If you can’t change the burger, change the bun. That’s seemingly been the mantra of the many fast-food chains that have, since last year, banished their buns in lieu of toast, delivering a menu of melted fare to those suffering from burger boredom. Is the melt mode here to stay?…
When chef Doug Robson opened his hip, contemporary Mexican spot Gallo Blanco Cafe a little more than a year ago, it was clear that he’d nailed a prime location at the Clarendon Hotel. There, he could serve hungry hotel guests while also building the restaurant’s reputation as an appealing hangout…
Here is a quick look back at our new restaurant friends and the ones we unfortunately lost during the month of June. Lucky for us, the number of restaurants opening is still greater then the number lost. Open! Starlight Cuisine, AvondaleIndia Oven, MesaTwo Hippies Pizzaria, PhoenixCenturion, PhoenixRenegade Canteen, ScottsdaleSecreto, Ahwatukee…
Yesterday we spoke with Ana about the challenges of navigating a restaurant through a tight economy. Today we’ll pick up the conversation and get to know a little bit more about Ana and what she does when she’s not in the kitchen at Sapna. What is your favorite food? I…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
Though I may have some carnivorous tendencies (mmm…carne asada), occasionally I get an urge to get closer to Mother Nature via some fresh vegetables. When a salad just won’t do and a veggie burger seems too processed, there’s always the classic vegetarian sandwich — or as I like to call it, the Plantwich…
Locals have been drooling over the idea of a mega candy store ever since Ohio-based b.a. Sweetie Candy Company announced the impending opening of a new location in a Phoenix suburb. Drool no longer, folks. Sweeties Candy of Arizona opened this morning at 1050 W. Chandler Blvd. in Chandler. Planned hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
I can’t believe I went out and ate lunch before our blog meeting the other week — the day when a bunch of Chow Bella contributors showed up with brownies. What was I thinking? And yet, somehow I found room to try them all, complete with a big cup of…
See if you can guess today’s gadget and check back next week for the answer, and to see if you’ve won a most-awesome prize. Here are a few shots at this week’s trickster, add yours to the comment box below: – Penguin Armor – Silver Frosting Cake Icer – Silly…
I ate dinner with Joe Arpaio the other night. More specifically, my family and I ate dinner beneath a gigantic black and white photograph of Maricopa County’s sheriff, one of several “celebrity” photos lining a wall at The Grind. The Grind is strictly a burger joint (hailed in the July edition of Bon…
After the sad closing of Lola Tapas, we learned that no restaurant, no matter how amazing, is immune from a bad economy. That’s why we were relieved to find that despite the economic downturn Ana Borrajo, Chef and owner of Sapna Cafe remains optimistic about the future. And this is…
It’s hard to resist picking up a book with the words “Crappy” and “Meals” in the title, especially when the cover art includes a photo of an average-looking woman wearing a chef’s coat and a coordinating bandana, holding a plate of what looks like lamb and vegetables with an herb garden growing out of…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let’s have one last look at the blog posts from this week: Brownie Showdown: Pentagon Brownies Chillin’ at Sens’ New Bar…
Forget the food-colored fantasies and stick with Apple Pie, the quintessential American dessert. Break down the baking by preparing your pie dough a day or two ahead, roll it out, fill and bake the morning of your celebration. It’s as easy as pie. (Whoever originated that quote had their tongue…
We stopped into a downtown joint this week for an early dinner and went a little hog-wild. In fact, after splitting (between two) and downing this flat bread — with bacon, Gruyere and onion-fennel marmalade — it was a little difficult to face our main courses … and then our…
When we heard about the 26-page Pentagon brownie recipe published recently, we couldn’t resist trying to bake them. Emphasis on trying. What better time for the next Chow Bella Showdown? We gathered the staff and got them baked — er, baking. So far, we’ve had the Pentagon brownies; “Joy of…
Just in time for National Hot Dog Month (Happy National Hot Dog Month, everybody!), America’s Drive-In, Sonic, introduced its new and improved Footlong Quarter Pound Coney, a 12-inch hot dog topped with chili and cheese. The revamped coney is a blend of beef and pork, boasts a quarter-pound weigh-in, and…
If there is one constant in the Phoenix food scene it’s the never-ending selection of comida mexicana. Don’t believe us? Check out Phoenix’s Mexican restaurant row. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Phoenix’s Mexican cuisine: Starting just north of Washington Street, Asadero Norte de Sonora is a great go-to place for…
Hungry yet? We’re working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella’s 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley — in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister blog, Jackalope…
After a recent episode of Private Chefs of Beverly Hills featured upscale, individualized meals cooked for four-footed members of a high society canine club, the fact that some dogs are now eating better than people comes as no surprise. We’ve spotted pastries, biscuits and even beer for Fido at the Farmers’ Market. Our latest…
