Category: Uncategorized

From his former restaurant, Michael at The Citadel, to his latest, Heirloom at DC Ranch in north Scottsdale, chef Michael DeMaria is known for his New American cuisine. But when he’s looking for comfort food, he turns to Asian fare: I

Great news for fans of Tott’s Asian Diner: The south Tempe fave, which closed in December after its landlord refused to renew its lease, has found a new location. The restaurant just announced it’s signed a lease for the former

Phoenix Magazine finally has posted its annual list of Phoenix’s best restaurants in full on its website. (Previously, only two categories were posted.) 85 best Phoenix restaurants [Phoenix Mag]

Vietnamese restaurant Anise has closed at Warner and Alma School in Chandler. [New Times] Craig DeMarco (La Grande Orange, Postino) is looking for ’80s cassette tapes for the Windsor, his upcoming Phoenix restaurant. [Eater AZ] Promising a Vincent on Camelback “less stuffy, less fancy

Elements chef Beau MacMillan has been replaced for the second season of the Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America” by chef Robert Irvine, host of the network’s “Dinner: Impossible.” A Food Network official said the change was made because MacMillan’s team

Becky Windels, chef and co-owner of The Herb Box, has an unusual career dream: I’d love to do a vegetarian restaurant, but offer bacon. Because you can’t get away from your bacon. Becky Windels of The Herb Box – part

Cold Stone Creamery is capitalizing on the growing popularity of frozen yogurt by adding yogurt bars in existing Cold Stone ice cream stores. Cold Stone Yogurt Bars will feature a self-serve “weigh and pay” system with a toppings bar so

The defunct Drift Lounge in Old Town Scottsdale is being reworked into Spanish Fly, the Valley’s first non-resort bar/pool. [Eater AZ] Truffles Grand American Grill has opened in the former Dos Diablos, which closed Christmas Day, in north Scottsdale. [New Times]

Valley bars are rolling out “skinny” cocktails for calorie-conscious drinkers, including: Mexican Bikini at Taberna Mexicana (130 calories) Skinny Margarita from Z’Tejas (210) Thin Mint Mojito at Ra Sushi (150) Naked Redberry Rapture at ReBar (100) Cucumber-Clementine Skinny Margarita at

Andrea Volpi, who recently returned to Arizona to open Local Bistro in north Scottsdale, says he doesn’t cook at home: I don’t cook! I eat here. I’m a very simple guy. I make salads, fish, some chicken. 24 years I don’t

A month after iPic Entertainment opened a dine-in theater in Scottsdale, AMC wants to convert two of its Valley movie theaters into dine-in theaters. The chain has asked the state liquor board for approval to convert some auditoriums at the

Less than a month after closing its longtime south Scottsdale retail shop and moving into The Duce in downtown Phoenix, Pop the Soda Shop is homeless again. Pop owner Jeff Guarino hopes to have a new outlet soon. In the

Troubled Siracha Lounge, which tried to combine Pan-Asian street food with a trendy nightclub vibe in downtown Chandler, has closed for the second time in 14 months. Siracha launched in November 2009, but closed just four months later after losing

Five months after chef Wade Moises bailed, PastaBar has closed in downtown Phoenix. Moises, who had left Sassi, and sous chef Nick Gentry launched PastaBar in February 2009. Moises left last July to head Adobe Restaurant. Closed for business: PastaBar [New

Year-old Dolce Espresso Video Coffee Bar in Phoenix has closed. [New Times] TK’s Urban Tavern opens tonight at the Scottsdale Quarter. [New Times] Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches has opened its 13th Valley location at CityScape in downtown Phoenix. [AZ Central]

Papago Brewing Company in Scottsdale and Taste of Tops (pictured) in Tempe made Draft Magazine’s list of America’s best beer bars. The magazine said of Papago: This is the place in Phoenix to meet up with the beer crowd. Thirty taps

Sonoran hot dog alert! Tucson favorite El Güero Canelo plans to open three Valley locations “as soon as possible,” according to owner Daniel Contreras. El Güero Canelo is well-known for its Sonoran hot dogs, which are wrapped in bacon and topped

Events were just announced for the first-ever Arizona Beer Week, which is Feb. 19-26. The main event is the annual Strong Beer Festival at Steele Indian School Park, but there also will be special tastings, dinners, seminars, pub crawls and

Phoenix City Grille and Sierra Bonita Grill (pictured) are no longer sister restaurants. Longtime Valley restaurateur Sheldon Knapp is retaining Phoenix City, which serves American fare. Nate Hopper, who opened Sierra Bonita with Knapp in 2005 as the general manager,

Citizen Public House, the long-awaited restaurant from former Cowboy Ciao chef Bernie Kantak, will have a soft opening Saturday and “officially” open on Sunday. The dinner-only (for now) menu includes entrees named Fair Trade Coffee Charred Short Ribs, Brick Grilled

FilmBar, an independent movie theater and beer/wine bar, just launched its website and is planning to open Feb. 3 in downtown. The theater will show new, classic and cult independent films in a “microcinema” setting (approximately 60-80 seats) while offering

Candy Addict, a store offering more than 1,000 kinfs of candy, has opened on Mill Avenue in downtown Tempe. The store is owned by Frank and Pam Ellis, who relocated from California’s Silicone Valley where he helped develop the Amazon

It looks like Stan’s Metro Deli, an institution on downtown Tempe’s Mill Avenue in the 1990s, has closed again. The deli had just reopened in August after several years’ absence. But a sign in the window today indicates the space is

Chef Brandon Crouser (pictured) has left Crudo to become executive chef at Avalon in Scottsdale. He says Avalon will serve “classic bistro food with world flair.” Crouser, perhaps best-known from his work at Atlas Bistro, co-launched Crudo with chef Cullen

The Mission (pictured), Deseo and My Arepa make Howard Seftel’s list of the top 10 Latin American and Caribbean restaurants in the Valley. Top 10 Latin-American, Caribbean restaurants in Phoenix [AZ Central]

Want to learn how to grow tomatoes in our desert climate? Slow Food Phoenix is hosting three classes Feb. 5 during Tomato Fest at Maya’s Farm in south Phoenix. [Facebook] Has recently reopened Stan’s Metro Deli closed again on Mill

Two restaurants are set to open this week at Scottsdale Quarter, a 28-acre retail-and-restaurant complex on Scottsdale Road and Greenway Parkway. Former Joe’s Farm Grill chef Chad Burnett’s debuts his “progressive American cuisine” menu at Parc Central Restaurant & Lounge on Wednesday.

Real estate manager Danny Little and general contractor Tim Smith are the new owners of the Pink Pony in Scottsdale. The 60-year-old landmark, which closed in 2009, recently posted a mysterious message on its website announcing it will reopen. Little and

Narcisse Champagne & Tea Lounge, offering 200 kinds of bubbly, has opened at Scottsdale Quarter. [New Times] The first Great American Barbecue and Beer Festival will be held March 26 in downtown Chandler. [New Times] New owners have changed the name

SanTan Brewing Company will unleash its new seasonal ale – a chocolate barley wine called Sex Panther – at 11 a.m. Tuesday. We totally dig the ale’s 1970s-era logo (pictured). The downtown Chandler brewpub will celebrate the release with ’70s

The much-anticipated Citizen Public House, the new restaurant for former Cowboy Ciao chef Bernie Kantak, opens Friday in Old Town Scottsdale. CPH is just one of several new restaurant openings in downtown Scottsdale, including: Herb Box, which opened its second

Chef Shinji Kurita, who closed his acclaimed Shinbay in Ahwatukee five years ago, is working on reopening his sushi restaurant at the Scottsdale Seville. The new spot, which will seat just two dozen people, will offer omakase tasting menus and “New Tokyo-style”

James Porter, the owner-chef of French country bistro Petite Maison in Old Town Scottsdale, is branching out into barbecue. He hopes to launch Big Earl’s BBQ on Feb. 1. The restaurant, which takes over the former Nello’s building in Old

Gallo Blanco owner-chef Doug Robson may have had to give up his Phoenix restaurant’s rooster logo last month, but he’s gotten a gallo blanco (“white rooster”) tattooed on his shoulder. [New Times] This just in: Mosaic in north Scottsdale is

Devil’s Ale, an American Pale Ale produced by SanTan Brewing Company in downtown Chandler, scores a lofty 96 rating from Draft magazine: Brilliantly clear, this copper-hued brew wears a tight, bubbly white head and unleashes a wildly rich hop aroma:

Tanzy, a modern Mediterranean restaurant, has opened next to the iPic Theaters at the Scottsdale Quarter. Chef Geoff Baumberger‘s menu includes such entrees as braised lamb shank ($28), black cod ratatouille ($26) and pineapple-glazed swordfish ($27). New in Scottsdale: Tanzy [New

After much speculation, it’s official: Former Sassi chef Peter DeRuvo is the new chef de cuisine at Prado, the upscale Italian restaurant at the InterContinental Montelucia resort in Paradise Valley. Most recently, DeRuvo served a month-long stint at the short-lived

Litchfield’s, the new showcase restaurant at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, will open next Friday. The bankrupt resort was bought by Jerry Colangelo and partners in 2009, and famed chef Chris Bianco (Pizzeria Bianco, Pane Bianco) was consulted to

Here’s some potentially great news: The Pink Pony, the 61-year-old landmark in Old Town Scottsdale that closed in 2009, apparently is reopening. A mysterious post on the legendary sports bar and restaurant’s new website (pictured) says: After a long, wonderful (not

Lauren and Morgan Klemp, daughters of AZ Wine Co. owner Ray Klemp, are marketing Arroyo Vodka, the Valley’s first hometown microdistilled vodka. The small-batch vodka – just 886 bottles – is available at select Valley restaurants, resorts and AZ Wine’s

A pair of former ski resort managers are hoping to open The Dugout Sports Grill in Ahwatukee by Super Bowl Sunday. [Foothills News] James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Bianco has bought out 16-year business partner Susan Pool and is now

Romeo’s Euro Café is starting special “Table for 10” dinners featuring five selections from the downtown Gilbert restaurant’s extensive menu. Every Thursday, 10 people will get to join owner-chef Romeo Taus and his wife for a five-course meal. Cost is

Chicagoland favorite Mia Francesca is opening two locations in Scottsdale this year. The first is expected to open spring in the former San Felipe Cantina space at DC Ranch. The second is scheduled for this summer in the ex-Quilted Bear

It’s been confirmed that chef Peter DeRuvo has left Vatra Grillhouse, which has closed and intends to reopen as Kitchen 56. [New Times] Another In-N-Out Burger is coming to west Phoenix. [Phoenix Biz Journal] Valley entrepreneurs want to change how

Geordie’s Restaurant & Lounge at The Wrigley Mansion’s has new lunch and dinner menus and a new wine list. The cuisine is still continental American with Mediterranean accents, but with greater emphasis on seasonal ingredients. The Arizona Biltmore mansion will close

Gourmet food trucks, multi-purpose spaces and late-night dining are among the predicted trends for Valley dining in 2011, according to an informal survey of local restaurateurs and chefs. Local restaurant peeps’ predictions for 2011 [New Times]

Inka Fest, a new Peruvian restaurant, has taken over the former Dooby’s in Mesa. [Chowhound] The Wigwam Resort’s new restaurant, expected to open in mid-January, will be called Litchfield. [AZ Central] Café Rustica, an Italian restaurant, is tentatively set to

An NFL lockout in 2011 would cost the Valley between $150 million and $160 million, according to the players union. The NBA also is looking at the possibility of a lockout next fall. Such a double whammy would potentially be

Vatra Grillhouse, which opened just four months ago, has closed. The Arcadia restaurant’s website says it plans to reopen in early 2011 as Kitchen 56. Vatra served what it called “delicious neighborhood food” in a “warm atmosphere.” Kitchen 56 will offer

The popularity of late-night dining and the rise of Arizona wines are two of the Valley’s top culinary happenings in 2010. [New Times] Tryst Café, which offers a selection of health-oriented breakfast and lunch favorites, has opened at Desert Ridge. [AZ Central]

Popular Phoenix sports bar Coach & Willie’s hopes to open its long-delayed second location in downtown Chandler in March, according to the Republic. Owners Eric Stoltz and Mark Simonek wanted to buy the building on the southeast corner of Boston

Scottsdale restaurateur Sam Fox’s latest concept, The Arrogant Butcher, is set to open at CityScape on Feb. 21. [FRC] If you’re looking for a last-minute Christmas idea, here’s a rundown of some Arizona wines. [Tucson Citizen] More of a beer

  Sushi Eye has opened a location in Ahwatukee to go along with their restaurants in Tempe and Chandler. [AZ Central] Otaku Sushi is scheduled to open next month on Gilbert Road, between Germann and Queen Creek roads, in Chandler.