Tijuana Donkey (left) and Mango Mezgarita (right) | Photo by Leah LeMoine THE SCENE Last year, during the height of the pandemic and before the vaccine was available, I became something of an expert on takeout happy hours. I re-crisped pizza and nachos in my oven after they’d wilted in transit. I poured cocktails from their secure plastic carrying containers into my own glassware to make them feel fancy again. I re-plated, photographed, blogged and Instagrammed. One of the highlights...
The best new releases from craft breweries around the Valley for the coming weekend.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed at the Valley’s new Cooper’s Hawk location in Chandler, which opened its doors on Monday. Those doors lead you into an expansive tasting room lined with every varietal you can imagine on one side, a glass case displaying glistening chocolate truffles on the other, and an array of upscale wine accessories splayed out on tables in the middle of the room. Before you even set foot in the dining area,...
Spaghetti is one of the most well-known and well-loved dishes, one I never get sick of – something I confirmed after eating these amazing meals this past week. So, if you are looking for a new place to try this old favorite, here are five delicious spaghettis from local restaurants. Photo by Campbell Linaman North Italia Spaghetti & Meatballs – $18 This delicious dish keeps it simple with a traditional tomato sauce, and...
Tandy Peterson is not your average woman, your average chef, your average anything. She’s a former line cook at the original Binkley’s in Cave Creek (where she learned to hang tough with the big boys) and the former chef de cuisine at Mowry & Cotton at The Phoenician Resort. She also staged in 2016 at Asador Etxebarri, a Basque restaurant in Spain that has made The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list on multiple occasions. This...
The Sicilian Baker Halloween cannoli | Photo courtesy The Maggiore Group All the news that’s fit to nosh. Autumnal Abundance: It’s fall, y’all! And with this past weekend’s cooler temps, that’s starting to feel real and not just like a cruel calendar joke. Embrace the transition with seasonal specials from The Sicilian Baker including pumpkin pie cannoli with pumpkin-infused sweet ricotta filling (order as a special: large shell dipped in chocolate and decorated with edible pumpkins; available October 15-November...
It’s official: Fall is finally here. The days are getting shorter and cooler temperatures are replacing our sweltering 100-degree days. Autumn in the Valley also signals the return of many farmers markets that have been closed during the summer months. Vendors differ from market to market, but most will offer local and seasonal produce, fresh baked goods, natural meats and seafood and a good assortment of locally crafted food products. Farmers markets are a great...
The Rockin’ Taco Street Fest is coming back to Chandler! After not hosting the event last year due to COVID-19, this year’s festival marks the 10th annual Rockin’ Taco Street Fest, and festival organizers are going all out! Whether you like tacos or live music, this year’s festival has it all. There are so many things to do, including: Tacos: Who doesn’t love a good taco? The Rockin’ Taco Street Fest boasts more than 20...
Photo by Nikki Buchanan The Frosé at The Oakmont It already feels like a year ago — not three days ago — that I was sitting on the patio at The Oakmont, a restaurant owned by Wyndham Resort but parked on the grounds of Continental Country Club in Flagstaff. What fantastic views! Mountain and brilliant green fairway in every direction, the perfect setting for the launch of a short trip with a longtime friend....
It’s a great time of year for ordering a pint from a local craft brewery.
Hard Pumpkin Spice Latte from Mavrix | Photo courtesy The James Agency ‘Tis the season! Pumpkin season, that is. Local restaurants are utilizing everyone’s favorite gourd to concoct gourmet goodies of both the sweet and savory variety. Here’s a few we’re looking forward to. Pumpkin Hummus from Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen Though it’s not officially available until October 1, we’re already drooling over Picazzo’s seasonal twist on its traditional creamy hummus. Blended with “a...
This effervescent tipple gets its brilliant color and lively brightness from Cocchi Rosa, an Italian aperitivo. Topped off with sparkling rosé and soda water, the cocktail is fresh, fizzy, fruity and well-balanced.
Roasty yet rich, traditional Mexican chiles en nogada fits your autumn dining needs like a turtleneck sweater.
The Coconut Blossom | Photo courtesy Instagram.com/thebarkingbodega I don’t have a dog, but I do follow a lot of canine-centric Instagram pages. I guess I like to live vicariously through various dog owners via the internet without all the time, money and patience it takes to actually be one. The Barking Bodega, it seems, was built for people like me. Well, scratch that. This spot, which opened in March, was built for dogs with...
A Valley restaurant group incentivizes charitable giving the old-fashioned way: with good beer.
