Every week, there’s a cornucopia of Phoenix food news, features, and reviews to report here at Chow Bella. If you’re like most people, you probably just don’t have the time to get to all of it. It’s kind of like those burgers at Old Town Whiskey; it just won’t all…
Shinji Kurita, chef-owner of ShinBay, has never been one for the limelight. But considering his fanatical devotion to pristine ingredients and the Japanese sushi aesthetic, he’s bound to garner some national press, solicited or otherwise. In its July issue, Wine Spectator features a glowing mini review of ShinBay in the…
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…
For those looking to escape from Phoenix to Paris, Zinc Bistro is the perfect place to dine. The interior is complete with brass railings, ornate ivory ceiling tiles, a 25-foot zinc bar, and Magnum-sized wine bottles turned into wax-covered candleholders, bringing a touch of French charm to Scottsdale’s Kierland Commons…
Mystery Diners, the cheesy new reality TV show on Food Network, has been focusing its high beams on metro Phoenix for the past month, featuring Haus Murphy’s in Glendale, The Groves in Gilbert, Caffe Boa in Tempe, Blue Moose in Scottsdale, Big Earl’s Greasy Eats in Cave Creek and Amaro…
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…
Happy Pre July 4th weekend, Chow Bella friends! Since we don’t want to over do it before the big Wednesday holiday (can’t we just move it to Friday this year?), we’re taking it easy with a cool tomato sandwich, a relaxing wine tasting, and a batch of summery cupcakes. Check…
When an argument broke out on Twitter earlier today over whether it’s appropriate for a food critic to sell ads on his blog to restaurants he’s also reviewing, something sounded awfully familiar. So we reached into the Way Back Machine (a.k.a. Google) to pluck a gem from the July 8,…
There’s food porn, and then there’s Lucky Peach. The quarterly journal of food and writing reaches above and beyond the primitive salivatory satisfaction provided by last night’s dozen-course dinner of Instagram meal pics, adding a hefty helping of intellectualism to our dirty diets of food oggling. For the uninitiated: James…
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…
We never really had a problem with the original Southern Comfort. Sweet and interesting, the spiced liqueur served its purpose as the standard cola mixer, and even made its way into the occasional cocktail. Then they started coming out with new flavors, like lime and pepper, which confused us –…
Oh, I know, it’s summer and I’m supposed to be talking about light sandwiches lovingly layered with garden-fresh fare, warmed by the season’s sun, and served with the sounds of wild peach-faced love birds. Well not today. Today is about hearty. Today is about meat and egg and slaw and…
Before you jump onto your smoothies-are-supposed-to-be-healthy soapbox I’d like to analogize smoothies to gay marriage.
Despite what you might have been hoping thinking, signs seem to show that the cupcake trend not only lives on — it’s still going strong. Earlier this month we introduced you to Sweet Jonez Rocking Cupcakes, the first cupcake food truck in the Valley. Yes, the fusion of two of…
Don’t worry, you read that right. We put Sam Fox’s brand new North up against Olive Garden. We thought it would be funny. We thought maybe Sam Fox’s new Italian restaurant would prove to be comparable to corporate Italian beast Olive Garden. We thought that we could prove once and…
Skye Supper Club — one of Peoria’s only upscale independent restaurants (offering live entertainment, no less) — closed earlier this month. Owners Terri and Ann Davies posted a farewell note to their customers on the restaurant’s website, saying:…
Allen and Traci Thompson, owners of The Grind and next-door neighbor Chick Rotisserie & Wine Bar near Arcadia, appear to have branched into Tempe territory with their newest restaurant, Mad G’s Grill & Tavern. Located at 19 East Broadway (Broadway and Mill), Mad G’s opened Friday, June 15, describing itself…
For cheese lovers in need of a fix on four wheels, your food truck has arrived — rather, it will have as of this Saturday. CheddaTruck, a new mobile kitchen dedicated to cheesy cuisine in the form of signature and build-your-own sandwiches (plus a clever little creation called Chedda Tots),…
This pin has been making quite the rounds on Pinterest lately. I’ve had a hankering for a waffle iron for quite some time and just never got around to buying one, but the deal was sealed after seeing this. I love potatoes, but crispy hash brown potatoes I love even…
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…
Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Miss a question? Go here. Go shark-cage diving, get on a JumboTron, sleep with someone…
The Spot: Los Olivos Mexican Patio, 7328 East Second Street, Scottsdale, 480-946-2256. www.losolivosrestaurants.com (Second location: Los Olivos Norte, 15544 North Pima Road, Scottsdale, 480-596-9787) The Hours: Old Town location: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Happy Hour: 4 to 7…
