73: Sharon Salomon

From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…

Three Things to Eat, Drink, and Bake this Weekend

Happy weekend and Happy Father’s Day to all the dads and dads to be out there. This weekend we’ve got a tasty burger waiting for us out in Gilbert, an afternoon of craft beer drinkin’ to do, and a sinful dish of bacon wrapped treats to make. It’s going to…

Postino, Windsor, and Churn Owners to Open Two More Concepts

Upward Projects, the group comprising Craig DeMarco, wife Kris DeMarco, and Lauren and Wyatt Bailey, hasn’t officially released the information yet, but I’ve learned that the owners of Windsor and Churn and the three-restaurant mini-chain, Postino, are planning to open two additional concepts in the north Central Phoenix area. The…

AndyTalk: The Celery Conundrum

I think of celery the way I think about cigarettes. I recognize the right to light up or crunch, I’d just prefer that the activity not take place in my kitchen or at my table.

Tongue-Tried: Lengua de Res Guisada at Restaurante Salvadoreño

The Restaurant: Restaurante Salvadoreño The Animal: Beef The Dish: Lengua de Res Guisada Have you ever eaten beef tongue? Most cultures (excluding our squeamish, wasteful American one) use all edible parts of the animal, routinely taking the snout-to-tail approach that chefs have made fashionable here in the States in recent…

Original Aiello’s May Relocate Closer to Downtown

Aiello’s East Coast Italian Dining, the Italian restaurant in Central Phoenix which closed earlier this month after being in business for nearly five years, looks as if it may resurface in a new location closer to downtown Phoenix. Owned by husband-and-wife team and ex-Manhattanites Joe and Myrah Aiello (who also…

74: Sacha Levine

Editor’s Note: This post has been edited from its original version to correct errors regarding Levine’s current job. We regret the mistakes. From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in…

Thirteen Reasons to Get Excited About World of Beer in Tempe

When we first saw that the American Apparel on Mill — which had for the past several years been housed in the old Tempe National Bank Building — was shuttering its doors, we were distraught. Where would we get our hipster glasses, unnecessary scarves, and bright pink hot pants? But…

Battle of the Green Chili Mix Burrito: Rito’s vs Carolina’s

Savory, salty, spicy, burrito-y — Mmmm we love our green chili burritos. Mix it up with creamy refried beans and we’re in burrito la-la-land. Two of the Valley’s best burritos come out of tiny hole-in-the-wall take-out joints that have been around forever. Carolina’s on Mohave has been around since 1968…

Del Frisco’s Grille Energizes the Esplanade

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…

75: Carl Seacat

From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…

How Long Is Too Long to Wait For a Table at a Restaurant?

New Yorkers are certainly no strangers when it comes to obscene wait times for meals, but, hey, it’s different in the Valley. So whether you have reservations or not, is waiting for a table at a popular restaurant worth it in the end? I asked Valley chefs and restaurateurs how…

DIY Spicy Watermelon Margaritas

I never knew how many different kinds of margaritas existed until Pinterest. Oh, man! It never ends… Margaritas are my favorite. And I’m not one of those girls who always has to drink sweet, fruity stuff, either — but sometimes it’s fun to experiment. A classic summer fruit collides with…

A Perfect Introduction to African Food: Yassa Chicken

For newcomers to African cuisine, why not make the first dish one of the most delicious? Yassa chicken (known as yassa au poulet) is a traditional chicken dish from the Casamance region of Senegal in West Africa. Prepared with lemons and onion, it is one of the most popular dishes…

76: Anthony Patafio

From now ’til we publish the 2012 edition of Best of Phoenix, New Times and Chow Bella present 100 Tastemakers — Valley residents who make the cut in our culinary scene. Some you’ll know; for others, it’ll be a first introduction (but likely not the last). While you’re here, check…