As the Trib’s Jess Harter pointed out on his blog last week, “Valley chefs are the new homeless.” 2009 saw many of the top toques in town become restaurant ronin after their restaurants closed or they parted ways with their employers or business partners. But at least one of those…
Tempe certainly lost some major mojo when longtime Mill Avenue hangout Long Wong’s closed a few years back. In its heyday, there was no better place to eat a burger and some wings, knock back a few cold ones, and watch local bands kick out the jams. But now the same…
I may never eat IKEA’s Swedish meatballs again. After a post-New Year’s Day pilgrimage to ogle fabrics and cute dishware that I really don’t need at Tempe’s uber-retailer, I remembered that new Hillside Spot is just down the street, on the other side of I-10 (4740 E. Warner Rd.). Considering…
When most people find something they can’t or won’t eat, they simply avoid it. As for me, I’ve pushed my palate as far as possible — gobbled up weird-looking sea critters that turned out to be scrumptious, masochistically consumed stinky fermented soybeans (natto), and forced myself to try liver, intestines,…
Two months ago, I found out about Verde, an intriguing new restaurant in the works from an established Valley chef who isn’t divulging his name until he’s ready to give notice with his current employer. (Given the construction delays he’s faced, I can’t blame him.) Located at 825 N. 1st Street…
Champagne will inevitably be poured, but how about coffee, too? It’s about time somebody shows some love for designated drivers, especially on the one of the biggest nights of the year for boozing. Dutch Bros. Coffee is doing its part to keep non-drinkers alert and toasty warm with a free…
It’s the meal that keeps on feeding. No matter how many bites I took, it seemed I could hardly put a dent in this enormous plate of ossobuco Milanese at Avanti Restaurant, the swanky, old-school Italian spot on Thomas. Can you have too much of a good thing? Not as…
Valley wine guru Tom Kaufman (Rancho Pinot, Humble Pie) is doing a lot of last-minute juggling, but if everything continues as planned, he’ll be officially opening The Living Room Wine Cafe & Lounge tomorrow night in Chandler. “If the searchlights are on, we’re open,” he says. Keep an eye out. Kaufman and his…
Now that I can’t have Afghan food anymore, I’m suddenly hungry for it. Of course. The Republic reports today that the Valley’s lone option for Afghan cuisine, Kabab Palace (710 W. Elliott Rd., Tempe), has been sold. The new owners are keeping the name but have turned the place into an Indian…
A Pane Bianco mozzarella sandwich is the great inevitable for me. Like sashimi, pho, or a good steak, I can only hold out for so long before I get extremely antsy for it. Right before Christmas, on a day just a tiny bit too cold to be sitting outside, I finally…
Metro Brasserie, the SouthBridge eatery that brings Parisian flair via the Big Easy to Old Town Scottsdale, just announced a meal deal for 2010 with an easy-to-remember price: two courses for $20.10…
Sapporo will not be swimming with the fishes, thanks to Tavistock Restaurants, a boutique restaurant company based in Emeryville, California. Tavistock purchased the bankrupt Scottsdale sushi spot on December 22, promising “uninterrupted service,” according to a press release last week. Other restaurants in Tavistock’s portfolio include ZED451, Napa Valley Grille, Alcatraz…
Santa arrived early for Roger Carpenter and Phil Roberts, owners of DownUnder Wines & Bistro. Just before the holiday, they opened their new, expanded restaurant in Gilbert (1422 W. Warner, at McQueen). Just like at their previous location in Chandler, they’re still serving distinctive Aussie eats to go along with…
Yesterday I finally hit up the new weekend brunch at Postino Central, and it was pretty much exactly what I expected in the way of breakfast-y grub from the popular wine bar. Grilled focaccia with herbed butter and asparagus hit the spot, with thick, barely charred bread that soaked up…
Today I’m counting my Christmas blessings, and they’re named Jonathan, Wynter, Cheri, and Laura. These overachieving Chow Bella contributors went above and beyond for our Jell-O Showdown, where each of them brought a tasty, Jell-O-centric dessert to the office one day, all in the hopes of getting some blog props…
Sexy black leather boots. Rosetta Stone software to learn Spanish. Maybe a wine- and tapas-filled trip to Barcelona. And forget about snow — I’m dreaming of white truffles. I want all kinds of stuff, and not just because it’s Christmas. All year long, I’m not shy about saying what I…
Local old-school chopper manufacturer Sucker Punch Sally’s is branching out into restaurants with Sucker Punch Sally’s Old-School Diner, set to open for dinner on New Year’s Eve at the corner of Mill Avenue and University in Tempe. The former Ruby Tuesday’s will now be decorated with vintage motorcycles and Fender…
‘Tis the season for a soft opening. On Tuesday, popular Tempe restaurant Caffe Boa is ready to open a second location, Boa Bistro, at Mesa’s Village at Las Sendas Center (2837 N. Power Rd.), pending final building inspections with the city. …
Just in time for holiday food shopping — and refueling after hitting the malls — Oakville Grocery opens today at the Scottsdale Quarter, 15015 N. Scottsdale Rd. The gourmet specialty store, founded in Napa Valley, boasts two well-known local talents on its staff, chef Walter Sterling (Autostrada, Sol y Sombra,…
Breaking up is hard to do. Even harder might be cooking for yourself when so many recipes are meant to be shared.Local food fanatic Joel LaTondress — you might recognize his Chowhound/Facebook moniker, azhotdish — feels your pain. He turned a defunct romance into a smart concept for a home cooking blog,…
Gallo Blanco chef-owner Doug Robson says he had no idea he’d be opening two restaurants in one year, but things just organically turned out that way. His new place, headed by chef Patrick Fegan (formerly of Fiamma and Olive & Ivy), is called Hillside Spot, and it just opened for breakfast and…
Used to be, you could easily find a weekday lunch for around five or six bucks. Nowadays, it’s tricky to get a bite for less than ten dollars, unless you stick to fast food joints or tacos. But Padre’s Modern Mexican just unveiled a new menu of lunch specials that…
