Some like it hot. This time of year, though, there’s a huge difference between a hot kitchen and a hot beach. Somehow the latter inevitably wins out. But that doesn’t mean you can’t plot your future kitchen adventures while soaking up some rays. In fact, the new Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes book…
After a hiatus for renovations and development of a totally new menu, the transformation of Nine 05 (from the restaurant formerly known as Fate) is complete. The restaurant opened last night. Executive chef Matt Carter of Zinc Bistro and The Mission, joined by chef Jay Bogsinske, has created an upscale…
Chef Joseph Gutierrez wasted no time in opening Tutto in the recently vacated Digestif space, and there was word that he’ll be opening two more eateries at SouthBridge this year. As of today, it’s official. In a press release just issued by SouthBridge, there’s confirmation that Gutierrez will also be…
Don’t be surprised to hear your stomach growl if you look at the menu at brand-new Karey’s Kitchen, which bills itself as a “Filipino-Mexican Fusion Cafe.” The food sounds mouthwatering. Along with South of the Border fare like flautas and chimichangas, the eatery offers Filipino treats such as lumpia (pork…
A friend passed along a tip on a new restaurant in North Phoenix that just had its grand opening. It’s called Rustic Cafe, and is located on Cave Creek Road, north of the 101 (20811 N. Cave Creek Rd.). Open daily from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the place serves…
Another local gem has shut its doors recently: Second Line Creole Caribbean Cuisine. At least, we can probably assume that from the “closed” sign in the window during its usual business hours, and the disconnected phone number. New Orleans native Duma Shange had opened the south Phoenix restaurant back in…
It’s not over ’til it’s over. An earlier report by the Republic was premature; Canal at SouthBridge hasn’t closed quite yet. It will continue dinner service today through Saturday. Chef Justin Beckett will be offering the regular menu as well as a special $25 prix fixe menu…
We really should have started a restaurant death pool this summer. If only I’d been so organized, I would’ve put Canal at the top of the list — based on all the rumors of the SouthBridge restaurant’s excruciatingly sloooooow business. The place just closed, reports the Republic, likely soon to…
You’d think that my recent run-in with a jalapeño at a central Phoenix hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint would’ve killed my appetite for the spicy stuff. It did. That hideously hot little bugger brought me down within 15 minutes of eating it and wrecked me for a day. To be sure, I…
Summer in Phoenix is a good excuse to take a ’round-the-world tour. Sure, the cost of airfare might be prohibitive, but, hey, at least I can send my taste buds on a journey. In fact, some of my favorite dishes around town happen to be those cool, refreshing, “summery” foods…
Wishes do come true. Talk to me long enough and I’ll start talking about all the interesting businesses I think Phoenix could use. A great independently owned cheese shop is always at the top of my list. Well, it’s finally happening. The fromage gods have listened. Cheese expert Lara Hardwick…
It must be the alignment of the planets or something. Seems like all kinds of restaurants are coming out of the woodwork to offer freebies right now. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, four Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que trucks will be cruising the streets of south Scottsdale, offering a…
You don’t have to be French to celebrate le quatorze juillet in Phoenix — you only need a craving for French food. Cheuvront Restaurant & Wine Bar is hosting its annual Bastille Day Dinner tomorrow, with three courses that include a choice of coq au vin or boeuf bourgignon for…
It’s tough times for home-grown supermarket chain Bashas’, which is closing 10 of its 156 Arizona Bashas’ and Food City stores (seven located in the Valley) on July 21. The Chandler-based company filed for bankruptcy protection yesterday, reports the Republic. Up to 1,000 employees may be laid off as a result of…
It’s time to get out your dayplanners, people. Yelp.com is giving you seven whole days to splurge on special three-course prix fixe dinners being offered for just $25 at 15 Valley restaurants, thanks to its inaugural restaurant week, Yelp Eats! (That’s their exclamation point, not mine.) Even if you’ve never…
Hungry for some tasty tweets? The culinary community is sweeping the Twittersphere, and now you can keep up with some of the biggest names in the biz just by clicking the “follow” button on Twitter. Here are some faves: @RuthReichl The Gourmet editor, memoirist and legendary restaurant critic Ruth Reichl…
Chef Joseph Gutierrez, owner of Scottsdale’s Cin-Cin Bistro, is moving quickly to fill the SouthBridge space still occupied by Digestif with an Italian restaurant called Tutto. He’ll also bring a Spanish spot called Tapas Papa Fritas to the spot where restaurateur Peter Kasperski had planned to open Mexican Standoff. According to…
You can’t crank your A/C hard enough. The pool feels like a warm bath. Fido won’t walk on a sizzling sidewalk. And on top of all that, you’re having a month of bad hair days. Or is that just me? Nah. I think most people would agree that the Sonoran…
Change is a-comin’. On the heels of Monday’s news that restaurateur Peter Kasperski is giving up two of his SouthBridge restaurant spaces and moving Digestif into smaller digs, more specific details have emerged. For the remainder of this week, Digestif will only be open for dinner, starting at 5 p.m…
Asi Es La Vida, a longtime favorite for upscale central and southern Mexican cuisine on 24th Street, is under new ownership, and recently got a shiny sign out front bearing its new name as well: La Taza de Oro Bistro. The carpets in the entryway still say Asi Es La…
It’s 110 degrees here today. It’s 83 up in Jerome. Sounds like a good time for a road trip, no? Oh, if only there weren’t that four-letter word called WORK to deal with. Well, if you can play hooky — or hold out ’til the weekend — I already have something…
Today marks the start of a new lunch deal at Lisa G Cafe Wine Bar: Lunch Box Mondays. Through the end of July, the casual CenPho eatery will offer a Monday-only special, with any lunch item (sandwiches and salads) plus an iced tea for $8. It’s a nice perk for…
