinates performs with the band Saturday, February 5 at Scottsdale Studios. What’d you eat for dinner last night? Chicken breast cooked in olive oil. Favorite food: Rich, juicy prime rib. Least favorite food: Pickled capers. Favorite dessert: Cheesecake Factory cheesecake…
Whether you’re a CSA devotee, a farmers’ market weekender or consider ketchup a veg, we’ll teach you everything there is to know about local produce. Starting this week, Jennifer Woods will bring you fresh inspiration for how to prepare locally grown produce in a new weekly series called: In Season…
This week we felt like something nourishing and comforting, some kind of soup. Wanting to eat light, we strayed from our usual go to meatless recipes with a combination of beans and rice. Our thoughts turned to Asian style hot pots, found in Chinese, Thai and Japanese cuisine. But we…
Give a ten-year-old a plate of Brussels sprouts and you’ll get the kiddie equivalent of the bitter beer face. Hell, give most adults a plate of the healthful green veggie and you’ll get the same reaction: Icky. Those look gross. Do I have to eat it? Whine, whine, whine. Having successfully stumbled…
