Five Things to Eat and Drink This Weekend

Cobbler on Quack at Cowboy Ciao There’s no better dessert (not even pumpkin pie) to put you in the mood for fall. Country Velador, pastry chef at Cowboy Ciao, came up with this genius pairing: traditional apple cobbler with duck fat ice cream. Based on taste alone, you’d never guess…

AndyTalk: Autumn Means Apples

Apples in shades of red, pink, gold and green are a great addition to all sorts of savory recipes. They add crunch, sweetness, maybe some tartness, and depth to whatever’s cooking.

AZ Taco Fest Planners School Judges in Taco Tasting

You think judging a taco contest sounds like a lark? Yeah, I thought so, too. But the AZ Taco Fest, held October 20-21 at Salt River Fields gets bigger and better every year (this is its third), and its founders-promoters-and-all-around-grunts Rick Phillips and David Tyda (a.k.a. the Eateraz boyz) want…

Creating Fall Cocktails with Belinda Chang and Julie Hillebrand at J&G

Ever wonder how new cocktails are created? On a recent Friday afternoon, I found out at J&G Steakhouse, where Belinda Chang, the six-month-new beverage director for Culinary Concepts Hospitality Group (a company in partnership with Starwood Hotels that uses menus created by Jean-Georges Vongerichten) had flown into town to shake…

Why Don’t Some Restaurants Take Reservations?

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. Miss a question? Go here. When it comes to dining out, some of us need…

Jack-O-Lantern Sweet Potato Fries — Thanks, Pinterest

See also: DIY Bread and Butter Jalapeno Pickles See also: Ward Off Halloween Candy with These No-Bake, Vegan Almond Butter Bars Sweet potatoes and jack-o-lanterns, tis the season! These fries are the epitome of what one can find on Pinterest – indeed, they’re almost too cute… but in the end,…

Cartwright’s: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Cartwright’s Sonoran Ranch House, 6710 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek, 480-488-8031, www.cartwrightssonoranranchhouse.com. See also: – Timo: Happy Hour Report Card – Citizen Public House: Happy Hour Report Card The Hours: Happy Hour is offered from 4:30 to 6:30 pm every day…

20 Best Ethnic Restaurants in Phoenix: Best of Phoenix 2012

We’ve spent the last year in the laboratory putting Phoenix under the microscope to reveal hundreds of specimens of the best culture, outdoor adventures, shopping, dining, and nightlife the city has to offer. And we’re finally ready to publish our results. Nerd alert! Now presenting Scientific Phoenix. If you’re looking…

The Gelato Spot Copies Stingray Sushi and Puts Up Presidential Campaign Signs Around Town, Owner Insists It’s About Politics — Not (Relatively) Cheap Advertising

Valley residents driving around town last week may have noticed some unique signs in areas used for promoting candidates for this year’s election. Instead of ads for President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney, the signs noted a showdown between Mint “The Chip” Romney and Ba “Rocky Road” Obama. The…

Candy Corn Ice Cream?! Yes, Please. Get It at CenPho’s Pink Spot

It might be fall, but ice cream really is season-less. Especially because CenPho’s Pink Spot has introduced three ice cream flavors that cater precisely to this season’s favorite flavors. See also: – Pink Spot Brings Back Lobster Ice Cream, Now Locally Sourced (Except for the Lobster) – Pink Spot Doing…