How would you define the quintessential Phoenix restaurant? For me, the old cliché about the mythological firebird rising from the ashes rings strangely true when it comes to some of the more distinctive neighborhood spots. We preserve our old buildings — and with them, our history — by repurposing them…
For most people I know, hot dogs are usually an occasional indulgence — maybe a dog with the works and a huge beer at a baseball game, a Nogales dog when the mood strikes, or hot dogs on the grill on a lazy Sunday by the pool. But Joe’s Farm…
After recently overhearing a few out-of-town visitors discuss their aversion to sampling fish from a “non-coastal state” (oh, the horror!), we felt compelled to shed some light on the Valley’s fine seafood offerings. In this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter, we’ve got a hot tip on a North Valley Japanese restaurant that offers traditional sushi, oak-grilled…
The clouds are still on the horizon, but it feels like a monsoon of restaurant closures is suddenly raining down on the Valley. In Scottsdale, Pink Pony (Old Town’s baseball memorabilia-laden institution) and Quilted Bear (the old-school American eatery founded by the late restaurateur Dale Anderson) have closed, as have Mesa’s Pizza…
What’s chef Matt McLinn been up to lately? Among other things, the former Methode Bistro owner has been working as the menu consultant for Dos Diablos Fine Mexican Food, a new upscale Southwestern restaurant that takes over the former Mancuso’s space at the Summit Shopping Center in north Scottsdale (32427 N…
Just a month after we said R.I.P. to Canal, chef Joseph Gutierrez is already up and running in that space with his second of three restaurants at Scottsdale’s turnover-prone SouthBridge development. Acua opened for dinner service last Thursday, serving an Asian-French fusion menu comprised of ten small plates, ten large…
All the time I spent studying Japanese literature was not in vain, as of this morning, when I got a look at the Eric Eats Out blog. I’m giggling as I write this. No, Eric doesn’t simply write a haiku. He actually writes a restaurant review in some approximation of a…
Andy and Jan Goldstein, the two husband-and-wife hippies behind Two Hippies, are expanding their mini-empire. By the end of this week, Andy Goldstein tells me, they’ll be opening Two Hippies Dropped Out of College and Opened a Pizzeria. Has there ever been a restaurant whose name was a full sentence?…
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: Monday Night Martha: Leeks with Eggs and Cheese Foie…
Looking for something new this weekend? Chef James Porter’s new French bistro, Petite Maison, opens its doors to the public this Sunday at 5 p.m. It will be dinner-only until September 5, when breakfast, brunch, and lunch service start up. Petite Maison is located at 7216 E. Shoeman Ln. in…
Great news for the caffeine-deprived: Fair Trade Cafe, an indie coffee shop that specializes in hand-roasted, small-batch, certified fair trade coffee, is about to double its downtown presence by opening its second location tonight. The original shop is just off the Roosevelt stop of the light rail (1020 N. 1st…
When it comes to work week cooking we’re with Food Critic Michele Laudig. After slaving away on blogs we’d rather let someone else handle feeding us. So we’re taking Laudig’s recommendation and checking out Spices Mediterranean Kitchen. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Spices Mediterranean Kitchen: The offerings aren’t expansive, but…
Michael Jackson is back — in cupcake form. Barbara Gardner, owner of the Arcadia bakery Let Them Eat Cake regularly features a “guest star” on her lengthy menu of baked goodies. Last month, it was an Elvis-inspired confection, but this week’s hit a particularly interesting note. …
I’ve always considered myself a pretty DIY person, even when it comes to cooking. Although I haven’t tried to tackle a culinary masterpiece like Mastering the Art of French Cooking à la blogger Julie Powell, I can at least list from-scratch puff pastry among my kitchen accomplishments. But let me…
Chicago Hamburger Company vs. Boomer’s Sweet Home Chicago This week we went to two Chicago-style restaurants to compare sliders, those adorable mini burgers that are so small they slide down your throat. Why Chicago? It’s not completely clear but apparently Walter Anderson, the founder of White Castle, wanted burgers to be…
If you’re craving a juicy hamburger but don’t want to deal with kiddie playgrounds and cartoon characters, check out this week’s Meal Ticket dining newsletter for info on a late-night date place where burgers are king. We’ll also have the scoop on a back to school party for grown-ups and one of the…
A lot can happen in six months. For Regions Bistro & Bar in Scottsdale (9343 E. Shea), that span of time included a February debut (followed a month later by the opening of a sister location in Tempe), the swift departure of its original executive chef, a sudden closure in June…
Delicious news, cheese freaks. Lara Hardwick’s indie cheese shop, Petit Fromage, is open for business. It’s located inside D’licious Dishes, at 7th Avenue and Missouri, and boasts a well-curated selection of gourmet cheeses from artisanal producers around the world. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday,…
Listen up, downtown watchers. A brand-new, independently owned restaurant is in the works for a Phoenix landmark. It’s an Italian eatery called Via Roma Ristorante, set to take over the space inside the historic Hotel San Carlos that used to house the often-dead-seeming Copper Door. The menu’s not available yet, but the…
Is the Mondrian Scottsdale about to say adios to Asia de Cuba? Hotel management could “not confirm or deny” any imminent changes at the high-style Asian-fusion restaurant, and Asia de Cuba’s parent company, China Grill Management — which owns two-dozen eateries around the world — officially says there are no changes in…
Saturday night, a group of thirty or so animal activists led by Dani Thumma — with the help of the California-based Animal Protection and Rescue League and In Defense of Animals — pounced on the Biltmore in East Phoenix to protest the serving of foie gras at Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge. Not the best…
Call me a shameless arugula eater, but I still can’t get over the Obama family’s choice of dinner destination when they were in Phoenix this past Saturday night: Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen on Central Avenue, the flagship among the Southwestern chain’s 18 locations. Seriously? Sure, Macayo’s has been around long enough to…
