Category: Uncategorized

Grab your growler – it’s a banner day for East Valley craft beer drinkers: SanTan Brewing taps its widely popular holiday seasonal Winter Warmer, an English spiced strong ale (shown on left). The Chandler brewery also offers a new holiday

Kiley’s Grill, a Chandler sports bar known for its inexpensive food and drink specials, has closed its doors. The restaurant, located on Alma School between Elliot and Warner, opened in the fall of 2009. Its extensive menu included 16 appetizers, 10

“Thanksgiving Appetizers with a Twist” was the subject of BLD‘s first monthly cooking class, which was held Saturday afternoon with chef Ehren Litzenberger at the Chandler restaurant. For $30, the dozen attendees enjoyed glasses of wine, watched the chef prepare three dishes, enjoyed

Gus Beisel, an X-ray technician from Tempe, won the inaugural Pizza Muffin-Eating Contest at Floridino’s Pizza & Pasta in Chandler on Saturday, downing 29 muffins in 10 minutes. Along with getting his photo on Floridino’s wall, Beisel (pictured above celebrating

BLD is launching Saturday cooking classes with chef Ehren Litzenberger demonstrating how to turn fresh ingredients into sophisticated dishes. The classes will be held at the Chandler restaurant’s communal table to promote a casual, interactive atmosphere. The schedule, with the

If you’re among the many who’ve been anticipating the release of SanTan Brewing‘s new seasonal 12 Daze, your wait is over. The beer was tapped today at the downtown Chandler brewery. The Strong American Amber Ale gets its name from

Longtime MXSW readers know we like to do “food tours” where we check out several restaurants in a single day, usually revolving around a theme. Readers also know we haven’t done one in quite a while. Well, the drought is

Chandler eatery BLD launches a new Wednesday happy hour today – and your dog is invited. From 5-8 p.m., people can enjoy $5 appetizers and $3 drinks, while pooches can indulge in $3.95 chef-prepared dishes, including: Chicken, white rice and

It’s Veteran Day, which means lots of East Valley restaurant deals for if you have a past or present military ID (or dog tags, photo, etc.), including: Dilly’s Deli: Free individual meal El Palacio: Free two-way combo meal Famous Dave’s

Antars Sports Bistro has opened on downtown Tempe, taking over the second-story space at Mill Avenue and Seventh Street that formerly housed Bamboo Club. As a result of the opening, Michael Antar, one of three brothers who own the business,

Say goodbye to Red White & Brew in Chandler. Employees showed up for work today only to discover the restaurant has been closed. “Basically we were blindsided,” said one staffer. “We were told the restaurant is permanently closed.” Red White

• Did you know you can buy Thanksgiving baked goods from the Commercial Baking and Pastry Arts students at the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa? Last year, 3,200 rolls, 1,200 pies, 1,600 bread loaves and 500 bars were sold in

I don’t know about you, but I am in recovery mode. A very busy slate of activites for the craft beer scene last week has worn me out. The Thirsty Lion Tempe Marketplace’s newest venue opened its doors to a line

• Romeo’s Euro Cafe is changing the dates for two of its next three “Taste of Romeo’s Euro Cafe” dinners, which usually are on Thursdays. This week’s dinner will be tonight; next week’s dinner will return to Thursday (Nov. 17);

• Liberty Market‘s next community dinner, “Fast Food Feast” – featuring chef David Traina‘s spin on five popular fast-food items – is expected to be so popular it will be offered for two nights. Make reservations for Monday, Nov. 21,

The inaugural Arizona Salsa Festival took place Saturday afternoon at Chandler’s Tumbleweed Park. Although the event received little publicity, organizers apparently expected crowds similar in size to the city’s popular Ostrich Festival, which the park hosts every March. That meant

Sorry for the last-minute notice, but here’s an event I just found out about: The first-ever Arizona Salsa Festival will take place this afternoon at Tumbleweed Park (map) in Chandler. The fest, which runs noon to 6 p.m., features competition

Dippin’ Dots – the self-proclaimed “Ice Cream of the Future” – has filed for bankruptcy protection, but the move is not expected to result in the closure of any stores, according to a company official. The Kentucky-based company has nearly

Vintage 95, a new wine lounge in downtown Chandler, hosted an invitation-only soft opening tonight and opens its doors to the public at 5 p.m. Friday. The lounge takes over the former Siracha space, and the changes are numerous, including

Hickman’s Family Farms will hold its third annual PJs & Eggs event Friday to raise money for the Arizona’s Children Association’s statewide foster care programs. From 5 p.m. to close, several Valley restaurants will participate, including three in the East

Today is International Stout Day, a celebration of a beer style that goes back nearly 300 years. Several East Valley venues will be featuring a bunch of stouts and their predecessors, porters, today, including: The Watering Hole at Whole Foods

Cathy’s Rum Cake Caterers, a Valley institution for nearly 37 years, has closed its last remaining location in Chandler, the Republic reports. Over the last year, Cathy’s had closed its Scottsdale and Phoenix locations. Owner Cathy Bua blames the struggling

Joe’s Farm Grill celebrated its anniversary Wednesday with its fifth annual Free Burger Day. With sunny skies and temperatures mostly in the 70s, the Gilbert eatery handed out 3,354 free meals between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. – an average

Streets of New York, the local pizzeria mega-chain with two dozen locations in the Valley, closed its south Chandler restaurant on the northeast corner of Chandler Heights and Alma School on Saturday. It’s the second recent failure in the space:

Superstition Farm in Mesa is launching a dinner series called Pitchforks & Knives, featuring farm-to-table fare cooked in its new food truck. The kickoff will be Tuesday, Nov. 15. A familiar face will serve as guest chef for the inaugural

[portfolio_slideshow] Thirsty Lion Pub & Grill, a self-described “upscale casual gastro-style pub,” opens Tuesday in the former Maria Maria space at Tempe Marketplace. It’ll be the Arizona debut of the concept, whose two other locations are in Portland, Ore. The 400-seat

Despite temperatures near 90 degrees, a large crowd showed up Saturday for the Hoptoberfest & Chili Cookoff at the Hungry Monk in Chandler. [portfolio_slideshow]

We were a little curious a couple weeks ago when we were leaving the Hungry Monk just as a couple of gentlemen were walking in … wearing bras and feathered pink boas. Now we know what was going on: The

SanTan Brewing and Liberty Market are brewing up something special for the holidays: A seasonal beer. Liberty Market partners Joe Johnston and David Traina showed up at the downtown Chandler brewery Wednesday to make 10 pounds of the Gilbert eatery’s

Chandler resident Erin Carr-Jordan was appalled by the dirtiness of a McDonald’s playground in Tempe. The mother of four young children complained to the manager. But when the area was still dirty days later, she decided to take matters into

The holiday season is approaching, and events and parties are popping up everywhere. This week, let’s chat about Rare Affair, taking place on Nov. 5 at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale. It’s a fundraiser put together by Beer for Brains, a

U.S. Egg has opened its fourth Valley location on the northeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Kyrene Road in west Chandler. The popular breakfast-and-lunch eatery – perhaps best-known for its Protein Pancakes (pictured) – also has locations in Tempe, Scottsdale

After months of preserving its amateur status, Mouth by Southwest is finally going pro. Regular readers may have noticed the square ad that appeared Thursday in the right-hand column of this website. Talk of the Town Asian Diner officially becomes our

The Sushi Room – a new concept from the owners of The Living Room – will open its doors at 4 p.m. Friday. The Sushi Room is located at the opposite (west) end of the same building as The Living

How fast could you eat two dozen of Floridino’s signature Pizza Muffins? The Chandler restaurant wants to find out: It’s hosting its first-ever Pizza Muffin Eating Contest over the next five weeks. Qualifying will be held from 4 p.m. to

Did you know Walmart not only is the nation’s largest company, but also its largest seller of beer? And now it’s gonna focus more on craft beer. Ad Age reports Walmart is adding more shelf space to accommodate an expanded

Perhaps the worst-kept secret in Arizona craft beer circles is finally out: Four Peaks Brewing will open a second brewery in Tempe next summer. The new brewery will be located in an industrial park about a half-mile west of Mill

Joe’s Farm Grill celebrates its fifth annual Customer Appreciation Day by giving away free burgers from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2. Click here for the details. Attendees will get a Farm Burger with cheddar cheese, French fries and a beverage.

Four Peaks Brewing Company will host its final gourmet beer dinner of the year on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Check out the fabulous four-course menu. Tickets are $65 per person. The dinner is limited to 70 people, and reservations, available online

Kokopelli Winery & Bistro has upgraded its decor and menu in preparation for its 10th annual Kokopelli Krush in downtown Chandler this weekend. Owner and winemaker Dennis Minchella has expanded the wine and craft beer list – and made it easy

Jennifer Madigan of Gilbert is the winner of Flancer’s 2011 Dessert Showdown. Her winning entry – a turtle cheesecake with an Oreo cookie crust – will debut on the restaurant’s menu Nov. 1. Madigan wins a $100 gift certificate and a

Yoli’s Cafe won Best of Taste overall honors at the 3rd annual Taste Chandler culinary festival over the weekend. AJ’s Café and Coach & Willie’s received honorable mention. Yoli’s, which is located just southwest of downtown Chandler and open for breakfast and lunch only, served

The weather is finally breaking here in Arizona, and it’s time to turn attention to those two favorite of all winter beer styles, imperial stouts and porters. Still just a bit too hot to embrace the big-boy imperials, you say? 

Did you know Coach & Willie’s in downtown Chandler showcases Arizona-brewed beers every Monday? From 6 p.m. to close, enjoy a bottle, can or 14-ounce draft for just $3. Coach & Willie’s carries local beers from SanTan, Four Peaks, Phoenix

Stylish Mexico City street food apparently doesn’t sell in Gilbert: Rosa Blanca Café has closed after less than a year in business. Rosa Blanca opened on the northeast corner of Val Vista and Elliot in February. The menu featured tacos

Chandler newcomer El Palacio Cantina took home a pair of first-place trophies at the 2nd annual Arizona Taco Festival on Saturday at the Scottsdale Waterfront. Led by owner-chef Anthony Serrano and his father Angilbeto (pictured), El Palacio won for best

A capacity crowd of 1,200 people attended Saturday’s 3rd annual Taste Chandler culinary festival in downtown Chandler. Temperatures hit 102 degrees by mid-afternoon, but didn’t seem to slow down the fun. [portfolio_slideshow]

Nearly 60 people secured a coveted reservation for Il Vinaio‘s semi-annual Beer & Donuts tasting Saturday afternoon. The gourmet mini donuts and their 8-ounce beer pairings (from left): Pumpkin Spice Cake Donut with Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen Bacon Butterscotch Donut with Deschutes

Looks like Floridino’s isn’t the only East Valley pizzeria exploring the Sunday breakfast game. Mellow Mushroom in downtown Tempe has launched a new brunch menu available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. Among the menu items: Donut balls (pictured) made from

Whoa! Two of the East Valley’s top restaurants – Cork and Shimogamo – are teaming up for a special tasting menu on Sunday, Oct. 30. Cork has been doing monthly Sunday night tasting menus since early 2010, but now has

A number of East Valley restaurants – including Canteen Modern Tequila Bar, SanTan Brewing Company, Sandbar Chandler, El Palacio Cantina, Dos Gringos and Macayo’s – will be competing in the Arizona Taco Festival this Saturday at the Scottsdale Waterfront. There also

Odell Brewing will be the featured brewery at this Friday’s beer class at Whole Foods Market Chandler. The Fort Collins, Colo., brewery’s Myrcenary, Bourbon Barrel Stout and Isolation will be on tap. There also will be giveaways, and Odell’s Arizona marketing

The Gilbert Farmers Market, which celebrates its 1st anniversary on Oct. 22, is switching to its extended fall hours this week, meaning it’ll be open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Who says there are no cool dining events in Queen Creek? Last week, we told you about the Darcie Kent wine dinner next Wednesday at The Deli. Now comes word of a fabulous beer dinner at Trophy’s Steakhouse. Trophy’s, which

Taste Chandler is upon us. Is that beer I smell? The annual culinary festival begins at the crack of noon Saturday in historic downtown Chandler and features specialty foods prepared by local restaurants paired with wines, craft beers and spirits.

Have you got your tickets for Taste Chandler yet? The city’s third annual culinary festival takes place Saturday in downtown’s A.J. Chandler Park. The biggest change this year is moving the former evening event to the afternoon – noon to

Say goodbye to Wal-Mart’s neighborhood Marketside grocery stores. Employees were told today all Arizona locations will close Oct. 21. Wal-Mart launched the Marketside concept – similar to Fresh & Easy stores – in 2008 with stores in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert

Last week, we told you about Pittsburgh Willy’s new weekend breakfast. Now, another of our favorite Chandler restaurants – Floridino’s – has launched breakfast on NFL Sundays. Floridino’s is famous for its huge, delicious calzones (pictured), so it’s no surprise

If you can’t get enough pumpkin treats in the fall, Chompies has pumpkin bagels, pumpkin pumpkin scones, pumpkin scones, pumpkin loaf with pumpkin icing, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin waffles and even pumpkin creme brulee. Available at the Tempe and

If you like Left Hand beers, you’re in luck. The Colorado brewery is holding a pair of events in Tempe this week. From 6 to 8 p.m. today, Flanny’s Bar & Grill will be pouring and pairing four Left Hand

Yes, The Deli has incredible sandwiches, pizzas and ice creams. But did you know the Queen Creek favorite also offers two or three weekly semi-fine-dining entrees with wine pairings? This week’s specials (available Oct. 11-15) look delicious: Crispy panko-crusted beef

SanTan Brewing Company is counting down to Halloween by dedicating its ongoing Monday Night Movies series to horror flicks this month. Tonight: “Demon Knight,” a 1995 film starring Billy Zane, Jada Pinkett Smith and Thomas Haden Church from the HBO

More than 40 IPAs will be tapped for the Hoptoberfest & Chili Cook Off on Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Hungry Monk in Chandler. The 8-hour parking-lot festival also will include live music, games and a dozen chili cooks competing in two

Here’s where we’ll be eating this week: Joe’s Farm Grill is celebrating its 5th anniversary by offering a trio of $5 specials for 5 days: • The Farm Burger with choice of cheese, veggie stack & French fries • The

Chef Brandon Crouser (pictured) has left the renovated and reopened Vine Expressions wine bar and retail shop in Gilbert after two months, saying simply, “It wasn’t a good fit for me.” Sous chef John Ribeiro, who also worked under Crouser at

Liberty Market will host an Oktoberfest community dinner on Monday, Oct. 24. Chef David Traina’s menu hasn’t been finalized, but it will feature five courses celebrating the cuisine of Germany. Cost is $39 for the meal alone, $49 with beer pairings

Pittsburgh Willy’s, the popular gourmet hot dog shop just north of downtown Chandler, will start offering breakfast next weekend – just in time to take advantage of its new patio. If you can’t wait, diners can sample some of the

Tempe Oktoberfest – one of the East Valley’s largest free festivals – starts today and runs through Sunday at Tempe Beach Park. The 39th annual festival features polka, country and rock music, carnival rides, merchandise vendors, fun runs and children’s

Cork, the fine-dining restaurant in south Chandler, changes its menu with the season, and the fall menu has just been launched. Chef Brian Peterson‘s autumn-tinged entrees include: Slow-roasted pork belly with a celery root-apple puree & cider-braised vegetables ($23) Organic

Here’s another Breast Cancer Awareness Month restaurant special: As part of the nationwide Slice of Hope campaign, NY 54 Pizza in Chandler is donating 10% of all sales Friday to the Karen Mullen Breast Cancer Foundation. NY 54 offers thin-crust and Sicilian-style

Queen Creek diners are lacking in dining options, here’s some good news: Trophy’s Steakhouse has unveiled a new lunch menu. Trophy’s opened in 2009 and quickly became a local favorite for dinner, thanks to its steaks and frequent wild game

Herb-N Flavors – that’s the name for now at least – has opened on the southeast corner of Broadway and McClintock in Tempe. Tunisia-born Sabeur Rouin, best-known for his Doctor Hummus products sold at Valley farmers markets, planned to call his

Chandler’s Whole Foods Market, located on the southeast corner of the Loop 101 and Ray Road, will celebrate its fourth anniversary Saturday with music, activities and $4 deals. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Jam Pak Band will perform.

Earlier this week, MXSW reported four of our local craft breweries returned from the Great American Beer Festival with medals. This is a monumental moment for Arizona craft beer: Never have so many Arizona brewers returned from the GABF with

Flancer’s is accepting entries for its third annual Dessert Showdown. If you have a great dessert, bring the recipe and a sample of it for Flancer’s tasters to either the Gilbert or Mesa restaurant through Friday, Oct. 14. Finalists will

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Chandler has introduced a new cocktail to raise money for organizations fighting the disease. Dubbed The Stiletto, the $6 drink muddles Hendrick’s Gin with fresh blackberries,

Four Arizona breweries, including three from the East Valley, won medals this weekend at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Barley Brothers Restaurant & Brewery in Lake Havasu City won a gold medal in the Chocolate Beer category

Il Vinaio‘s semi-annual Beer & Donuts will take place 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15. Get four freshly made gourmet doughnuts paired with 8-ounce craft beers: Pumpkin Spice Cake Donut with Weihenstephaner Hefe Bacon Butterscotch Old Fashioned Donut with

Texas chain Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has opened its second Arizona restaurant on Power Road, just north of Baseline, in east Mesa. Several years ago, there were several Dickey’s in Arizona, including one in Chandler. But they all closed and the

Steve Chucri, longtime president and CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association, announced today he will run for a seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. The 41-year-old Mesa resident will challenge incumbent Don Stapley for his East Valley seat

My beer-centric topic this go-around comes from a response to last week’s article, specifically a very thirsty man’s plea for a great time on a little dosh. Funny thing, really. As I sat there contemplating his query, I looked down

East Valley Institute of Technology, whose stellar culinary arts program trains high school students from across the East Valley, reopens its monthly restaurant, dubbed 5th Season, on Thursday, Oct. 6. On the first Thursday of each month, 5th Season will

Despite today’s triple-digit temperatures, a couple thousand people flocked to A.J. Chandler Park for the Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest. Tricycle races were one of several activities enjoyed by “kids” of all ages. The polka band featured not one, not two, but

The calendar may say September, but SanTan Brewing celebrates Oktoberfest from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. today at A.J. Chandler Park in downtown Chandler. As many as 5,000 people are expected to enjoy polka music, strong man competitions, a bratwurst-eating contest,

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: Ko’Sin Restaurant, the “Arizona desert cuisine” restaurant at the Wild Horse Pass Resort near Chandler. First course (choose

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: Rotolo’s Pizzeria, located in front of the AMC Mesa Grand 24 cineplex. First course (choose one): Stuffed mushrooms

The Hungry Monk in Chandler will host a Sierra Nevada event from 5-8 p.m. today, featuring four of the brewery’s limited releases: Life & Limb, a dark beer collaboration with Dogfish Head Beer Camp Double IPA, aka their Ghidorah IPA Long Stem

Going out to eat this weekend? You don’t have to leave man’s best friend at home. Thursday through Sunday, Flancer’s is holding a Dine with your Pooch on the Patio event. As a fundraiser for Gabriel’s Angels – a fantastic

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: House of Tricks, the award-winning fine-dining restaurant in downtown Tempe. First course (choose one): Smoked sweet

I hope everyone enjoyed last week’s fortuitous romp through Flagstaff. This week’s article is shaped by an email I received in response to that very trip. The email read simply “staycation.” How odd? Anyway, I began thinking about all the great

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: The Landmark, the historic restaurant on Mesa’s Main Street. First course (choose one): Crab cakes with

The Market Café has reopened with a fall seasonal menu at the Buttes Resort in Tempe. The all-day restaurant, whose mountainside patio affords a spectacular view of Phoenix, offers such cantina-themed dishes as: Three Lettuce Salad with local goat cheese,

Former “American Idol” runner-up David Archuleta dropped by Joe’s Real BBQ in Gilbert on Friday to enjoy some ‘cue. We haven’t been able to track down any photos of the pop singer there, but the restaurant posted this memento on

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: BLD, the recently opened all-day restaurant in Chandler. First course (choose one): BLD wedge salad with

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: Monti’s La Casa Vieja, the steakhouse in downtown Tempe. First course (choose one): Warm spinach &

Each day during Arizona Restaurant Week (Sept. 17-25), MXSW looks at a special three-course dinner menu being offered by a participating East Valley restaurant. Today: Cork, the award-winning fine-dining restaurant in south Chandler. First course (choose one): Heirloom tomato salad with

Of all the email MXSW gets, one of the most persistent queries from readers is: When will Joe’s Farm Grill have date shakes again? Well, date shake fans, your annual wait is over. The medjool dates from neighboring Agritopia were

It’s Hopageddon 2011 at Papago Brewing Company today. The event, which runs from noon until 2 a.m., features more than three dozen “hoppy” beers, including the debut of Valley newcomer Phoenix Ale Brewery‘s Camelback IPA. This isn’t a typical beer

Arizona Restaurant Week kicks off Saturday. Unfortunately, it might be kinda hard to tell in the East Valley. More than 200 restaurants are participating, but fewer than 20 are in the East Valley. Launched in September 2008, the week (actually

New Times’ recent visit to Tina’s Ethiopian Cafe‘s new Gilbert location has erupted into a full-fledged war of words on the alt-weekly’s website – 76 mostly nasty comments and counting. The original blog post seemed fairly benign: The paper noted