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This week, Ghost Ranch executive chef Rene Andrade shares a street taco recipe that’s popular in his hometown of Nogales, Mexico. “Potato tacos are soul food for us.” Andrade’s recipe calls for Chiltepin chili, a hot pepper that his family has used for generations. “It’s one of the only peppers that grows in the Sonoran Desert, so it’s really special to me and to our culture.” It’s also hard to find, Andrade says. He sells...

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Personally, if I had a dog, I wouldn’t date anyone they didn’t like. What better way to make sure your closest companion approves of the person you’re seeing than taking them on a date with you? Check out these four puppy-approved spots: O.H.S.O Brewery If your dog doesn’t like your date, at least they’ll like O.H.S.O.! The local brewery is so dog-friendly that it’s certified by Trips With Pets. It’s so common to see a...

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If you’re alcohol-averse, it can be hard to find delicious drinks sans booze. That’s why Sushi Roku at W Scottsdale recently unveiled its new mocktail menu, which features three handcrafted concoctions with all the flavor and fanfare of a regular cocktail without the alcohol. As more people jump on the “sober curious” bandwagon, the demand for healthy, alcohol-free alternatives to traditional cocktails is growing. Sushi Roku is at the forefront of the trend. Are you...

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McDonald’s, Burger King, Five Guys – you were all delicious and convenient, but in 2020, we might have to leave you behind. The White Castle for Asian Americans everywhere is coming to Chandler.  Jollibee, the hit Filipino fast food chain that was once only seen in the Philippines, California and some other states scattered across the U.S., has finally decided to break ground in one of the cities with the largest Asian population in Arizona. ...

THE SCENE There’s a very “young Scottsdale” vibe at Hand Cut Burgers & Chophouse at Scottsdale Waterfront. The décor is polished, but energetic – shiny wood floors and tables, white subway tiles, bright yellow high-top stools perched on squares of faux grass, a green wall festooned with golden cow heads, a white tile bar with cushy black leather stools. It’s fun and eye-popping, with splashes of emerald and daffodil everywhere. The staff and clientele are...

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Most restaurants these days have a respectable selection of salads, some with a choice of protein and others with protein included. At Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, executive chef Dushyant Singh offers both. Today, Singh shares his Beef & Bleu Salad (available at lunch only), a robust offering that doesn’t take long to prepare and is great for entertaining as long as your guests are partial to bleu cheese. You might ask ahead of time...

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The new happy hour menu at The Covenant in Paradise Valley Lite. Killer roasted Brussels sprouts with Andouille sausage, amazing beet-scallop duos (pictured) and $6 French 75s. thecovenantaz.com The three-course “Thanksgiving to Go” menu at Liberty Station. Because cooking is hard. libertystationtavern.com As many bao sandwiches as we can eat at Deez Buns in Tempe. Particularly the tangy, fish-saucy pho bun – which does taste uncannily like a bowl of pho. facebook.com/deezbunsaz A new gastropub-ish...

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It’s 1 p.m. on Tuesday, October 29 and the corner of Via Ventura and Pima Center Parkway in Scottsdale is flooded with cars. Some are scrambling to find a spot in the expansive parking lot while others join a serpentine line of other vehicles. A man in a neon green shirt is directing them. This is the location of Arizona’s first White Castle. A week ago, when the wildly popular burger haven had its grand...

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I first met Brooke Lowry Ide of fledgling winery Vino Bandito Vineyards after a long day this past harvest. A former corporate marketing pro with three new plots in Sonoita-Elgin, Ide told me how she’d just processed four tons of Graciano – by herself. Wow. I needed to know more. One thing is certain: She has a pioneering spirit. Why did you get into the wine industry? Desk life was wearing on me, and I...

THE SCENE While I love our new office at The Quad business/restaurant complex in the south Scottsdale/Arcadia area, there are quite a few things I miss about our old office at Scottsdale Quarter in north Scottsdale. Chief among them are Press Coffee (where I was a daily visitor) and Sorso Wine Room, the first wine bar I fell for as a nascent wino and a frequent happy hour haunt for PHOENIX and Phoenix Home &...

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For those looking for a fun Day of the Dead cocktail, the folks at Taco Guild have rustled one up for Desert Digest readers. Luke Detraz, Taco Guild’s beverage & brand director, says while any mezcal will work, he prefers El Silencio because of its level of smokiness. “It’s a happy medium where it’s not overbearing, but has enough flavor to taste through the (rest of) the cocktail.” The garnish is inspired by leftovers, in...

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These creative culinarians are cookin’ up spirited feasts and treats in all corners of the Valley.  New Wave Market – Scottsdale If you’re a child of the ‘80s, the ambient new wave music might be enough to lure you in for one of their scrumptious sammies – derived from local ingredients. Growing up in the restaurant industry, it seems like a natural progression that real-life couple Country and Sergio Velador eventually opened a restaurant together...

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OEB Breakfast Co. owner and founder Mauro Martina believes breakfast means so much more than the first meal of the day. The award-winning Canadian concept puts a creative spin on breakfast classics, offering inventive eats like Nutella French toast and blue crab eggs Benedict. OEB is opening its first U.S. location in Scottsdale next month. “It’s about elevating the whole breakfast experience,” Martina says. “That’s what OEB is all about.” The restaurant will be located...

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Sample sliders for a good cause at Kierland Commons at the 2019 Slider Throwdown, which will take place on Sunday, November 17 from noon to 3 p.m. The burger battle, which features local food truck vendors competing for the coveted “Best Slider” title, will benefit the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF), a nonprofit that provides programming and scholarships to foster children throughout the state. “Our mission is to help foster children navigate the...

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Donut Bar’s Scottsdale location closed abruptly last week, according to an Instagram post from franchise owner Sheley Brien. The San Diego-based donut shop known for its extravagant, Instagram-worthy culinary concoctions, opened in The Promenade shopping center in November 2018. “We regretfully announce the closure of Donut Bar Scottsdale on Monday, October 16th, 2019. We have enjoyed being a part of our hometown community and appreciate how welcoming everyone was to us,” the post says. “We...