Salsa Showdown: Mom’s Extra Hot Salsa

Real cooks can’t stay out of the kitchen. That’s why four of Chow Bella’s regular contributors have concocted four different types of salsa just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Check in next week to see who won the showdown. Now, someone pass the chips. Today’s Salsa: Mom’s Extra Hot…

Cafe: The Grind

Burgers? Yes, have some. It’s pretty much that simple when it comes to pleasing a pedestrian palette. Yet having a professional food critic recommend a particular burger joint doesn’t hurt either. Food Critic Michele Laudig on The Grind: Truly, from my experience, the best cure for burger fatigue happens to…

Modern Steak Sommelier Nabs Top Honors in Food & Wine

Courtesy of Modern Steak Modern Steak’s new sommelier is a real winner. ​A few years ago at a food festival, I overheard a so-called wine expert ranting about how women were lousy sommeliers. “It’s not their fault of course,” he drawled. “It’s all of those hormones! A woman’s ability to gauge the taste…

Verde: This Just In

We just got word that Verde — contrary to what we said earlier this week — will be opening for breakfast this Saturday morning, May 1st…

Toast Takes Center Stage

It’s sad when independent shops close and leave, but not when they move next door and become something more.  Such is the case with the old Drip, now the new Toast on 7th Street. Snuggled into a third the space of Drip, Toast has actually expanded its menu by two thirds…

Salsa Showdown: Breakfast Taco Salsa

Real cooks can’t stay out of the kitchen. That’s why four of Chow Bella’s regular contributors have concocted four different types of salsa just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Check in next week to see who won the showdown. Now, someone pass the chips.  Today’s salsa: Breakfast Taco Salsa…

Battle of the BBQ: Let’s Get Sauced!

Music editor Martin Cizmar’s recent blog on his exploits at the Arizona Barbecue Festival left me craving some rib stickin’, finger lickin’ good food. Whether you prefer your ‘cue dry-rubbed Texas style or coated in sticky sweet sauce like they do it in Kansas City, somewhere in Phoenix they’ve got your fave. My…

Gretchen Larsen, What Are You Eating?

Gretchen Gerber Larsen The improviser performs regularly with Valley Fever Improv and has a show with the Improvised Book Club Sunday, May 23 at 7 p.m. at Space 55 What’d you eat for dinner last night? Carne asada tacos, homemade by my coworker’s wife. Favorite food: Navajo tacos Least favorite…

Fry Girl Review: Burger King’s Whiplash Whopper

Like everyone else on the planet, I can’t wait for Iron Man 2. Every day that goes by without seeing Mickey Rourke cracking electro-whips, portable suitcase Iron Man suits, and Monaco sports car racing is like watching an eternity of The Back-Up Plan trailers. What better way to ease my…

This Week In Chow Bella

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: Challenge to the Chefs at the Scottsdale Culinary Fest…

Top 5 Food Films That Will Make You Lose Your Appetite

A few weeks ago we brought you the Top 10 Foodie Movies. This time around here are five more films where food is a central theme — though not in the most appetizing of ways. Here’s to a group of films keeping the “taste” in tasteless.  ​5. Delicatessen (1991): Delicatessen…

Coach & Willie’s planning downtown Chandler location

​Downtown Chandler, already bustling with a dozen restaurants bordering its block-long A.J. Chandler Park, is preparing to welcome yet another: Coach & Willie’s. Eric Stoltz, an owner of the downtown Phoenix tavern, says he and his partner hope to open a second location on the southeast corner of Arizona Avenue…

America Corrales’ “America’s Corn”

 America Corrales of America’s Taco Shop joined us for this week’s Chef Chat. Hope you’re in the mood for a spicy side dish, because she’s about to share the recipe for her famous corn on the cob …..

Fry Girl Finds Allies at the Lucky Boy Burger Joint

Some families serve up dinners of macaroni casseroles and meatloaf, but for the Nano family — owners and operators of the Lucky Boy burger joint in central Phoenix — it’s daily doses of creamy shakes, fries smothered in chili and cheese, and a burger called the Lucky International that’ll have…