It’s that time of year when we all start to crave ice cream, watermelon and light, refreshing sushi. In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we’ve got the dish on all-day food and drink specials at Pearl Sushi Lounge & Bomber Bar, plus tantalizing tidbits about new sushi offerings in…
Gather ye stickybuns while ye may! Tomorrow, May 27, is the last day in business for El Chorro Lodge, the Paradise Valley eatery where a scenic mountain view, killer eats (everything from eggs benedict to steaks) and old-school cool have earned it many Best of Phoenix awards over the years…
A holiday weekend is a good time for a soft opening, it seems. The Parlor quietly opened its doors a few nights ago, and incredibly, I’ve already talked to a few friends who’ve been there. People must be hungry for this stuff. Word is, the food is straightforward and pretty…
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: Monday Night Martha: Mexican Chocolate Tofu Pudding Bing Soo:…
Here’s some really new news: Event management company Pro Em is hosting a farmers’ market and rummage sale (plus an informal job fair) at their facility at 4707 East Baseline Road (just west of I-10) tomorrow from 8 a.m. to noon. If all goes well, the event might return in…
We’re not into putting all of our eggs into one basket, but if Scramble is half as delicious as this week’s Cafe column makes it out to be, we’ll make an exception. Eggs? We’ll take two, scrambled. Bacon? Give it here. Cheese? You shouldn’t have. Food Critic Michele Laudig on…
I’ve seen the future of breakfast in Phoenix, and it is called Scramble. I say that not because the menu is so cutting-edge — it’s heavy on classics like biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and steak and eggs. But honestly, if the selection here got a few tweaks and additions for…
He’s been on board for a while, but as of today, former Digestif front-of-the-house personality Pavle Milic has officially been named the new general manager of Prado, the fine-dining restaurant at the InterContinental Montelucia resort. Another well-known local talent, Paul Xanthopoulos, has joined the team as maitre d’. Prior to this gig,…
After four years in her pint-sized bakery and lunch spot on 40th Street, just north of Thomas, Bertha’s Cafe owner Beth Goldwater was not able to renew her lease. April 24 was her last day in business. “It was a blessing in disguise,” she tells me. She’s since found a new space,…
As we speak, the 22-person staff of Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar is meeting at Cowboy Ciao, learning the sad news that Saturday night was the last dinner service for the five-year-old Scottsdale eatery. Chef-owner James Porter mostly blames the economy, but also says he’s had issues with the landlords…
While other cities are gearing up for prime farmers’ market season, many of our locals are taking a vacay. Find out where you can snag fresh produce and organic goodies throughout the summer in this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter. We’ll also point you towards local pastries inspired by the…
Summer’s here and the slowdown is palpable. But the flurry of culinary and charity events that started in the spring hasn’t sputtered out yet. In fact, one of the longest-running ones takes place this Thursday night. Flavors of Phoenix makes its 18th annual go-round on May 21 at the Westin Kierland…
New-ish Irish pub The Turf is only open for breakfast on weekends and Mondays — which puzzled me for about two seconds until I thought about it. People are always doing a drive-by to see what the line’s like at Matt’s Big Breakfast, and these days, it’s always a crowd…
We’ve always been addicted to ice cream. Gelato is still going strong. And tangy Korean-style frozen yogurt is plenty popular. So I would not be one bit surprised if bing soo became the next frozen dessert trend in the Valley of the Sun. It’s a kind of Korean sundae, with…
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: Monday Night Martha: Cranberry Sorbet John Mariani Gives Scottsdale…
If you consider yourself a Slow Foodie, you need to find an excuse to get to The Deli in Queen Creek. A good friend recommended it to me awhile ago — he stops by on his routine visits to The Pork Shop — and when I saw him a couple weeks ago,…
When we think of delicious delicacies that are affordable and filling we reach for ethnic food. We’ve been known to toss down a few spring rolls. We’ve gorged on samosas. We’ve even been known to get down on a pate-laced Vietnamese sandwich. Leave it to Food Critic Michele Laudig to…
Emmy Ayafor, the Camaroon native and now former chef-owner of West African eatery Bantu Bistro, has left his CenPho restaurant and is searching for a new location in Phoenix to reopen his concept. Ayafor had opened Bantu in the former Johnny’s Uptown space in December, but after a recent dispute about taking…
It’s no surprise when a current sensation like Lady Gaga or Robert Pattinson (if only!) shows up to swarming mobs of fans. But the stars of yesterday can also draw packed houses — if they’ve got a cult following. And they put out this wacky infomercial. Over 500 fans flooded…
Congrats to Sweet Republic owners Jan Wichayanuparp and Helen Yung, whose year-old North Scottsdale shop gets a mention in Bon Appetit’s June Hot 10 list of the country’s “Best Ice Cream Shops.” Can’t say it really comes as a surprise — these hard-working ladies have earned the honors with homemade ice cream and…
From conversations with my friends to the pages of the New York Times, budget dining is as popular a topic as ever. Everyone’s on the lookout for a killer taco, a scrumptious hot dog, a bargain breakfast, or an irresistible happy hour special. I’m sure the economy is partly responsible,…
It’s a sure sign that summer’s here. Vincent’s Camelback Market, the charming mini-farmer’s market held in the parking lot at Vincent on Camelback, shuts down during the hottest months of the year. This Saturday, May 16, is the last day to indulge in pastries, tamales, fresh crepes, produce, cheeses, and more…
