Desert DigestpodcastDesert Digest Podcast with Christopher Gross on February 24, 2021
Valley dining news with Craig Outhier, Leah LeMoine and special guest Christopher Gross.
Valley dining news with Craig Outhier, Leah LeMoine and special guest Christopher Gross.
Everyone’s favorite bleach-blonde host of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives has made yet another appearance in the Valley, only this time, it’s more on the down low. Guy Fieri recently added to his collection of successful restaurants with the innovation of Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, a delivery-only chain that operates out of already established restaurants. Arizona is just one of 26 states to have launched locations in January and February. In the Valley, four Buca di...
“If food is the body of good living, wine is its soul,” author and media personality Clifton Fadiman is reported to have said. Chef Joey Maggiore is sharing a bit of his soul with diners with the launch last weekend of his private selection wine label at all locations of The Sicilian Butcher. “Growing up in a big Sicilian family, great wine was always a staple in our home,” Maggiore says. “My dad really loved wine, and I know he’d be just as excited as...
Dinosaurs, filmmaking, deep-sea dwellers and the migration of women – these topics will be explored in entertaining depth during the National Geographic Live Speaker Series. The events typically take place at Mesa Arts Center but will be online this year – which makes it no less exciting, says Randall Vogel, assistant director of Mesa Arts Center. “We’re excited to be part of such an inspiring speaker series,” he said. “National Geographic Live continues to make...
Whether you live downtown or miles outside the city, Phoenix is always moving and grooving. Being in a sprawling metropolis can sometimes feel overwhelming with few places to actually sit and hear your own thoughts. Luckily, you don’t have to have to hike to the top of a mountain to find some quiet. Visit these five places to temporarily forget you live in bustling Phoenix. First Draft Book Bar Nestled in Changing Hands Bookstore, you...
Every year at the end of January, Girl Scout cookie season arrives and gives the next generation of young girls a chance to test out their entrepreneurial skills. This year, more than 6,000 Arizona Girl Scouts are participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Program. With fewer opportunities to set up booths and an ongoing emphasis on contactless pickup and delivery, the Arizona Cactus-Pine Council developed new and innovative ways for girls to safely sell cookies....
Our 5 biggest takeaways from the weekend in sports.
For many, trekking to the grocery store or the farmers market during a pandemic can be problematic for a variety of reasons. Maybe you don’t want to be around that many people at once or perhaps you just don’t like other people touching your fruits and vegetables. Enter farm-fresh produce boxes that you can pick up at a specified location or have one delivered to your home. Many programs are under the CSA (Community Supported...
One of the trendiest pizza styles is still among the most rare. If your engine’s revving for some Motor City-style pizza – famous for its square, drip-pan shape – you’re limited to these three purveyors. The Rec Pizza & Wings Rectangular pizza has a spotty track record among mainstream pizza fans, evoking hazy memories of frozen-aisle Stouffer’s pizzas and similarly uninspiring Little Caesars flashbacks. But make no mistake: Square pie can be divine, particularly in...
Restaurants realize that sometimes you just need to do it for the ‘gram. Heck, Highball has a whole section of its menu dedicated to Instagrammable cocktails, and there are tons of eateries around the Valley with aesthetic atmospheres and photogenic fare. Here’s a handful to inspire your next hashtag. JOJO Coffeehouse @jojocoffeehouse We featured the mimosa and coffee flights at JOJO on the blog last fall and we still can’t get over how cute the...
Chill Out at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Ice skate like no one is watching or sail down an ice slide at Winter at the Princess. Ax throwing, ice mazes, rock climbing, yard games, a Ferris wheel, children’s activities and a 6,000-square-foot outdoor rink are highlights, complemented by creative food and beverage items, live acoustic music, fire-pit tables, and s’mores. Through March 21, W-Th, Su, 5-10 p.m.; F-Sa, 5-11 p.m. Call for ticket prices. Fairmont Scottsdale...
Navigate the boulders, create your own adventure and discover a desert waterfall in the northeast part of the Valley.
Talking Stick Resort’s new Mediterranean restaurant, Tash, opened on February 6 to great fanfare. The menu fuses food from different cultures, a drink list including everything from margaritas to other popular mixed drinks and incredible views of Camelback Mountain. I got the scoop at a recent media lunch. Location 9800 Talking Stick Way., Scottsdale Opened: February 2021 The Scene Patrons are immediately greeted with commanding views when walking up the stairs that lead to the...
Finding vegan desserts can be challenging when seemingly everything sweet contains milk, butter or eggs. Luckily, the Valley has a wide range of vegan bakeries and restaurants. Check out these 10 affordable desserts for when you’re craving a sugary, plant-based pick-me-up. Chocolate Hazelnut Pie ($7) At the Giving Tree Cafe, chocolate lovers can indulge their sweet tooth with a rich and creamy pie stuffed with crunchy hazelnuts in every bite. 2024 N. 7th St., Phoenix...
If UnderTow and Century Grand taught us anything, it’s that transportive restaurant environments enrich the dishes and drinks being served. Downtown-ish cocktail lounge Highball, set in the old SideBar space near the Willo Historic District, is no exception. In fact, Mitch Lyons – former beverage director for the immersive menus at the aforementioned Barter & Shake concepts – is the program manager at this sleek new speakeasy. Lyons has put together a fun cocktail catalog...