In Chow Bella’s new comic, Wait or Die, we tell the stories of waiters and waitstaff from restaurants around the Valley. Submit your stories here: waitordie@newtimes.com — and be sure to let us know if you wish to remain anonymous…
UPDATE: Shortly after the publication of this post Amy Bouzaglo confirmed to Chow Bella that the episode of Dr. Phil in which she and her husband will appear is scheduled to air on Wednesday, April 9. We told you late last year that Amy and Samy Bouzaglo, the infamous owners…
We love family. But we also love competition among family members. It’s in our blood to want to be the best or have an edge over that one relative. Bring cooking into the equation and it becomes a battle. Casa Reynoso is a longtime staple in Tempe, cooking up Mexican…
Check, Please! Arizona Festival Sunday, March 30 This weekend brings the second annual Check, Please! Arizona Festival to CityScape in downtown Phoenix. The event, hosted by Channel 8 and co-sponsored by Chow Bella, will bring more than 30 local independent restaurants together for an afternoon of food and drink sampling,…
The next time you go catch a flick at the Harkins Shea 14, you’ll have a new dinner option besides the infamous Amy’s Baking Company. Restaurant folks Angela and Mario Rana have brought handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and other Italian specialities to the strip mall on the northwest corner of…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
So, you visited the farmers market and came home with a tomato plant? Yep, even inexperienced gardeners can grow tomatoes, and now is the time to get going in Arizona. If you grow one thing this season, grow tomatoes! Salads, sauces, stews, and even jams can be made from tomatoes!…
Good news, vegetarian and vegan (and gluten-free) diners. You’ve now got a new option for dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. Sacha Raj’s vegetarian and vegan restaurant 24 Carrots in Tempe is now serving dinner with seasonal, locally inspired dishes. The menu will change each week, featuring a rotating lineup…
Say it ain’t so. After more than three decades in business, Karsh’s Bakery in Phoenix will close its doors for good and end of business tomorrow. The bakery, which has been in operation since the early 1960’s, offers a full line of kosher baked goods including what’s been regarded as…
The Guilty Pleasure: Two hot dogs and a freaking huge corn dog. Where to Get It: Chase Field at Diamondbacks home games. Price: Up to $25. But that one includes fries. What it Really Costs: Putting up with your friends giggling about 18 inches of corn dog. I’ll be the…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Jason Grossmiller Co-Owner, Distiller Arizona Distilling Company azdistilling.com Arizona Distilling Company seems to be making a habit of blazing trails for the state’s fledgling micro-distilling scene. When it released Copper City Bourbon last June, it was the first legally distilled spirit made in the state since Prohibition. And with its…
The first time I ordered a quesarito I felt like I was knocking on the door of an underground speakeasy, sheepishly half-whispering the magic word across the counter. At first it seemed I’d gotten the secret handshake wrong, as the pretty young Chipotle employee stared at me impassively while I…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
You don’t have to go out of the country (or even out of town) to find great, authentic Indian food. In fact, there are plenty of places around the Valley that specialize in a range of Indian cooking styles, whether you’re looking for great southern-style vegetarian dosa or northern chaat…
Oh Wes Anderson, you’ve won our hearts once again by teaching us how to recreate Mendl’s courtesan au chocolate, a fictional filled pastry that takes center stage in his new movie The Grand Budapest Hotel. With kitschy designs, muted pastels, and chocolate custard filling, the pastry is as fun to…
As general aviation declines, small airports around the state and country are forced to shut down their runways for good. It’s understandable — not everyone wants to hear the sound of low flying aircraft in their backyard or smell the fumes of jet fuel when they step outdoors. But as…
It’s been more than six months since Baby Kay’s closed its doors at Town & Country in Phoenix, at which time the restaurant announced plans to move into a new location nearby at 1582 East Bethany Home Road, in the former home of Richardson’s Cuisine of New Mexico. But now…
When a new spot opens in town, we can’t wait to check it out — and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that…
Early this morning Umami in Tempe suffered a small fire that has the restaurant shut down due to fire, smoke, and water damage. The fire, which also caused the evacuation of about building 60 residents, was started by a small motor inside the ramen shop’s ice machine. At the time…
Johnny Chu’s RedThai Friday, March 21 Earlier this year, we told you that chef Johnny Chu, of Sochu House in Phoenix and T. Spot in Chandler, was planning to open two new spots in Phoenix. And as of this weekend, fans of the chef’s Asian cuisine will wait no longer…
Once upon a time in a land without Yelp and Twitter, restaurants fell into one of two categories: open or closed. But these days, the situation has become decidedly less black and white. In recent months, I’ve dined at a number of Valley restaurants that have decided to open their…
