Michael DeMaria's Heirloom Set to Open in January

Chef Michael DeMaria's been a busy guy lately, but you wouldn't know it from the looks of the Phoenix restaurant scene.

Ever since he closed his restaurant Michael's at the Citadel last year, he's been conspicuously absent, working on a new joint called Trattoria M that was originally supposed to open this past spring, but still hasn't come to fruition. When the Mortgages Ltd. fiasco stalled the funding for Tempe's Centerpoint Condominiums, DeMaria's swanky new eatery landed in limbo, too.

That restaurant is still in the works -- albeit, it's a ways off -- but in the meantime, he's opening a new place up at DC Ranch in North Scottsdale, in the spot that housed Flo's Hong Kong Food Market. It's called Heirloom, and it's scheduled to open for business late next month. In the meantime, stay posted for the official menu. -- Michele Laudig