🥟 Lovesack Dumpling, the funky storefront eatery that opened on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix last month, is changing its name to Lovebite Dumpling.
The move comes after a lawsuit threat from furniture company Lovesac.
Lovebite offers boxes of Asian-style dumplings – pork, chicken, shrimp, or veggie – to go.
🚫 If you’re a fan of Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, or Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, you can breath a sigh of relief.
Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of all three concepts, announced it will close 41 restaurants nationwide, but none of those locations will be in Arizona.
Arizona is home to 11 Outbacks, seven Carrabba’s, and five Fleming’s.
🌮 Lawrence Smith, chef and co-owner ofone-year-old Mexican restaurant Chilte at the restored Egyptian Motor Hotel in downtown Phoenix, has been chosen as one of three founding members of Taco Bell’s new chef-centric collaboration program, TBX.
Working out of Taco Bell’s test kitchen, the three chefs will ‘‘remix’’ one of the fast-food chain’s popular menu items, the Crunchwrap Supreme, debuting later this year in select markets. (Photo credit: Carolina Useche)
💻 Starting today, you can make a reservation at popular Denver-based breakfast chain Snooze, which has seven Valley restaurants and two in Tucson.
Reservations are available Monday through Friday, but not weekends.
Parties of up to four people can book via Yelp, Google, or the Snooze website. (Mobile app booking will start Feb. 20).
Parties larger than four should call the restaurant to book.
Guests who want weekend brunch can join Snooze’s virtual waitlist from home to cut down on wait times.
Snooze recently launched a weekday eats menu, available for a limited time, that features smaller portions for $10 a plate or less.
🚫 The 16th annual Original Barbeque & Beer Festival, scheduled for March 30 at Wild Horse Pass Resort in Chandler, has been canceled.
In an email to ticket holders, organizer Forty 8 Live writes:
‘‘With a heavy heart, we regret to inform you that BBQ & Beer 2024, scheduled for Saturday, March 30th at The Park @ Wild Horse Pass, must be canceled due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.’’
Ticket holders have the option of getting a full refund or exchanging their tickets for tickets to the Desert Sky Music Festival at Wild Horse Pass on Nov. 16.
Performers for the music fest have not been announced.
🍝 Since opening Dec. 12 at Mesa Riverview, Fazoli’s has been smashing records – including biggest first-day and first-week sales – for the 36-year-old fast-casual chain that has more than 200 locations nationwide.
It’s the Valley’s first free-standing Fazoli’s (a Fazoli’s concession also opened at Sky Harbor last year) after a 14-year absence from Arizona, but franchise owner Nava Singam is scouting for additional locations in north Phoenix and the West Valley.
🍣 Shinji Kurita, chef and founder of ShinBay in Old Town Scottsdale, has left the acclaimed sushi restaurant, saying he no longer can work 80 hours a week, according to Phoenix Magazine.
Kurita launched and operated ShinBay in Ahwatukee from 2001-2006, then at the Scottsdale Seville from 2011-2016. He opened the current version in 2018 with financial backing from HL Concepts (Sizzle, Jin Jia, Nori Sushi).
In 2022, Shinbay was a James Beard Award semifinalist for the country’s Outstanding Restaurant.
According to Phoenix Magazine, Las Vegas chef Ken Tanaka will take over for Kurita.
Chris Osborn, a beloved figure in the Valley’s food and beverage community for three decades, passed away Tuesday. He was just 46.
The Scottsdale native, known as ‘‘Oz’’ to his many friends, began working in restaurants at age 14. He eventually became a chef, a general manager, and even an owner (most notably of the former Cadillac Ranch at Tempe Marketplace).
Since 2011, though, Osborn had focused on restaurant consulting and restaurant real estate, working with hundreds of owners, chefs, and others in the F&B industry.
In a Thanksgiving Day post on Facebook, Osborn wrote:
‘‘Today for me is just a day of gratitude not because the country says so, but because I am grateful to have the time to reflect. … I’m so fortunate to have awesome people in my life that care about and believe in my efforts to make people’s lives better.’’
Rest in peace, Chris.
🏀 Former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal made a surprise visit to his 9-month-old Big Chicken fast-casual restaurant in downtown Gilbert on Sunday.
The current TNT commentator met with members of the six youth basketball teams sponsored by the restaurant, signing autographs and posing for photos.
O’Neal founded Big Chicken, which specializes in Louisiana-style chicken sandwiches, in 2018. It now has 20 locations in 12 states.
