One of my favorite Japanese dishes has been far too elusive in Phoenix. It’s a savory pancake called okonomiyaki, and it literally means “cooked as you like.” In Japan, there are entire restaurants devoted to it in the same way that there are ramen shops, sushi bars, or shabu-shabu restaurants. Often,…
The Old Town Scottsdale space that used to house Pischke’s has been dark for nearly two years, but soon it promises to become a vibrant new presence in the local dining scene. Iruña, a new restaurant from chef Aaron May, will tentatively open around the 1st of May. It’s…
Crunched for time today, I skipped my usual taco joints and hit up Baiz Market, which is five minutes away from the office. Ever been there? Baiz is a great Middle Eastern grocery store — complete with a bakery and butcher — right smack in the middle of residential nowheresville…
Are you a Texan, or do you just like to cook like one? Either way, TEXAZ Grill wants to hear from you. The Texas-themed eatery, known for its killer chicken-fried steak, is celebrating its upcoming 25th anniversary by publishing a new book called In the Heart of TEXAZ, a compilation…
There are so many things to nitpick about the waitstaff at a restaurant. (I should know — I used to be a waitress myself.) The server is overly friendly and overly talkative, as if you really just showed up to bask in the glow of his or her dazzling and…
Movie screenings might usually make you hungry for a trashy dinner of popcorn, Twizzlers, and Coke, but FRESH the Movie has spawned a variety of tasteful culinary events that are far from the realm of junk food. Since the documentary celebrates the farmers and activists who are working to create a…
I went for the miso ramen, filled with sliced pork, fish cake, scallions, and a tiny bit of pepper. The broth was nice and flavorful — the real deal, something you’d want to slurp even after you’re done with the noodles. It would be nice, however, if the restaurant provided…
Too cute! One of my dear friends shared a great link with clever how-to for Peeps sushi. Who cares if Easter is over? Eye candy never gets old…
Acua, chef Joseph Gutierrez’s second SouthBridge eatery has closed, one month after its sister eatery, Tutto, also closed its doors.SouthBridge spokesperson Debi Bridges confirmed that the restaurant’s doors were locked this morning. Can we also assume that Gutierrez’s still-unopened third spot, Tapas Papa Fritas, is also kaput? Nothing’s certain.”There are a…
Good cheesesteaks, onion rings, and sweet potato fries aren’t always that easy to come by, so it’s a special kind of bummer to report that New Times staff fave Ricky’s Big Philly is no longer with us.Their number’s out of service and there’s a “For Lease” sign in the window…
It’s a makeover just in time for spring.Ristorante Tuscany, the upscale Italian eatery at JW Marriott Desert Ridge, has been transformed into a new spot called, simply, Tuscany.Although the restaurant did not close down for the transition, it’s undergone quite a few changes to become a more casual concept than…
It’s true, the restaurant critic’s fridge is brimming with boxes and bags of leftovers. But sometimes you just bring the stuff home because you really didn’t like it at all, and felt guilty leaving a plate full of uneaten food for a friendly waiter to inquire about.I’m not going out…
Curious to see the final menu at brand-new Radio Cafe, the new incarnation of Radio Milano? I know they switched up the name so that they weren’t tied to Italian food, but perhaps they should’ve just called it Radio Kyoto — there are seven different sushi rolls in the mix,…
I’ve been eating Milky candies for the last 20 years. These iconic Japanese sweets are chewy milk-flavored caramels that can be incredibly addicting, especially if you get a fresh bag. I could eat a dozen in one sitting, dentist be damned.Today I was a little too excited to find a…
In our recent feature Kitchen Ink, we brought you a roundup of tattooed chefs from across the Valley, followed by weekly installments of more photos. Today, we bring you “recovering chef and sommelier” Jacob Lebo’s “In Vino Veritas,” which means “In wine is truth.” Lebo can still be found mixing cocktails…
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…
Been eager to look at the menu for this new noodle joint opening up in Tempe on Saturday, and finally got a copy of the rundown. Miso ramen with char siu pork sounds good . . . Read on for the full menu:…
Craving Japanese for lunch? If you’re in North Scottsdale, now you have one more option. Upscale Japanese eatery Roka Akor just kicked off weekday lunch service (11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) this week. The daytime fare is more casual (and wallet-friendly) than the dinner options. Look for salads, sushi, rice bowls, and noodles, including…
George and Laura Duerr already have countless celebrities and private clients in their Rolodex from 13 years of special event and wedding planning for their company Ashley Manor in Chandler. Now, they’ve gone into the restaurant biz, in a completely different part of town. Their new grill and smokehouse, Cody’s, just…
Don’t these precious little gems look like some kind of exotic bonbons? They’re quail eggs from my friend Rachel Bess, who raises chickens and quail in her CenPho backyard, better known as “Rachel’s Tiny Farm.” She blogs about her experiences, occasionally sells eggs at the Phoenix Public Market on Saturdays, and even…
I didn’t expect to publicly share the fact that today is my birthday, but one of my darling friends just sent me the coolest, coolest surprise. “Sushi” cupcakes! These are like the eye candy you see in glossy cookbooks about fancy, creative pastries, and here they are on my desk,…
