Rene Andrade, Chef and owner of Bacanora, joins us to talk about a career in the kitchen.
Photo by Madison Rutherford “Plant-based food with a rock star attitude” is the mantra at this new modern Mexican restaurant in Tempe where you’ll find trendy, vegan fare and a lively-yet-lowkey vibe. At GuacStar Kitchen & Cantina, waiters are hired based on whether their disposition vibes with the concept instead of their serving credentials. Is the restaurant populating its space with unqualified servers? Not in the slightest. According to co-owner Jimmy Carlin, it’s easier...
Photo courtesy The Revelry Patios are having a major moment right now. Chalk it up to our fabulous spring weather and our need to socially distance in open-air spaces due to COVID-19, but no real estate has been as prime for restaurants of late as their patios. This spring, one slab stepped into the ring to KO them all: The Revelry at Mesa Riverview shopping center, whose canopy clocks in at 20,000 square feet of covered outdoor patio. The Revelry is a 62,000-square-foot mixed-use entertainment destination with...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkIrish Soda Bread Recipe from Mediterra Bakehouse
Marilyn HawkesMarch 16, 2021
Photo courtesy Mediterra Bakehouse Most people attribute soda bread to the Irish, but the quick bread was first made by Native Americans. “They were some of the first to combine soda in bread,” says Nick Ambeliotis of Mediterra Bakehouse. The Irish began making soda (baking soda) bread in the 1830s when baking soda was introduced to the United Kingdom and is now associated with St. Patrick’s Day. If you want to try baking the...
Desert DigestFood & Drink4 Local Hard Seltzers to Crack Open This Summer
Madison RutherfordMarch 16, 2021
Photo courtesy Four Peaks Brewing Hard seltzer is having a heyday and while we love the thought of sipping a White Claw or Truly by the pool this summer, we’re also all about supporting local. So skip the big-name cocktails in a can and opt for one of these locally made hard seltzers. Four Peaks Brewing Sun Day Solar Seltzer The name of the newly released hard seltzers from Four Peaks isn’t just a...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkNew Restaurant Alert: Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion
Madison RutherfordMarch 16, 2021
Photo by Paul Markow Celebrated Valley chef Christopher Gross will open his highly anticipated eponymous restaurant at the Wrigley Mansion on March 23. Christopher’s at the Wrigley Mansion will not only highlight the James Beard Award-winning chef’s globally inspired gastronomic expertise, but will also showcase 180-degree views of the Valley via floor-to-ceiling windows and a retractable roof. Set adjacent to the historic Wrigley Mansion, the 26-seat restaurant will offer an intimate dining experience and...
Local restaurants are getting in the St. Paddy’s Day spirit with special drink and dining deals. Whether you want a Kelly-green brew or some classic corned beef and hash, here’s where to dine in or take out this Wednesday, March 17. Photo courtesy Evolve Public Relations & Marketing Pedal Haus Brewery This East Valley (and soon-to-be Downtown Phoenix!) gastropub pairs elevated pub grub (think burgers and pizza plus an extensive gluten-free and vegan...
J’Asada Tacos | Photo by Madison Rutherford As a local reporter, I’ve had the pleasure of connecting with a slew of small business owners who have palpable passion and pride for their craft. It’s a pretty gratifying gig, one that I don’t take for granted. And when I see that mirrored in Valley restaurants, retail spaces and other institutions, it reminds me why I love what I do. One such inspiring instance is husband-and-wife...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkHappy Hour: 32 Shea
Leah LeMoineMarch 12, 2021
Bruschetta trio | Photo by Leah LeMoine THE SCENE North Phoenix’s 32 Shea is both the worst and the best place to drink and dine during a pandemic. Its famously cozy (OK, a bit cramped) interior is anathema for social distancing, so only a handful of people at a time can be seated inside. The petite coffee shop and eatery’s idyllic patio is another story. Outdoor dining is easy, breezy and beautiful (CoverGirl ref intended) in the lush outdoor oasis, which boasts gobs of greenery, a Buddha statue, a constellation of string lights and plentiful umbrellas. It’s dog-friendly, too. ...
Beaut Burger exterior | Photo by Nikki Buchanan Everyone gets a hankering for a burger now and then — even vegetarians and vegans — which is the beauty of Beaut Burger, a Tucson-based vegan burger joint so successful that it’s recently opened a second location here in Phoenix. Housed in a crisp-looking refurbished shipping container on Indian School just east of 32nd Street, BB makes almost all of its fresh, plant-based food in-house —...
Desert DigestFood & DrinkChef Mark Tarbell Contributes Vegan Dish to Jacques Pépin’s Celebrity Cookbook
Leah LeMoineMarch 12, 2021
Mark Tarbell by Joanie Simon When legendary French chef Jacques Pépin – known nearly as much for his kindness as his cuisine – asks you to do something, you say yes. That’s what Valley chef Mark Tarbell, a legend in his own right, has learned over the years. “My first cookbook, at age 15, was La Technique by Jacques Pépin,” he says. “Many years later in the ’80s, when I was working at the Boulders Resort, we did an event with Jacques which marked the beginning of a long...
Vegan ramen | Photo by Madison Rutherford Clever Koi has long been a favorite in the Valley dining scene for its fresh takes on Thai, Korean, Japanese and Chinese cuisine and inventive craft cocktails. In February, the Asian fusion hot spot unveiled four new ramen dishes at its locations in Phoenix and Gilbert, including updated versions of the pork and lemon chicken ramen and two brand new bowls – spicy kimchi and vegan shoyu....
Craft BeerThirsty Thursday Top 10: New Craft Beer Releases Around Arizona
Matthew JohnsonMarch 11, 2021
Our weekly top 10 list of new craft beers to seek out this weekend.
Desert DigestFood & DrinkScottsdale’s Blue Clover Distillery Now Offers New Mobile Bar
Emily SchmidtMarch 11, 2021
Photo by Tayden Savage The Valley is home to many breweries and restaurants with craft alcoholic beverages, but Old Town Scottsdale features the always crowded Blue Clover Distillery (7042 E. Indian School Rd). As the area’s first ever microdistillery, Blue Clover is famous for its small-batch, hand-distilled vodka and gin. With an indoor-outdoor bar and huge dining patio, it’s perfect for laidback dinners and weekend brunches. Because of its growing popularity, Blue Clover has...
Desert DigestFood & Drink7 Easter Brunch Experiences at Valley Resorts
Madison RutherfordMarch 10, 2021
Renowned chefs, carefully curated menus and desert vista views. It’s all on deck this Easter Sunday (April 4) at these Valley resorts. Here’s the 411 on seven of our faves. Photo courtesy J Lauren PR T. Cook’s What: A three-course brunch menu including turkey Benedict, fried chicken and waffles and more. When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Why: Celebrated Valley chef Lee Hillson in the kitchen, a complimentary glass of the restaurant’s famous Orangechello...