Check out these Valley dishes starring a variety of nutritious and delicious mushrooms.
The PHiXAZ Nonprofits: Six Questions with Marvin Scott of Rosie’s House
Marilyn HawkesDecember 16, 2022
In 1996, Rosie Schurz founded Rosie’s House Musical Academy for Children in a two-bedroom house in an impoverished Phoenix neighborhood. Schurz, a German immigrant, was forced to evacuate her family home during World War II, leaving her violin behind. That experience led her to start Rosie’s House, a program that provides musical instruction for underserved children. We recently talked with Marvin Scott, a former saxophone teacher at the original Rosie’s House, who now serves as...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkMama’s Meat-Za Balls Recipe from Picazzo’s Italian Kitchen
Marilyn HawkesDecember 15, 2022
If you’re looking for a healthy appetizer to serve at upcoming holiday gatherings, Chris Disney, managing partner of Picazzo’s Italian Kitchen, shares a recipe for turkey meatballs. These delightful orbs can be served as an appetizer or main dish, Disney says. As an appetizer, Disney suggests 2-3 meatballs per person. He recommends using a chafing dish to keep the meatballs warm, and to add sauce so the meat won’t dry out. “A good marinara is...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkNovember 2022 Restaurant Openings and Closings
Marilyn HawkesDecember 7, 2022
Openings 85°C Bakery Café Look for breads, cakes, sweet treats and sea salt coffee at this new to Arizona franchise next to 99 Ranch Market in Chandler. 1912 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, 85cbakerycafe.com Artichoke Basille’s Pizza New York-based pizzeria opens a third Valley location at Desert Ridge Marketplace, featuring eight pizza varieties, slices and “not pizza” starters and entrees. 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, artichokepizza.com Barstool Scottsdale Sports bar inspired by the Barstool Sports website...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkSix Questions with Sake Haus Executive Chef Joe Cajipe
Marilyn HawkesNovember 23, 2022
Sake Haus executive chef Joe Cajipe earned his cooking chops by working at his family’s Filipino restaurant in Chandler while going to college. The self-taught chef then worked in the kitchens of SumoMaya and Ra Sushi to learn the art of Japanese cuisine before landing the top chef gig at Sake Haus, which opened in April 2022. Here’s what he had to say about his new position. How much does your Filipino background influence your...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkSix Questions with Eat Clean Phx Chef-Owner Ryan Powell
Marilyn HawkesNovember 23, 2022
Before founding Eat Clean Phx in 2018, Ryan and Brittany Powell tried various national meal prep services and found the quality to be lacking. Seeing a need, the couple started their own company specializing in organic, restaurant quality, made-from-scratch dishes. And the best part? They deliver within a 100-mile radius of their commercial kitchen in Scottsdale. Here’s what Ryan had to say about his meal prep business. Who are your customers? We have such a...
The PHiXAZ Nonprofits: Five Questions with Jarrett Ransom of St. Joseph the Worker
Marilyn HawkesNovember 23, 2022
Now serving as the interim CEO of St. Joseph the Worker (SJW), Jarrett Ransom has held many titles with the organization, including chief philanthropy officer and interim chief operations officer. Within the last year, SJW has worked with more than 7,000 clients. We recently talked with Ransom about the nonprofit’s mission and objectives. Tell me about the mission of St. Joseph the Worker. Since 1988, the mission of St. Joseph the Worker has been to...
The PHiXStudio Session: Carol McDonald
Marilyn HawkesNovember 11, 2022
Chandler resident Carol McDonald never imagined she would become an artist after retiring in 2018 from her “left-brain, analytical business administration career.” Over the years, she had taken a slew of art classes, but never thought of herself as “remotely artistic.” For Christmas in 2018, McDonald’s husband bought her an easel and a canvas and encouraged her to paint. She experimented with different paints, colors and textures and discovered that she enjoyed expressing herself through...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkOctober 2022 Restaurant Openings and Closings
Marilyn HawkesNovember 8, 2022
Bodega Opening Angry Chickz California-based Nashville hot chicken chain lands in Glendale. If you choose the hottest level, you must sign a waiver. 5130 W. Bell Rd., Glendale, angrychickz.com Ay, Chabela Chubasco Taco’s Andrew and Nick Renteria and Sam Olguin of Killer Whale Sex Club have opened a Mexican seafood eatery. Look for swordfish, halibut and charred octopus tacos. 719 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, aychabelaphx.com Black Rifle Coffee Veteran-founded coffee company has opened a free-standing...
Three BitesThree Bites: Japanese Sweet Potatoes
Marilyn HawkesNovember 4, 2022
Valley chefs enhance their autumn cooking with the nuanced flavor and dreamy texture of Japanese sweet potatoes.
Local Products3 Local Products to Try this Winter
Marilyn HawkesNovember 4, 2022
Try locally made hard cider, paleo energy bars and artisanal mustard.
Desert DigestFood & DrinkRigatoni Vodka Recipe from Sfizio Modern Italian Kitchen
Marilyn HawkesOctober 24, 2022
Chef Rocco Pezzano, owner of Sfizio Modern Italian Kitchen in the Desert Ridge area, says that pasta with vodka sauce is making a comeback. “This (dish) used to be popular in the ’80s and then disappeared. Now it’s coming back and the younger generation loves it,” he says. Pezzano offers a couple of tips: Don’t put oil in the water, because oil coats the pasta and then the sauce won’t adhere; and use a short,...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkSix Questions with Kai’s Chef de Cuisine Drew Anderson
Marilyn HawkesOctober 24, 2022
Chef de Cuisine Drew Anderson has taken over the kitchen at Kai, the celebrated restaurant honoring Native American cuisine at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass. Anderson incorporates “the essence of the Pima and Maricopa tribes” in his cuisine and uses local products and seasonal produce from the Gila River Indian Community whenever possible. The award-winning restaurant has the distinction of being the only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant in Arizona....
Desert DigestFood & DrinkHottie Sandwich Recipe from Chickadees Chicken and Fries
Marilyn HawkesOctober 21, 2022
If you’re hankering for a hot chicken sandwich, but don’t feel like going out, we’ve got a solution for you: Make yourself a spicy sandwich at home. To help you out, we spoke to Miguel Banuelos, executive chef at Chickadees Chicken and Fries, an Old Town Scottsdale spot that opened on Labor Day weekend. He graciously shared one of the chicken sandwich recipes with us. Banuelos offers a couple of tips when making the sandwich...
The PHiXScottsdale Author Releases Heartfelt Memoir About Relationship with Late Father
Marilyn HawkesOctober 21, 2022
Scottsdale resident Deena Goldstein never set out to write a book about her late father, with whom she shared a treasured relationship. “We just had the most amazing connection,” she says. But, the day before her father died, Goldstein sat by his bedside and jotted down some thoughts about him on her phone. It wasn’t until later that she wrote a heartfelt father/daughter memoir titled, OK, Little Bird, which tells the universal story of losing...