Category: Food & Drink News

Bashas’ has announced the three grand prize winners of its seventh annual Donut Flavor Craze contest: In the kids’ category, 15-year-old Owen (no last name released) from Phoenix won for his Cotton Candy doughnut, a white raised donut with blue

It’s been a month since I launched MXSW Insider, a series of in-depth posts for paid subscribers on Mouth by Southwest. (If you missed the announcement about MXSW Insider, you can find it here.) So far, the paid subscriptions have

After a two-year hiatus due to the covid-19 pandemic and then a staffing shortage, Mexican restaurant Aunt Chilada’s finally reopens for public dining at 11 a.m. today at the Arizona Grand Resort & Spa on the southwest corner of I-10

Leonard Fleszar, founder of the Valley’s Lenny’s Burger chain, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion for underreporting more than $1.4 million in income from two restaurants on his 2015-2017 federal tax returns. Fleszar has since sold the two restaurants to

Downtown Gilbert’s Liberty Market, which closed in January for extensive remodeling and reopened for just takeout and patio dining last month, finally reopens its dining room today – about a month later than originally planned. Changes include the addition of counter

OHSO Brewery in downtown Gilbert has begun construction on The Park, a half-acre multi-use recreation area on the north side of the brew pub. According to plans submitted last August – and unanimously passed by the town council – the

Dan and Barb Mei, who opened Nello’s in Ahwatukee in 1996, have retired and sold their popular Italian restaurant on the northwest corner of 48th Street and Warner to Robert Schulken and Roque Jimenez, owners of Cien Agaves Tacos &

Pete’s Fish & Chips, a Valley institution since 1947, celebrates its 75th anniversary Wednesday, March 23, at all eight of its locations. Leave your name and number at any location in a drawing for Pete’s gift certificates, T-shirts, hats, sports

After several months of delays, Lam’s Market, an Asian grocery store also featuring products from the Caribbean, South America, and Africa, finally has opened its third Valley location on the southwest corner of Avondale and Van Buren in Avondale.

BBQ Holdings Inc., the Minnesota-based parent company of Famous Dave’s, has agreed to purchase Scottsdale-based Barrio Queen, which was founded in 2011 and currently has seven locations in the Valley, for a reported $28 million.

The Valley’s food and drink community is mourning the death of Nicole Learmont, who lost her two-year battle with brain and lung cancer Sunday. Learmont, 44, a mother of two, was bar manager at Dos Gringos and helped her longtime

Flying Basset Brewing has gone through a parade of kitchen staff in its four-year existence, but the Gilbert brewery seems to have found a somewhat novel solution: A partnership with Philadelphia Sandwich Company. The Scottsdale eatery has taken over operation

Downtown Gilbert’s Liberty Market, which temporarily closed in January for extensive remodeling, reopens at 8 a.m. Thursday for patio dining and to-go orders. The restaurant expects to reopen for inside dining – with new menus for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Jimmie McBride and Julie Meeker, former co-owners of Mother Bunch Brewing in downtown Phoenix, have plead guilty to failure to pay state taxes from 2015 to 2020. The couple agreed to pay nearly $657,000 in back taxes and fines. Mother

The Arizona Restaurant Association has announced the dates of the state’s Spring Restaurant Week: Friday, May 20, through Sunday, May 29. Participating restaurants will offer special three-course menus for $33, $44 or $55 per person. Restaurants can register here.

Condolences to Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue owner and pitmaster Bryan Dooley, whose father, Joe, passed away unexpectedly last weekend. The Cave Creek restaurant will have limited hours this week: 3:30-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Sunday.

Liberty Market in downtown Gilbert closed part of the restaurant’s interior for renovations this week, and it will close completely starting Monday, Jan. 24. It plans to reopen in March for outdoor dining only, with the return of inside dining

Randy Walters, the former owner of well-known Chandler restaurants Pittsburgh Willy’s and Wimpy’s Paradise, has published a book about his business and life experiences, ‘‘Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, and Hugs,’’ available on Amazon.

Condolences to the family and friends of Southwest Kettle Corn food truck owner Jolie Green-Darby, who died earlier this week after a month-long battle with covid-19. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help her husband, Pat, with medical expenses.

St. Francis, the acclaimed restaurant near the southeast corner of Camelback and Central that was sold to chef Robert Bogart last year, has unveiled a new name, Oak on Camelback, and a revamped menu of globally inspired dishes.