Windy City Favorite Mia Francesca Now Open at DC Ranch

On the heels of the news that Portillo’s is bringing its Chicago hot dogs, Italian Beef, and drool-worthy cake shakes to the Valley (woo-hoo!), another Windy City favorite has announced its foray into Arizona, as well. Known as the pioneer of the neighborhood trattoria and a Chicago institution for 20…

Jerk Hut Is Your New Favorite Jamaican Grill

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, some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened,…

AndyTalk: Why You Should Make Pizza From Scratch

YOU SHOULD MAKE YOUR OWN PIZZA BECAUSE … IT’S FAST … Depending on your speed in the kitchen you can make a pizza, dough and all, in 60 to 90 minutes. That’s as long as it takes to get a pizza from a good place delivered on a busy night;…

Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill: More Standard Than Super Bowl

Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill in downtown Phoenix has seen almost as much history as the state of Arizona has. Originally the city morgue on Adams Street until namesake Tom Higley opened the business in 1929, the landmark tavern had been around for more than 80 years in various manifestations…

Make Your Own American Cheese, Inspired by Pinterest

One of the my favorite things about Pinterest is all the crazy stuff you find on it.  I like that you don’t have to go out of your way to look for it, it’s just always there.  But this is also one of the things I don’t like about Pinterest. …

Arizona Cocktail Week: Where We’ll Be Drinking

​We’ve got a big week ahead of us, fellow drinkers. Not only does this weekend mark the kickoff of the second annual Arizona Beer Week, but some geniuses got the bright idea to hold the first-ever Arizona Cocktail Week during the same period. We fear for our livers. But, troopers…

Tom’s Tavern Fumbles After Renovation

The thing to know about Tom’s Tavern & 1929 Grill is that after being on the brink of closing in 2010, it was rescued not by one of its primary clientele of local politicians and government movers and shakers, but by a far less likely source. Football. Arizona Cardinals football…

The Farm at South Mountain To Be Featured on The Bachelor

Love can be found in some strange places. At least, as my parents told me, that’s how I got my sister. TV love, however, at least in the form of The Bachelor, ABC’s reality series about a dude on a journey to find “true love,” happens in more sentimental spots…

Chef Christine Boerner’s Rose Truffle

This week we’ve been talking with Chef Christine Boerner of The Baker’s Daughter. A chocolatier and pastry chef, Christine told us earlier how much it takes for her to get ready for the most chocolate-y of all holidays: Valentine’s Day. Today, she gives us a peak at her recipe for…

Chef Christine Boerner of The Baker’s Daughter, Part Two

In recognition of Valentine’s Day we’re talking with chocolatier and pastry chef, Christine Boerner of The Baker’s Daughter. Yesterday she gave us a peek into how she prepares for V-Day and today we get schooled about how you go from cacao bean…to chocolate dream. So, how do you make chocolate?…

Ten Favorite Phoenix Food Trucks

Since the first food truck festival rolled into Phoenix last October, it seems that nothing – not stupidly long lines, not inflated prices, not a complete and utter lack of organization, truly NOTHING – can stop the flood of food trucks and food truck festivals from saturating the Valley with…

Chef Christine Boerner of The Baker’s Daughter

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and whether you’re in love or so far out of it you can hardly stand the sight of another heart-shaped anything, the holiday does bring all people together around one thing. No, we’re nothing talking about those warm, fuzzy feelings. We’re talking about…