Chef Chat: Kelly Fletcher of House of Tricks

Thank god for the corporate food world — it’s what brought Chef Kelly Fletcher to House of Tricks. “I hated [the corporate] side of the industry,” Fletcher says. “I was with an entire room of guys and girls with tattoos and piercings that had to break down our entire look…

Ryan Gaumont, What Are You Eating?

Ryan Gaumont The member of Bully Mammoth, a local group that performs written comedy, performs at the Phoenix Fringe Festival on Friday, April 9 at 8:30 p.m. at Space 55. What’d you eat for dinner last night? Pizza and beer. But the pizza had mushrooms on it, so it was…

Simply Unique Gelato: Closed for Business

Even if you’ve visited downtown Chandler a few times, you’re probably not familiar with Simply Unique Gelato & Italian Ice. Since opening in November 2008, the husband-and-wife shop struggled in its low-visibility location behind SanTan Brewing Company. That’s “struggled,” as in past tense, because Philadelphia transplants Richard and Diane Martin…

Catch Up with Urban Cookies’ New Trailer on Twitter

    We just caught wind that the good folks at Urban Cookies will be debuting their new 1958 Aljo Canned Ham trailer downtown tonight, in honor of First Friday. Catch up with the cookie monsters on Twitter, twitter.com/urbancookies, to learn just where they’ll be tonight and beyond, as they’ll be roving monthly……

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: Summery Lunch at RnR in Old Town Scottsdale Ahwatukee…

Free Candy, Live Music and YoYo Demos at Smeeks Day!

​It’s no secret that Chow Bella’s sweet on Smeeks — we’re still scraping the caramel off our teeth after last week’s Caramelpalooza. And tomorrow we’re grabbing the kids and heading over to our favorite candy store for Smeeks Day. Billed as a special day for kids (akin to a strip…

March Restaurant Closures

Later, gator. It’s time to say goodbye to the following restaurants that shut their doors during the month of March… That’s Italiano The Kitchen by Good Eats Grocer Pho Thang Long Nine O5 Tutto at Southbridge…

New Restaurant Round Up

March brought us several new and tasty spots to get our nosh on. Here is a quick look back at what’s new RnR Mad Chef Gastropub Cody’s Smokehouse & Grill Rhythm & Wine Stingray Sushi Biltmore Sandwich Club Sola Coffee bar Jac’s Pizzeria & Pub The Grind Papi Chulo’s Mexican…

Cafe: Crackers & Co. Cafe

They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but what they don’t tell you is that it’s delicious during the rest of Earth’s daily rotation. Enter Crackers & Co. Cafe, a local chain that’s serving breakfast up constantly. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Crackers & Co…

Fry Girl Feasts Festival-Style at Arizona Mills Mall

Aqua-massagers. Perfumania. Glamour Shots. People-watching. A freakin’ carousel in the food court. What better place to set up a fast-food eatery featuring festival fare than in the Arizona Mills Mall? In this week’s Fry Girl review, I’m cruisin’, circus-style, through the gala grub of Festival Foods. The first, and only,…

We Hope Crackers & Co. Café Is Building a Breakfast Empire

From time to time, debates about the merits and downsides of chain restaurants show up in food-centric forums like Chowhound, and they always get me thinking about the little guys — the local businesses that happen to be successful enough to open more than one location. At what point do…

Homemade Matzoh, Manischewitz Sangria and a Brisket Cook Off

The Passover seder — simply put, a Jewish ceremony commemorating the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt — is all about suffering. There’s a lot of talk of plagues like boils and lice, you eat bitter herbs and, traditionally, the service includes a meal featuring some pretty inedible food. Not this year. This year,…

Chef Chat: Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas (part two)

Yesterday we heard from Chef Eric Gitenstein of Lola Tapas. Gitenstein joined the Lola team and now works with owner Felicia Ruiz on menu items and seasonal concepts. Coming up? Gitenstein says they’re working on bocadillos, or Spanish sandwiches and a gaspacho-inspired take on the bloody mary (think cucumber-infused vodka…

Battle of the Dishes: Caramelpalooza Edition

​The white wrapper of Wicked Bakery’s entry opened to a slightly greasy caramel — not a good start. But once I bit in, the soft treat exploded with a sweet and slightly sour taste and a salty crunch that fooled our taste buds. Peanut? Toffee? The suggestions were endless, but no one…