Phoenix Food Nerds Unite on Dominic Armato’s Discussion Board

Local food blogger Dominic Armato is a gastro-geek on a mission. He wants to build a grassroots coalition of people who are passionate about food, and to that end, he has launched a discussion board called PHXfoodnerds.com His aim is to bring Phoenix food-lovers together for food-related events, impromptu restaurant…

Lo-Lo Dishes About Jean-Georges, Kool-Aid and Muhammad Ali

Larry White, Jr. Lo-Lo’s Fried Chicken & Waffles 10 W. Yuma Street, Phoenix 602-340-1304 and 2765 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-945-1920 www,loloschickenandwaffles.com This is part two of my interview with Larry White, Jr. (Lo-Lo), the owner of Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles. In case you missed it, you can read part…

Does Arizona Really Need a Second Restaurant Week?

Arizona Spring Restaurant Week begins on Saturday, May 19, and ends the following Sunday, May 27, and my response to that supposedly good news is a great big whoop-de-do. If memory serves, we had another Restaurant Week in September. Do we really need two of these blowout tent sales in…

Round Two with Lori Hashimoto of Hana Japanese Eatery

Lori Hashimoto Hana Japanese Eatery 5524 N. Seventh Avenue 602-973-1238 www.hanajapaneseeatery.com This is part two of my interview with Lori Hashimoto, co-owner and sushi chef at Hana Japanese Eatery. In case you missed it, you can read part one of my interview with Lori Hashimoto of Hana Japanese Eatery, which…

Urban Grocery Space May Have Bright (Green) Future

It’s been nearly a week since news broke that the Urban Grocery will be closing Saturday, May 12, at 5 p.m. Now that the dust has settled and tempers have cooled, it’s easier to see why. And why it’s highly unlikely — despite all petitions, protests, and the creation of…

Christopher Gross Makes Pig Feet You’d Walk a Mile For

The Chef: Christopher Gross The Restaurant: Christopher’s Restaurant The Animal: Pig The Dish: Pied de cochon Chef Christopher Gross can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear — or a pig trotter for that matter. And he does it often, featuring pied de cochon (the pretty French word…

Kevin Binkley Stiffed at James Beard Awards

This just in: Valley chef Kevin Binkley — the guy pretty much everyone agrees owns the best restaurant in Arizona — did not win the 2012 James Beard Best Chef Southwest award this year. Instead, the honors went to Paul Qui, executive chef of Uchiko in Austin, Texas. Last year,…

Classic Pimm’s Cup Makes a Comeback in Metro Phoenix

In this new series, Chow Bella blogger Nikki Buchanan shares what’s hot right now — and we’re not talking about the temperature. Whether it’s the latest trendy ingredient or the right dish for the season, she’ll give you the backstory and where in town you can find it. It’s official…

Aaron May’s Praying Monk Opens as Vitamin T Closes

Editor’s Note: We inadvertently reported that Breakfast Club hadn’t yet opened at CityScape. The error has been fixed. Chef-restaurateur Aaron May got a little surprise late last week from RED Development, the commercial real estate company behind CityScape in downtown Phoenix. The larger-than-life owner of Vitamin T, a taco shop…

Janos and J Bar in Tucson to Close Next Month

May 27 no doubt will be a dark day for Tucson food lovers. Two of the city’s most acclaimed restaurants — Janos and J Bar — will serve their last suppers on May 26 before permanently shuttering their doors at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa. In a phone…