Summer Reading: Gaining Ground

What are you reading? Have an answer? You do now, it’s Gaining Ground. Whether you grew up on a farm, want to live on a farm, or just really like to grow food and raise animals, Gaining Ground will capture your attention and make you want to personally thank a…

At the Western, Menu Lets Down an Otherwise Great Club

Editor’s note: As this column went to press, The Western indicated it would be developing a new menu. Some dishes described below may not be available. Visit our food blog, Chow Bella (www.phxfood.com), for updates. This column has been edited since its original publication. The Western in Scottsdale is part…

Artisan-Minded Eatery and Market Coming to Camelback Corridor

Lobster Cobb salads, artisan pastries, MJ Breads, a coffee program featuring Cartel beans, and an avant-garde floral boutique are coming to the Camelback Corridor by way of Chestnut Fine Foods and Provisions. Described as “incorporating the refined culinary influences of Los Angeles, New York and London,” the new artisan eatery…

CLOSED: Gelato Dolce Vita, Gilbert Location

On Sunday, the Gilbert location of Gelato Dolce Vita, the three-year-old spot of top-notch gelato in the SanTan Village mall, closed its doors. Owners of the store, Walter and Marti Bergamaschi — who attended Gelato University near Bologna and apprenticed in two different shops before bringing their expertise in Italian…

Five Things To Eat and Drink This Weekend in Metro Phoenix

Looking for something to put in your mouth this weekend? Here are a few things we have on the books. Proof Backyard BBQ Tonight Proof, the casual All-American eatery at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, is inviting guests to their patio for a classic backyard barbeque. From 5:30 to 9:30…

Zinc Bistro: The French Know How to Make a Burger

No matter how you view the French, you cannot deny they know their food. And there are few better places for French cuisine in the Valley than Zinc Bistro. There even is a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower in the middle of the quaint restaurant to make you feel…

La 15 y Salsas Spices Up Sunnyslope with Oaxacan Eats

Ask who has the best tamales in the Valley and chances are you’ll find yourself in an endless debate involving countless national and international variations of the wrapped snack. Ask who has the best tamales oaxaqueño and the discussion stops with Elizabeth Hernandez, owner of La 15 y Salsas, the…

La 15 y Salsas: Oaxaca-Style Tamales Spice Up Sunnyslope

On the subject of who has the best tamales in the Valley, the debate never seems to end. Given the countless national and international variations of the wrapped snack, the issue won’t resolve itself anytime soon. But when it comes to tamales oaxaqueño, the discussion stops with La 15 y Salsas,…

Bloody Mary Beatdown: Dick’s Hideaway vs. Gallo Blanco

Picture this: It’s 9:30 on a Sunday morning. The sun pierces your curtains. Your head throbs. Your stomach turns. Saturday night was fun, but no longer kind to you now. You, our friend, have a hangover. Lucky for you, nothing known to man battles the effects of a hangover quite…

Should We Eliminate the Concept of “Kid Food”?

Welcome to Chow Bella’s Bites & Dishes, where Valley chefs and restaurateurs respond to a question New Times food critic Laura Hahnefeld has on her mind. Have a question you’d like to ask? E-mail laura.hahnefeld@newtimes.com. Last month, in the health section of U.S. News & World Report, Dr. David Katz,…

5 Things to Eat in Los Angeles

The difference between the Los Angeles food scene and the Phoenix food scene is that in L.A., every restaurant is a scene. And that’s fine by us. L.A. is the place where the American cupcake takeover began (Sprinkles Cupcakes), In-N-Out was founded, and juicing became an acceptable diet. No, these…