Phoenix Rain Storm Affects Local Restaurants, Chefs Rally to Re-Open

Tuesday evening’s heavy rainstorms got Central Phoenix the worst – totaling 2.91 inches of rain and shutting down Interstate 17, flooding major and neighborhood streets, and causing some problems with local restaurants. Reports were popping up on Twitter last night about smoke coming from the Pizzeria Bianco location at Town…

Chef Interview: Dan Maldonado of Mucho Macho Taco in Central Phoenix

During more than a decade in the industry, Dan Maldonado has seen many sides of the commercial kitchen, starting as a prep cook and dishwasher at Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion before becoming a sous chef at Moon Valley Country Club. He’s run his own restaurant, the now-defunct Tacos Atoyac, and most recently,  he’s…

July 2016 Restaurant Openings and Closings in Metro Phoenix

Restaurant openings slowed down in Phoenix last month, but new dining spots include a chicken salad joint and a Middle Eastern marketplace. And Old Town Scottsdale said farewell to The Upton, a new American restaurant that replaced the beloved Petite Maison a few years ago.  Openings The Whining Pig, Gilbert …

Creamistry Dazzles with Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Treats

The Guilty Pleasure: Liquid Nitrogen ice cream Where to Get It: Creamistry Price: $4.50-$8.50, not counting add-ons What it Really Costs: Your pants will definitely feel a bit tighter after one of these babies. Sadly, not even science can save you from that.  Made-from-scratch liquid nitrogen ice cream may not…

The Baked Bear to Open Second Valley Location in Tempe

It’s only been about eight weeks since The Baked Bear opened its doors in Scottsdale, prompting ice cream-lovers from all over metro Phoenix to flock to the spot for made-to-order ice cream sandwiches. The first Valley location of the California-based ice cream shop has seen long lines from the get-go,…

ShinBay in Scottsdale Has Closed

It’s been five years since chef Shinji Kurita opened his fine dining Japanese restaurant, ShinBay, in a Scottsdale shopping center. Since then, the restaurant has been a destination for Japanese food and sushi lovers in the Valley and across the country, a singular spot for impeccably refined cuisine unlike anything…

12 Metro Phoenix Chefs on Their Favorite Childhood Food Memories

From meatloaf to PB&J, chances are high that you cherish food memories from childhood. And chefs are no exception. From touring the Jelly Belly factory in California to eating Mom’s lasagna, find out what childhood memories metro Phoenix chefs hold dearest.  What is your favorite childhood food memory? Kelly Fletcher,…

15 Drinks to Help You Stay Cool This Summer in Metro Phoenix

As they say, if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen, which lands us at the bar to find some satisfaction this summer. At Bitter & Twisted Cocktail Parlour in downtown Phoenix, you can freeze yourself from the inside out with the Perfect Martini, served at a shocking…

At Shawarma King in Glendale, Falafel is the Standout Dish

There are many places for good falafel around metro Phoenix, and even more places for merely passable falafel. Falafel, that crunchy, deep-fried stalwart meze dish of the Middle Eastern table, is one of those foods — like pizza, or maybe a gooey cheeseburger — where even middling efforts usually produce…

Cuisine & Wine Bistro to Open Second Location in Chandler

Chandler will get a new spot for modern French cuisine later this summer when Fabrice and Mairead Buschtetz open a second location of their Gilbert restaurant, Cuisine & Wine Bistro. The new eatery will take over the former home of Earnest (formerly Cork), which closed in March after less than…