January/February 2025

Given all the restaurants and talent that move in and out of the Valley on a yearly basis, and the rise of seasonal and rotating menus, three years seems like a safe, responsible following distance between Top Dishes issues.

Winter is hardly the one-dimensional activity season the ski slopes want it to be. From stargazing in Flagstaff to swinging 8-irons in sun-drenched St. George, these alternate interest-driven adventures will put some variety in your vacationing. (And, yes, there’s skiing, too.)

The start of a new year brings the joy of crisp, white calendar pages not yet filled with plans, but Phoenix artist Lauren Lee is bringing a vibrant twist to the tradition.

Winter and spring in the Valley can only mean one thing for music fans: festivals! To help you make the most of your money, we’ve created a guide to match you with the perfect experience.

Alec Posta has the dream job of every kid (and kid at heart): LEGO builder.

There’s no such thing as a quiet meal at home for chef Joey Maggiore. He let us poke around his Scottsdale home kitchen.

Dave Pratt’s journey from radio’s “Morning Mayor” to podcast mogul.

How Cheba Hut founder Scott Jennings grew his stoner sub shop into a mainstream sandwich empire.

Sleek, modern resorts have their allure, but sometimes you want lodging with a little more character, a little more history.

Liz Renninger and Tony Aguilar have explored the globe together – Mexico, Morocco, Spain, a Caribbean cruise. “He’s like my travel husband,” Renninger, vice president of Evolve Public Relations and Marketing, says of her childhood best friend.

Heading up north for a snow day? Bookmark these three new spots.

Finding health and ogling wealth at the Four Seasons Sensei Lanai.

If you want to experience winter in New Mexico, fly high in San Diego or just explore different parts of the Valley, there are experiences aplenty in the wild and wonderful West.

Winter is hardly the one-dimensional activity season the ski slopes want it to be. From stargazing in Flagstaff to swinging 8-irons in sun-drenched St. George, these alternate interest-driven adventures will put some variety in your vacationing. (And, yes, there’s skiing, too.)

Since Hidden Track Bottle Shop owner Craig Dziadowicz debuted his Historic Series line of wine honoring Phoenix’s historical neighborhoods in 2016, requests to represent one ’hood in particular have far outnumbered the rest.

Chef Stephen Jones stuns and delights with the latest, tasting-menu-driven incarnation of his beloved Southern eatery.

Delight in all things frybread at this groundbreaking Indigenous restaurant in Old Town.

With it’s prow-like roof and throwback Polynesian décor, this Scottsdale diner is awesome to look at – and the food’s not bad, either.

From Evening Entertainment Group, the hospitality and nightlife gurus who gave us Bottled Blonde, Bevvy, Casa Amigos and other places that tend to make 40-year-olds feel like Dick Van Dyke, comes this volume-drinking playground that also serves a bit of food.

What’s better than tacos? Er, maybe tacos and vinyl records? That’s the enticing premise behind this Downtown taqueria and listening lounge from first-time restaurateurs Michael Immordino and Geoff Smith.

Tucked away in a business park near the 101, this adorably decorated, French-inspired wine bistro is a pleasant surprise.

Tastefully decorated and staffed with friendly servers, this strip mall pan-Asian spot in East Mesa is worth the drive for well-executed favorites such as hot pot, Korean barbecue and Chinese dumplings.

Our champion of all things local highlights pasta sauce, chocolate bars and bottled mocktails.

3 of our favorite happy hours at resort-based restaurants in the Valley.

Indian pizza is the fusion comfort food of your dreams.

Once you down a delicious drink at The Goose, you’ll realize that themed bars and funny cocktail names are sometimes worth taking seriously.

If you want to experience winter in New Mexico, fly high in San Diego or just explore different parts of the Valley, there are experiences aplenty in the wild and wonderful West.

Get your fill of festivals and fun times with this month-by-month look at the Valley’s high season.

Our curated list of the top events to seek out for the coming week and weekend.

Our curated list of the top events to seek out for the coming week and weekend.

Our curated list of the top events to seek out for the coming week and weekend.

Our curated list of the top events to seek out for the coming week and weekend.

We always get a kick out of official city slogans and branding – But why stop with slogans? Why not have official city haikus? We enlisted ChatGPT to help.

From personal intentions to professional objectives, the 2025 goals set by these local movers and shakers might ignite some major New Year’s motivation.