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A trio of Valley notables learned tonight they’re the newest members of the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame: Eugenia Theodosopoulos, chef-owner of Essence Bakery Café in Tempe, was honored as Pastry Chef Extraordinaire. Chrysa Robertson, chef-owner of Rancho Pinot in Scottsdale,

Oregano’s Pizza Bistro, which just opened its ninth Arizona location in Chandler, is already working on No. 10. The popular Phoenix-based chain is taking over the former Jerry Tucci’s Brick Oven Pizzeria building at Paradise Valley Mall. No date has been

After 37 years, Taste is shaking things up. Saturday’s culinary fundraiser, which has been held for several years at Kierland Commons, moves to the Scottsdale Waterfront and is being rechristened The Original Taste. The event, which runs 7 to 10

Old Town Scottsdale’s newest nightlife – er, make that “daylife” – destination Spanish Fly Mexican Beach Club opens at noon Saturday. Formerly Drift Lounge, the property has undergone a $2 million renovation that includes addition of a full-size pool, indoor/outdoor

Mozart Café & Bakery, an all-day restaurant that uses only kosher dairy products, has opened near Scottsdale and Shea in Scottsdale. The menu focuses on healthy Mediterranean dishes – grilled, not fried – and fresh-baked challahs, croissants and pastries. Mozart, which

Six Valley food and beverage veterans have joined forces to open Garage Public House in the former Vine Tavern space in Ahwatukee. According to co-owner Doug Collins (Tavern on Mill): It’s going to be more upscale than a sports bar,

Pizzeria Bianco, legendary for its multi-hour waiting lines, will begin serving lunch April 12. The downtown Phoenix pizzeria, helmed by James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco, currently offers two seatings per night Tuesday through Saturday. Pizzeria Bianco to open for

Chef Payton Curry (pictured on left), who recently left Caffe Boa, has been sending out cryptic tweets this week about a new restaurant he intends to open. On Monday: I just found a location for my Therapy. We will be

Coal Burger, a self-proclaimed “burgeria with a conscience” from the people behind Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, is the latest restaurant to open at Scottsdale Quarter. The menu features grass-fed beef patties cooked in a coal-fired oven. A Classic Coal Burger with lettuce,

City Market Deli has opened near Indian School Road and 68th Street, its second location in Scottsdale and third in the Valley. The sandwich shops, which moved from Detroit to the Valley after the recession hit, offer sandwiches, wraps, salads,

Finalists for the 2011 James Beard Awards, the culinary world’s equivalent to the Oscars, have just been announced, and Arizona laid a giant goose egg. Again. Kevin Binkley (left) of Binkley’s Restaurant in Cave Creek, Silvana Salcido Esparza (right) of

Elements chef Beau MacMillan survived just two rounds Sunday night on the Food Network’s “Chopped All-Stars,” bowing out with his entree course. The competition pitted MacMillan, an “Iron Chef America” victor and former co-host of the network’s “Worst Cooks in

Black Chile Mexican Grill, a new chain concept from the founders of Kona Grill, will open its second location this May at Biltmore Fashion Park. The menu will feature tacos, enchiladas and Americanized entrees like chimichangas, chorizo meatloaf and its namesake

Smok’n Joe’s Roadhouse has opened in Scottsdale, taking over the former Mardi Gras space near McDowell and Hayden. Although the restaurant’s website doesn’t have much info, its Facebook page describes the concept as “scooter-friendly neighborhood bar & grill meets roadhouse

A couple days ago we mentioned Spinato’s Pizzeria would be opening its fifth Valley location next month in Ahwatukee in April. It looks like Spinato’s fans won’t have to wait quite that long. Sharp-eyed MXSW reader @ScorpionKiller snapped this photo

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, a Louisana-based chain that bills itself as the leading fast-casual chicken fingers restaurant in the nation, is planning to open its first two Arizona restaurants in Phoenix. The first is scheduled to open at Peoria Avenue and

BLD, the much-anticipated new casual restaurant from the people behind Cork, opens its doors at 10:30 a.m. today. Chef Brian Peterson and partners Robert and Danielle Morris’ latest restaurant, whose name is an acronym for “Breakfast Lunch Dinner,” is located on the northeast corner

Phoenix gourmet popcorn maker Poppa Maize has opened its long-awaited Mill Avenue stroe – right next to, conveniently enough, Madcap Theaters. Poppa Maize, which won a year’s free rent in downtown Tempe in a 2009 contest, finally opened Monday. The store

After sitting empty for a couple years, the former Bamboo Club space in downtown Tempe is getting a new tenant: Antars Sports Bistro is scheduled to open April 1. The second-story, 7,000-square-foot space will be Antars’ second Valley location. The

Spinato’s Pizzeria – which already has popular locations in Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix (two) – will open a fifth in Ahwatukee next month. The family-run business, which has won several local awards for its Chicago-style pizzas, has purchased a building at