Picazzo’s to add location in Gilbert
Sedona-born Picazzo’s Healthy Italian Kitchen, which already has four locations in the Valley, is adding another in Gilbert. It’s taking over the former Blue Adobe Santa Fe Grille space on the northeast corner of Lindsay and Williams Field. (Blue Adobe closed in March 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic and never reopened.) Picazzo’s – which specializes in vegan, gluten-free, and keto-friendly pizzas and pastas – already is hiring for the new location. If interested, you can apply here.
Bama BBQ owners recovering from burns
An update on the horrific fire that destroyed the Bama BBQ food truck last Thursday night: As many suspected, the two unidentified people who suffered serious burns are owners Robert ‘‘Bam’’ Everson and his wife, Amber – both now facing long recoveries. Their new truck was a complete loss. A GoFundMe campaign already has raised more than $40,000 for the Queen Creek couple. You can donate here.
Chandler urban farm offers CSA share
Oren Molovinsky, who closed his Farmboy Market, Meats & Sandwichesin south Chandler last August, is preparing to launch a market to sell produce from his urban Mo’lovin Farms, and maybe a few others, near Lindsay and Ocotillo. In the meantime, he’s offering a CSA (community-supported agriculture) share. See the details here.
AZ Central hires new dining critic
Andi Berlin, who’s spent the last seven years covering food for the Tucson Star, has been hired as the new dining critic for AZ Central and the Arizona Republic. She takes over the position formerly held by Dominic Armato, who left AZ Central in September 2020 after a five-year stint. Berlin, who grew up in Chandler, will move back to the Valley at the end of this month.
