Running a restaurant is a lot like entertaining guests at home for chef David Traina, our Chef Chat subject for this week. He keeps the dishes on the menu simple with ingredients he knows and loves.Several of the dishes at Liberty Market are things Traina would serve right out of…
Babaloos Cuban Cafe vs. Havana Cafe Created by immigrant laborers at the turn of the 20th century, the Cuban Sandwich is a tasty alternative to Plain Jane ham and cheese. Some versions have salami, some have lettuce and tomato, but the basics are the same: pork, spiced ham, cheese and…
Sometimes shopping at farmers markets can be overwhelming, and you end up packing 10 reusable bags full of fresh fruits and veggies but don’t know where to start once you get to the kitchen. Learn just how to turn all that produce into perfection at the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers’…
Phoenix is known as a home of transplants, with much of its population having relocated from elsewhere in the country (or in the world). But if you’re a Chicago native or an East Coaster, you’ll feel right at home in a Glendale restaurant that specializes in Philly cheese steaks and…
Go Jan and Helen! The ladies of Sweet Republic — North Scottsdale’s charming artisanal ice cream shop, which we awarded “Best Ice Cream” in this year’s Best of Phoenix issue — have gotten their product into Whole Foods in Scottsdale. Over the next week, they’ll be stocking the rest of…
Are you sensing a pattern here? As in, my obsession with sweet, edible, funny things? Oh yes, it’s bad. Don’t believe me? I’m writing this as I sit next to a melted LP vinyl dish full of chocolate-filled Hello Kitty marshmallows. But that’s not what I wanted to tell you about. My latest…
Chef David Traina seems very relaxed in his restaurant Liberty Market, which is surprising because the Gilbert hotspot opened just over a year ago. It’s safe to say that his hospitable nature is the key to his success.Traina runs Liberty Market with his wife Kiersten and his business partner Joe…
Find out what comedian Amy Donohue loves to eat.
Caffe Boa owner Jay Wisniewski told me that new chef Payton Curry would eventually be changing up the menu at the upscale, wine-centric Tempe restaurant. I guess in Curry’s world, “eventually” happens fast. Fresh from his departure from the now-shuttered Digestif, he’s already launched a brand-new menu of dishes inspired…
Flight attendants-turned-restaurateurs Robert McCarville, Tom Vigil, and Randy Betnar sold Coronado Cafe two weeks ago, and the new owners of the charming eatery, tucked into an historic 1915 bungalow on 7th Street, have a few changes in store. Co-owner Diane Stackwick has lived in Arizona for a decade, but she…
You probably saw my post about Lisa G closing over the weekend — where I mentioned new owner Matt Diamond — but now that I’ve had a chance to chat with Diamond, I have more details for you. So he’s got a serious wine background. He’s traveled to various wine…
It’s not very often that cupcakes make me laugh, but I saw these little dudes in the case at Tammie Coe on Halloween morning, and couldn’t resist getting one to go with my latte. They’re probably all gone by now, because Thanksgiving’s the next big holiday to pimp. And I’m…
It’s Saturday morning. I really haven’t had enough coffee yet. But there’s nothing like big news to wake me up, and today’s word is a shocker. Lisa G Cafe & Wine Bar is closing. Tonight — Halloween — is the last night of service.Owner Lisa Giungo tells me, “It actually came…
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: Oysters and Bloody Marys at Casey Moore’s CRAVE Arizona…
Scottsdale’s Old Town Farmers Market is back and reportedly going to be bigger than ever. How big? Well, just about double the size of last season’s.Big name local produce growers McClendon’s Select, Seacat Gardens, and Maya’s Farm will all be selling fresh fruits and veggies at the market, something other…
Good morrrrrrning, sunshine! What an eye-opener at Conspire this morning — a large latte with four shots of espresso to get my brain cranked up, plus some sweets to share. Vegan doughnuts are a Conspire staple that I can’t resist, while the pumpkin-chocolate chip cupcake with cream cheese icing was…
Ooh, here’s some exciting news — there will soon be a superstar in our midst. The term “celebrity chef” gets thrown around a lot these days, but there’s no question that Thomas Keller truly is one. Whether you think The French Laundry in Yountville, CA, is the best restaurant in…
Pan searing is the secret to making your tongue bend to its knees and accept the healthiness of chicken breast. The best part is you can put it on anything. Salad, pasta, me, and it still tastes good.
I promised not to name him yet, because he hasn’t given notice with his current employer. But if I could tell you who’s opening a stylish new downtown Mexican restaurant called Verde this coming month, I would most certainly put this chef’s name in bold letters. That’s what I did…
Schnepf Farms may have gotten a reputation for hosting rowdy music festivals, but that isn’t what is attracting fall foodies. Schnepf is another great example of an Arizona you-pick-it farm, and it’s a lot easier to get to than Buckelew or Apple Annie’s.Currently, the farm is putting on a pumpkin and chili…
Seasonal. Local. Organic. Those three words always seem to go together, and you hear them more and more. They’re the unofficial mantra of the Slow Food Movement, which was founded 20 years ago when delegates from 15 countries signed a manifesto against fast food, fast life, and the erosion of…
Yupha’s Thai Kitchen vs. Wild Thaiger Visit even a semi-authentic ethnic restaurant — Thai, Indian, Vietnamese — and you’ll generally find two types of dishes on the menu: traditional specialties with unpronounceable names and flavors that pay homage to the homeland, and bastardized versions more suited to the average American palate. Though…
