Phoenix Food Blog

​Just a quick reminder that Welcome Diner has special hours for First Friday. They'll be serving food from 6 p.m. to midnight. Specials on the menu include watermelon from Crooked Sky Farms and eggplant from Maya's Farm.

If you're down wandering around Roosevelt Row, hit up Rusty Spoke bike co-op on 5th Street for the lowdown on how to get a pedicab to the diner.

​It's a coffee Renaissance in downtown.

Just got the lowdown from the guys at Tempe's Cartel Coffee Lab that they're opening a second location in the heart of Downtown, at 1st Street and Washington (right across the street from the new CityScape development). The timing is hazy, because they have some construction to do to get the space ready, but hopefully they'll set up shop by the end of the year.

Cartel joins an ever-growing roster of hip coffee hangouts in the area -- two Royal Coffee Bars, two Fair Trade Cafes, Conspire, the soon-to-open Giant Coffee, and the also soon-to-open second location of Lola Coffee.

People, we are gonna be wired for the 21st Century.

Tags: cartel coffee lab, coffee

Like many local food fanatics, I've had mixed feelings about Yelp. And I still do.

Some of the most venomous restaurant reviews, posted by users with no prior history on the site, come across as blatant trash-talking by competitors, while some of the blow-jobbish raves also seem like thinly veiled posts by a restaurant's own employees. And even among ordinary contributors, the anonymous public forum stirs up all kinds of hater-ade.

Weird!

Earlier this week, LON's at the Hermosa announced that acclaimed executive chef Michael Rusconi is leaving the fine dining restaurant at the Hermosa Inn. 

​In their weekly wine newsletter, Roger Carpenter and Phil Roberts announced that they're leaving their current Chandler digs in December and moving their Aussie-themed restaurant, DownUnder Wines & Bistro, to an expanded space in Gilbert (1422 W. Warner, northeast corner at McQueen).

Local newcomer St. Francis just got some sweet national coverage in Food + Wine's blog. It's always great for the local restaurant scene when a Valley restaurant gets these kinds of props, and I'm definitely happy to see chef Aaron Chamberlin get the attention for his labor of love. 

​After the extended Halloween weekend hangover -- chock full of too many S'Mores, wine, asskickingly strong microbrews, nachos, and various fried things -- something light sounded appealing. I'm so lacking in vitamins these days. So I immediately thought of Sapna Cafe.

​There's no doubt that Joe's Farm Grill is already a southeast Valley destination. Owner Joe Johnston converted his old family farmhouse into a Jetson-worthy burger joint, and the relaxing setting is a welcome reprieve from the city.

But a free hamburger? That's even more reason to visit.

Head out today, until 3 p.m., or a little later, from 4 to 8 p.m., to get a free burger, fries, and drink. You have to wait in line, and supplies are limited, but sinking your teeth into it will be worth it.

​Don't be surprised if you see a familiar, affable face and shiny chrome dome at a local restaurant sometime in the near future.

Travel Channel star Andrew Zimmern was scheduled to land in Arizona with his crew this week, filming a new episode of Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World. He'll be hitting up everything from Dot's Diner at the Shady Dell in Bisbee to the Navajo Nation.

I talked to folks from his show a number of times in the past few weeks, and gave them a slew of suggestions for Zimmern to check out. 

Julia Zolondz

Go Jan and Helen!

The ladies of Sweet Republic -- North Scottsdale's charming artisanal ice cream shop, which we awarded "Best Ice Cream" in this year's Best of Phoenix issue -- have gotten their product into Whole Foods in Scottsdale. Over the next week, they'll be stocking the rest of the Whole Foods stores in the Valley.

Just look at those cute pints in the freezer case (at right). Score!

Today, they Tweeted that they're selling salted butter, almond buttercrunch, real mint chip, pumpkin, and basil lime at the supermarket. Time to stock the fridge . . .

On a related note, look inside Shine, New Times' mini-mag coming out this week, for a profile on the two hard-working gals behind this super-popular local brand.

​Are you sensing a pattern here? As in, my obsession with sweet, edible, funny things? Oh yes, it's bad. Don't believe me? I'm writing this as I sit next to a melted LP vinyl dish full of chocolate-filled Hello Kitty marshmallows. But that's not what I wanted to tell you about. My latest find comes courtesy of nostalgic candy shop Smeeks.

Continue reading " La-Dee-Dahs at Smeeks"...

Tags: caramel, La-Dee-Dahs, Smeeks

Caffe Boa owner Jay Wisniewski told me that new chef Payton Curry would eventually be changing up the menu at the upscale, wine-centric Tempe restaurant.

I guess in Curry's world, "eventually" happens fast. Fresh from his departure from the now-shuttered Digestif, he's already launched a brand-new menu of dishes inspired by the bounty of local farms like Seacat Gardens, McClendon Select, Maya's Farm, Singh Farms, and Black Mesa Ranch.

Sign me up for some of those roasted veal marrow bones with Hawaiian sea salt, McClendon's bitter greens, and Tawny Port syrup.

Flight attendants-turned-restaurateurs Robert McCarville, Tom Vigil, and Randy Betnar sold Coronado Cafe two weeks ago, and the new owners of the charming eatery, tucked into an historic 1915 bungalow on 7th Street, have a few changes in store.

Co-owner Diane Stackwick has lived in Arizona for a decade, but she hails from Baltimore, and owned a successful Maryland restaurant for several years. Her son and his wife are also co-owners; Christian Holt is the new chef and Misti Jones brings her wine and spirits background to the operation.

​You probably saw my post about Lisa G closing over the weekend -- where I mentioned new owner Matt Diamond -- but now that I've had a chance to chat with Diamond, I have more details for you.

So he's got a serious wine background. He's traveled to various wine regions, worked for such local restaurateur/wine luminaries as Tom Kaufman (Humble Pie) and Peter Kasperski (Spaghetti Western Productions), and was involved in the opening of Phoenix's uber-wine bar, Postino. "Those guys gave me a lot of leeway to do things when I worked with them," he says.

 

 

​It's not very often that cupcakes make me laugh, but I saw these little dudes in the case at Tammie Coe on Halloween morning, and couldn't resist getting one to go with my latte. They're probably all gone by now, because Thanksgiving's the next big holiday to pimp. And I'm sure there is something equally fun in their place.

It's Saturday morning. I really haven't had enough coffee yet. But there's nothing like big news to wake me up, and today's word is a shocker. 

Another week has come and gone leaving us to ponder the upcoming events that will shape our lives and, more importantly, our dinners out. But before we move on, let's have one last look at the blog posts from this week:

Oysters and Bloody Marys at Casey Moore's

CRAVE Arizona is Perfectly Balanced Gluttony

Battle of the Pad Thai

Meet and Eat with Foodies Like You

Getting Wired at Conspire

​Good morrrrrrning, sunshine! What an eye-opener at Conspire this morning -- a large latte with four shots of espresso to get my brain cranked up, plus some sweets to share. Vegan doughnuts are a Conspire staple that I can't resist, while the pumpkin-chocolate chip cupcake with cream cheese icing was a seasonal perk.

Like the funny little drawing on the front porch bannister? I didn't do it, I swear. I sat down to look at the paper (with a view of the yard that they're tearing up to create a patio), and there it was -- pencil included. Inside the shop, there was a whole display of fun Dia de los Muertos-inspired art and handmade gifty things. And they were playing The Dead Weather.

If you still haven't been to Conspire, you're missing out on one of downtown's quirkiest hangouts.

​

 

Ooh, here's some exciting news -- there will soon be a superstar in our midst.

The term "celebrity chef" gets thrown around a lot these days, but there's no question that Thomas Keller truly is one.

Whether you think The French Laundry in Yountville, CA, is the best restaurant in America or simply one of the best, surely you know the name of the celebrated chef behind it.

He'll be coming to Sur La Table at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale on Wednesday, November 11, for a Q&A and booksigning from 3 to 5 p.m. 

Yes, Keller has a new book coming out, Ad Hoc at Home, which will be for sale at the store starting in November. It's a full of comfort food recipes for home cooks, inspired by his outher Yountville eatery Ad Hoc. He'll be signing copies of that as well as his other titles, The French Laundry Cookbook, Bouchon, and Under Pressure.

(On a related note, have you read Phoebe Damrosch's memoir Service Included, about working at Keller's celebrated New York restaurant, Per Se? There's some fascinating behind-the-scenes stuff . . .)

​I promised not to name him yet, because he hasn't given notice with his current employer.

But if I could tell you who's opening a stylish new downtown Mexican restaurant called Verde this coming month, I would most certainly put this chef's name in bold letters. That's what I did the last time I blogged about him, and that's all I'll say about him . . . for now.

But the restaurant? Sure, I can tell you all about that. It'll be Mexican food with "no American touches," with a totally custom-made wood-burning comal (metal flat top). You'll be able to look in through a large window to see cooks making fresh tortillas.

 

Schnepf Farms

​Schnepf Farms may have gotten a reputation for hosting rowdy music festivals, but that isn't what is attracting fall foodies. Schnepf is another great example of an Arizona you-pick-it farm, and it's a lot easier to get to than Buckelew or Apple Annie's.

Currently, the farm is putting on a pumpkin and chili festival through the end of October that costs $14 to attend. However, Schnepf offers farm fresh produce all year round, changing what's available to pick with the season. Though most of their fruit isn't available until the spring, they do offer an array of fruit butters, preserves, and spreads in their gift shop.

​There's nothing better than a crisp, clean beer on a cool fall night. Ok, maybe a hot toddy, but we're still all about fall seasonals like Dogfish Head's Pumpkin Ale and Four Peaks' Pumpkin Porter. In this week's Meal Ticket dining newsletter, find out which upcoming event will feature seasonal beers from around the country. Buy a ticket and get a taste -- or 8, or 15.

We'll also have info on a new brewpub in Tempe, and another microbrewery that's on its way to the East Valley. Drink, drink and be merry!  

To sign up for Meal Ticket, visit www.phoenixnewtimes.com/readers/register, enter your information and select "dining newsletter." Register soon to be included in this week's mailing!

Buckelew Farm

​The next farm in our round-up is in southwest Tucson. Buckelew Farms is about an hour closer to the Phoenix-metro area than Apple Annie's, which we explored yesterday.

Buckelew Farms is strictly a pumpkin patch, so orchard enthusiasts should look elsewhere. However, the $4 fee makes it a good destination for a cheap day trip. For those who find the perfect pumpkin, it only costs 40 cents per pound to buy it.

​Effin' A, they're calling it FnB.

Restaurateur Peter Kasperski has teamed up former Digestif GM Pavle Milic -- who just gave notice at Prado -- and chef Charleen Badman of Rancho Pinot to open another gastropub in the Stetson Drive space that was the longtime home of Sea Saw, and until last week, Digestif.

There's no menu yet, but the spot may be open as soon as Thanksgiving, according to the Republic.

It's interesting to see that Milic is getting back on board with Kasperski's Spaghetti Western Productions, given the unfortunate downsizing and sudden demise of Digestif, the shelved plans for Shell Shock and Mexican Standoff (which were supposed to open at SouthBridge), and persistent rumors of payroll problems at some of Kasperski's restaurants. This has been a rough year for the company.

(Of course, when Milic left Digestif back in March, he had nothing but good things to say about his boss and mentor.)

Spaghetti Western PR gal Mari Markogianis was unreachable this afternoon due to vacation, and we're hoping to hear back from Kasperski on the details. 

Apple Annie's

​One of the best parts of autumn is the pick-it-yourself patches and orchards opening for public fun. Despite the 90-degree October and desert landscape, Arizona boasts some lovely farms for picking. However, most places close for the season on or around Halloween, so here's a few farms to hit up this week before all the goods are gone.

Apple Annie's in Wilcox is our first stop on the orchard tour. Of course there's some "family fun" opportunities, but there really is a lot more to you-pick-it farms than kid stuff.

Apple Annie's offers apple-smoked burgers on the weekends and homemade fudge. Also, if you're too exhausted from the hunt to make your own baked goods, Apple Annie's has fresh, homemade pies and apple bread.

Amy Silverman

Homemade Candy Corn.

​You didn't expect to read the terms "cognitive dissonance" and "homemade candy corn" in the same sentence, but there they are.

​Celebrity chefs. Blind wine tasting contests. Food samples from dozens of Valley restaurants. Only two weeks after Scottsdale's Dine Out With the Chefs event, culinary afficianados from across the Valley loosened their belts for another huge epicurean event: CRAVE Arizona, formerly known as Eats3. This year's event was a relaxed, outdoor affair. It seemed to strike the perfect balance in attendance, with enough of a crowd to make everyone feel sociable without being elbow-to-elbow.  ​ ​  

Four Seasons dished up a tasty gourmet version of short ribs and mac n' cheese.

​There was an unbelievable amount of wine, beer and spirits flowing at CRAVE -- perhaps two or three liquor booths for every one restaurant -- but the food remained the star. Local culinary powerhouses including James Porter (Petite Maison), Gio Osso (Estate House) and Mel Mecinas (Four Seasons Resort) whipped out fun palate pleasers that you won't necessarily find on their restaurant menus.

We dug Ahnala's spicy ceviche, but the carved watermelons were even more impressive.

Short ribs were popular. Foie gras made several appearances. And ceviche was so plentiful -- in varieties from Cafe Carumba's salsa-like shrimp blend to Ahnala's chunky Ecuadorian version -- that guests were left wondering if there was some sort of epicurean mind-meld prior to the event.​

​It's been a long time coming.

Tuesday marks the first official day for the new Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery & Wine Bar, after non-profit Community Food Connections' extensive fundraising efforts, planning, and renovation of the vintage red brick building that's now its permanent home. Business hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., while the in-house coffee shop, Royal Coffee Bar, opened earlier this month with earlier hours, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Stocked with locally grown produce from the same vendors who will continue to populate the outdoor farmers market (held in the parking lot on Wednesdays, from 4 to 8 p.m., and Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.), the grocery will be a welcome amenity for people living and working in the neighborhood.

​Special activities are planned throughout this week, including a Grand Opening fundraiser on Thursday evening, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (advance tickets are $45). Mayor Phil Gordon and chef Christopher Gross will be hosting the soiree, which will feature live music, local wine and beer, and food samples from farmers market vendors and local eateries, including Nine 05 and PastaBar.

The market's online silent auction (which includes a private lunch at Pizzeria Bianco) and "year of dining out" raffle are still ongoing, through the Thursday night event.

 

Yesterday was perhaps the longest -- and most ridiculously fun -- brunch of my life. Some friends invited me to meet up for a bite at Casey Moore's in Tempe, and somehow we killed 5 or 6 hours on the patio, laughing it up and entertaining our waitress with our increasingly hilarious conversations.

This was only round one of the spicy bloody marys we'd been craving.

Oysters Rockefeller were supposed to take awhile, but we were glad we got our order in early. By the time these warm, buttery babies hit the table, we were ravenous.

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