Jordan Stejskal used to struggle with a multiple personality problem.For years, the Phoenix native worked for a Scottsdale architecture firm where she was a self-described office Super Girl in pencil skirts and heels. When she wasn’t in the office, Jordan turned into the hippie chef, a farmer’s market groupie who…
For some, guacamole is a mere condiment akin to sour cream or salsa. We think of it more like Guinness — excellent as an accompaniment to lunch or dinner, but thick and hearty enough to be a meal on its own. Afraid you’ll bust your diet resolution if you down…
This time of year, we crave savory meals to warm us up.This Guajillo Shrimp Cazueala, from Rita’s Kitchen’s executive chef Amol Agarwal (whom we profiled in yesterday’s Chef Chat), is not only hot in temperature, but it also contains some spicy ingredients that will make you feel the warmth. But,…
As part of local franchisee Sunwest Burgers LLC’s plans to open 30 Smashburger locations in Maricopa County over the next few years, another one of the fast-food burger joints is set to open at Gateway Crossing in Avondale (9915 W. McDowell, Ste. 101) on February 3. (The Tempe store is pictured above.) …
The past six months have been a blur. It was only back in July that the newly formed non-profit organization Devour Phoenix, a coalition of local indie restaurants affiliated with Local First Arizona, was making news with its plans to launch a high-profile culinary festival that would replace West of Western at…
We apologize to anyone who read the headline and got excited that Savor Scottsdale was resurrecting their cleverly named pig roast and wine dinner, held in April 2009 at the now defunct Digestif. We’re actually talking about The Notorious P.I.G., a new barbeque restaurant on Thunderbird Rd. in NoPo that our food-loving friends…
He may be cooking Southwestern fare now, but Chef Amol Agarwal is bringing worldly sensibilities to Rita’s Kitchen at the Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley. The Indian-born Agarwal has really filled up his passport, having lived and worked in Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, California, Jamaica and China before coming to Phoenix…
Justin SchimdThe guitarist for Hung Dynasty, blogger for http://wanderingjustin.com/ and nonprofit writer performs with his band at Donna Jean’s Libations Friday, January 22. What’d you eat for dinner last night? Pho ga from Da Vang in Phoenix. Favorite food: Korean food is really starting to shoot up on my list…
How well do you know your favorite cookhouse contraptions? Can you tell a melon baller from a cookie scoop? See if you can guess today’s gadget and check back next week for the answer. Here are a few of our guesses, add yours to the comment box below: – Alien…
Will new Touch of Thai give Malee’s on Main, a long-running Old Town Scottsdale Thai spot, a run for their money? Time will tell, but a little competition never hurt anybody, especially in a neighborhood where sushi is plentiful but spicy Thai cuisine is hard to come by. Located at 4th Avenue…
Slow Food Phoenix is teaming up with Kai, the highly acclaimed fine dining restaurant at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa, for a special interactive culinary event geared toward the truly food obsessed. Since attendance is capped at 60 guests, reservations are a must for afternoon of Saturday,…
It was tempting enough to take frequent jaunts to the East Valley when Wisconsin-based Culver’s debuted in Mesa a couple years ago, but now the Midwestern favorite is heading to Central Phoenix, bringing its famous ButterBurgers to a stretch of the city that’s surprisingly sparse when it comes to fast food burger chains…
One of Restaurant Business Magazine’s 50 Great Ideas for 2009 comes from Petite Maison, one of my favorite new restaurants in the Valley. Wendy Goldman, the restaurant’s marketing gal, says their Staff Meals were featured in the January issue. Available only between 10 p.m. and midnight, Thursday through Saturday, the bargain-priced…
It was probably inevitable. In light of the excitement generated by deliciously bad-for-you deep-fried goodies traditionally found at the fair and at festivals, now there’s a new restaurant called Festival Foods Services, dishing up said naughty treats all the time. And not ironically, it’s in the Arizona Mills Mall food court, which…
A lemon is a lemon, right? That’s what we thought when our high school chorus instructor told us to suck on cut lemons before a performance. Or when granny used to prescribe lemon wedges for cold and sore throat relief. If only we’d been older and wiser and known about Meyer Lemons, the delicious…
January evenings are chilly in Phoenix; not exactly ear muff weather, but certainly cold enough to justify a hot drink with a little kick. A Hot Toddy is a warm drink usually made with bourbon or scotch and a varying combination of sweeteners and spices. The Hot Toddy was believed…
It’s not likely to snow any time soon in these parts — and the holidays are long gone — but if you’re still fighting the post-Xmas blues, like we are, check out the cavitity-inducing sweetness over at www.bakerella.com, a super-cute blog we just discovered. Talk about eye candy. And hey,…
Last week we identified the top ten food trends of the 2000’s. Today we’re looking ahead to toward new culinary adventures. If we were alloted five wishes to change the way America eats in the next year and beyond, these would be them. Asian Ice Overthrows Fro-yo – We’re big…
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: Dirty Blonde Cocktails Hit Scottsdale and Tempe Resolve to…
Today Elvis Presley would have celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday and thousands of fans will gather to spend the weekend honoring the Rock and Roll music legend at his home in Memphis. Even if you don’t consider yourself a fan, there is no denying that Elvis Presley’s contribution to music was…
There was already plenty of excitement about the opening of FnB, a collaboration between Pavle Milic, Peter Kasperski, and chef Charleen Badman, since it opened in Scottsdale a little over a month ago. Now, they’re keeping up the momentum with a revised menu and an attention-getting wine list featuring all Arizona…
How many times has Ty Largo made me smile or flat-out laugh my ass off? Too many times to count. Between food news-and-gossip-fueled email exchanges (he does marketing for local fave Quiessence, as well as various foodie events around town) and his ever-clever quips on Twitter (@juxtapalate), he’s been cracking…
