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Photo courtesy The Golden Pineapple Craft Lounge    Sure, you know Craft 64 is going to bring the beer. It’s their raison d’etre. Same with Arizona Wilderness, Pedal Haus and other gleaming temples of brew-craft that happen to also serve food. But finding a top-shelf beer list is a bit trickier when you limit the conversation to traditional restaurants. Here are seven that have ascended to elite status on the stealth. Philadelphia Sandwich Company Lots...

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On Tuesday, May 25, oenophiles everywhere will raise a glass of their favorite vino in honor of National Wine Day. Here are six Valley businesses offering deals for wine lovers to sip and celebrate. CRUjiente Tacos A modern taqueria might not be the first thing that comes to mind when someone says “stellar wine selection,” but CRUjiente is a hidden gem for wine lovers. Its extensive wine program specializes in labels sourced from Spain. CRUjiente’s...

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Stay cool and start your summer off right with these fresh and fortifying libations from local bars and restaurants.   Photo courtesy The Maggiore Group   The Big Hash Tequila Sunrise from Hash Kitchen It takes two to make a thing go right – team up with a pal to partake in this chilled cocktail for two ($26) and cheers to the long weekend. Made with 100 percent blue agave tequila, muddled orange and pomegranate...

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Photo courtesy Diego Pops   THE SCENE I don’t know about you, but I’ve been reuniting with a lot of old friends lately. The vaccine rollout has finally made it feel safe to see friends and family in person, to watch their expressions, to hug them, to share food with them – in restaurants, if you can imagine.   Some of these reunions have been with the eateries themselves. I know I’m not the only one who feels bonds strong enough with the...

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  Photo by David B. Moore   Most barbecue fans don’t wait for a special holiday to eat their favorite smoked meats. Nevertheless, May 16 is National Barbecue Day. And if you miss going out on May 16, no need to fret because May is National Barbecue Month. To help you celebrate, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite Valley barbecue spots. Make sure you ask for extra napkins. Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue If you...

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Photo courtesy Renata’s Hearth    All the news that’s fit to nosh.  Smoke Show: To quote the great philosopher Nelly, “It’s gettin’ hot in herre.” Herre = the Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, which recently underwent a massive renovation and in which new restaurant Renata’s Hearth is slated to open on May 18. As its name hints, the eatery will focus on dishes cooked in a wood-fired oven. “We believe that Renata’s Hearth will be unlike any other restaurant that exists in the current Arizona culinary...

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Por Vida, which inhabits an adorably decorated, prominently placed corner of Palabras Bilingual Bookstore, isn’t your typical bakery at all. You won’t find rows and rows of pastry cases or the commercial ovens that turn out dozens of baked goods at a time. Although there’s a small kitchen outfitted with an oven on the bookstore’s premises, baker and budding entrepreneur Eileen Payan actually does much of her baking at home, hauling in her cookies, puff...

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Merkin Vineyards in Old Town Scottsdale’s new executive chef, Steve Zimmerman, has been busy developing new dishes for the winery’s tasting room menu. Zimmerman, who started a few months ago, was previously the executive chef at Widewaters Hotels in Tempe (Tres Kitchen and Bar) and the Sheraton Crescent Hotel in Phoenix. He brings more than 25 years of culinary experience to the farm-to-table, vine-to-glass tasting room. Having spent the bulk of his career in resort...