Marcellino Ristorante is embracing fall and cooler temperatures with more wine dinners, a new series of cooking classes and the return of live music on Thursday nights. Award-winning chef Marcellino Verzino and his wife, Sima, will also celebrate the fine dining Italian restaurant’s 17th ann…

In August, it was announced that Rebecca Tillman was named executive chef at Lon’s at the Hermosa. Known for its globally inspired Arizona fare, the critically acclaimed restaurant is the culinary centerpiece of the hotel and is complemented by a subterranean wine cellar, a celebrated outdoo…

After an incredibly long, hot summer, that most magical time of the year in Arizona is finally (almost) here — patio weather. And what goes better with a lazy weekend at home than a tall glass of something adult and delightful. That’s where Garrison Brothers Bourbon comes in.

The Fall Arizona Restaurant Week (ARW) culinary event has been modified to meet new regulations due to COVID-19, but that is not dampening the spirits or the taste buds of Valley diners. Arizona Restaurant Week: Dine In or Take Out returns for 10 days of culinary exploration, from Friday, Se…

Nook Kitchen celebrates the reopening of its doors today with a new menu that doubles down on its Italian favorites with a modern twist, created by the 2017 “Chopped” champion and restaurateur, chef Nick LaRosa, whose culinary specialties include house-made pastas, authentic Napolitano-style…

Husband-and-wife business partners Anthony and Anna Barr, have opened a new dining concept in Scottsdale that offers “an intimate and comfortable dining space in which to enjoy relatable yet artfully crafted cuisine for the whole family.” “We are so excited to bring our upscale-yet-approacha…

Yesterday, Michael Waltrip, two-time champion of the Daytona 500, announced the creation of a new brewing company based in Phoenix that bears his name. The Michael Waltrip Brewing Company unofficially launched a portfolio of beers in late March. The beers will officially be available in seve…

It has been a long, hot summer, and Hula’s Modern Tiki  wants to help Valley residents beat the heat this month by celebrating both National Rum Day (Aug. 16) and National Mai Tai Day (Aug. 30) with a trio of featured tiki cocktails. Hula’s is even extending both Rum Day and Mai Tai Day into […]

Chef Alex Stratta’s seasonal Mediterranean-style dishes will be available to Valley diners for dine-in, takeout or delivery beginning Monday, Aug. 3. North Scottsdale’s Stratta Kitchen serves up what the restaurant describes as “fresh, seasonal and chef-crafted fare,” led by the James Beard …

Chef Brian Archibald will partner with restaurateur Laurent Halasz, best known for Fig & Olive, to bring a new Mediterranean experience to Scottsdale diners. Francine is set to open Aug. 14 at Scottsdale Fashion Square. Among the signature dishes guests can expect to see on the dinner me…

LDV Winery owners and winemakers Curt Dunham and Peggy Fiandaca are back with new weekly “From the LDV Winery Vineyard Kitchen” cooking and wine pairing series. Multiple events, themes and menus will be offered throughout the remainder of July and into August. Each virtual event takes place …

As we roll into the ‘dog days of summer,’ Postino is inviting Valley residents to stay in and stay cool with all-new to-go options. Whether a light no-cook weeknight dinner or a weekend spread made easy for the crew, Postino says its new Food for the Crew “is perfectly portioned to satisfy y…

Summer is here, and with many of us still staying at home, it is the perfect time to hone our home mixologist skills. So, we turned to the experts at Iconic Cocktail Co. for some inspiration. Led by owners Matt Farrow and Kaylee (soon to be Farrow) Nedley, Iconic creates handcrafted cocktail…

Hyatt Regency Phoenix downtown offers a new look and feel following a multi-million-dollar makeover, and patrons of Arizona’s only revolving rooftop restaurant, Compass, will find a fresh face at the helm. Brandon Drummond, a member of the Hyatt Regency family for over 15 years, is taking th…

Valley residents are invited to kick back and enjoy tasty BBQ, hot country music and a day of family fun at the 11th annual KNIX BBQ & Beer Festival. In partnership with iHeart Media and 102.5 KNIX, Lee Brice and Craig Morgan will co-headline the event, Saturday, March 28. Known as the l…

If you travel to the top of the Sacaton Mountains, acres of historic land will surround you — land that was once rich, green, full of life, but later became arid. When Ramona Button was a child, her father brought her to a mountain peak overlooking the Valley, and told her that his dream was […]

Celebrate the international flavors of the Valley Saturday, Feb. 15, at Devour the World, which kicks off the 2020 Devour Phoenix lineup of events. Taste the multicultural cuisines from favorite countries while enjoying cultural music and dance performances from around the world. Presented b…

Valley residents are invited to raise a glass to friendship or romance at Lon’s Last Drop from Feb. 13–16, with a pretty in pink, perfectly balanced Valentini. This “Galentine’s” or Valentine’s Day cocktail is a blend of Flagstaff distillery Canyon Diablo’s Sonoran Rose vodka; Licor 43, whic…

The ‘Cocktail Carnival’ rides into Phoenix this February as the ninth annual Arizona Cocktail Weekend(AZCW) returns Feb. 15–17, with an amazing lineup of events, parties, seminars and cocktail-fueled ballyhoo. All-new for 2020, AZCW has partnered with Phoenix based and nationally renowned, W…

Phoenix will welcome the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America® Wednesday, Feb. 26, for a pop-up dinner as part of the larger national tour, which brings delicious food and thought-provoking conversation surrounding the nonprofit’s mission of cultivating a better food world for all. Spotlig…

Nook Kitchen in Arcadia re-opened Dec. 3 in a larger location at 4231 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, a half mile down the road from its original spot. Nook’s first restaurant opened in Fall 2013 on the southeast corner of 36th Street and Indian School. The restaurant was a small, cozy spa…

The holiday season is here and amid the hustle and bustle those who are looking for delicious craft cocktails, festive décor and maybe a place to hide from the in-laws are in luck. The holiday-themed pop-up cocktail bar “Miracle” is returning to Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails for the sec…

The Arizona Wine Growers Association (AWGA) will partner with azcentral, and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) to present the Grand Wine Festival, Saturday, Nov. 16, 11am–8pm. The largest celebration of Arizona wine in the country, the Festival will feature more than …

The LDV family invites guests to join them in celebrating the one-year anniversary of the LDV Winery Tasting Room Sunday, Oct. 20, from noon to 6pm at its Stetson Drive location in Old Town Scottsdale. In honor of this milestone, LDV Winery will be releasing its 2014 Grenache — a true repres…

The 10th Annual Arizona Taco Festival, sponsored by the City of Scottsdale, is celebrating a decade of tacos by offering more taco amusement and milestone munchies, including more than 50 taco teams dishing out creative $3 steak, pork, seafood, veggie and even vegan tacos, as they compete fo…

Downtown Phoenix Oktoberfest returns for a second year with live music, a brat eating contest and, of course, plenty of beer. Hosted by HDE Agency, the 21 and over event will be held in Civic Space Park Saturday, Sept. 28, from 3pm to 9pm. This year, the event will feature plenty of beer and…

Ocean Prime, located on North Phoenix’s High Street, announced its reopening this Thursday, July 18, at 5pm. Due to a much-needed pipe repair underneath the building, the restaurant closed for several weeks to address the issue, while simultaneously refreshing its interior dining room design…

From barrel-aged brews to specialty casks, the Phoenix Convention Center will welcome a variety of fresh flavors and seasonal specialties poured by more than 75 of the Southwest’s best craft brewers, and with over 350 craft beers, there is something for everyone at this year’s Real, Wild &am…

Taco Guild’s new executive chef, Diego Bolanos, wants to bring a unique vision and approach to the restaurant by debuting 23 new dishes. His redesign of the menu shows a commitment to bringing internationally-inspired flavors using locally-sourced ingredients. Chef Bolanos hails from Costa R…

Ever wanted to whip up Italian cocktails like a pro? Mora Italian is offering the opportunity to pick up some skills at a cocktail class presented by Rich Heider from Southern Glazer and Campari, Saturday, March 16, 3–4:30pm. The class will teach guests about the art of making Negroni Italia…

Drunk Munk announces job fair — looking to hire 50  Drunk Munk tiki bar and restaurant will open next month in the building formerly occupied for 21 years by Cowboy Ciao. The restaurant is also holding an on-site hiring fair Wednesday, Feb. 20, and Thursday, Feb. 21, 2–6pm, at 7133 East Stet…

Officially open Saturday, Feb. 16, Little Rituals is ready to elevate expectations for the traditional hotel bar. Handcrafted by two of Arizona’s top bartenders and housed inside a stylish, view-filled space on the fourth floor of downtown Phoenix’s newest high-rise hotel, Little Rituals tem…

“Roses are red, violets are blue, no one hates Valentine’s Day more than you! Except for us!” — Hula’s Modern Tiki owner, M. Dana Mule Calling all couples, and the happily single, come celebrate Valentine’s Day at Hula’s Modern Tiki‘s festive Anti-Valentine’s Day party Thursday, Feb. 14. Hos…

As a tribute to America’s favorite food, Pomo Pizzeria is offering discounts on its signature margherita pizza, in honor of National Pizza Day, Saturday, Feb. 9. Plus, guests can feel even better knowing that their money is going to help a good cause. On National Pizza Day, Pomo Pizzeria wil…

A speak-easy style craft cocktail concept joined its sister concept, The Whining Pig Beer & Wine Bar, in The District at Desert Ridge Marketplace. Pigtails Cocktail Bar features plush seating, a living wall covered by real plants, shiplap walls with copper detailing, a “secret” bookshelf…

This Super Bowl Sunday, Bobby Q’s is offering a Big Game Special with $40 to-go platters. Featuring two of Bobby Q’s most popular slow-smoked meats (brisket and pulled pork), along with buns and BBQ sauce, all for only $40 (makes six sandwiches), it’s everything needed to make sandwiches for…

Fans enjoy pregame hourly specials, all day specials With two Phoenix locations, Half Moon Sports Grill’s game plan is to be Super Bowl LIII party headquarters Sunday, Feb. 3. Football fans can wet their whistles on Half Moon Sports Grill’s spicy and delicious Three Olives “Meat Mary,” which…

TapHouse Kitchen expands this year with a new and second location opening Friday, Jan. 4, at 3131 East Shea Boulevard in North Phoenix, delivering delicious food and drink in a casually sophisticated atmosphere to the bustling “North 32nd” neighborhood. The new spot boasts interior and exter…

Gelato’s biggest international celebration is back in America and stopping in Arizona twice. The Scottsdale edition is up first on the weekend of Oct. 20–21, followed just a week later by Gelato Festival America in Tucson, Oct. 27–28. Gelato Festival America will spread awareness of real Ita…

Creamistry locations Valley-wide are getting geared up for the autumn season with the introduction of their new pumpkin spice flavor. From October through Sunday, Nov. 25, guests can enjoy this popular fall flavor in any of Creamistry’s ice cream bases including Signature Premium, Organic, V…

Tacos or pizza — sometimes it can be difficult to choose. But now through the end of the year, diners at Giordano’s can have the best of both worlds with the restaurant’s new Street Taco Pizza, an exclusive offering at its Arizona and Nevada restaurants. Giordano’s nod to the ever-popular st…

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa is gearing up for the second round of its fourth annual Bar Brawl at jade bar, where regional mixologists compete in a series of cocktail showdowns, vying for champion bragging rights. The competition kicked off July 15 and continues every Sun…

Einstein Bros. Bagels, the largest bagel retail company with more than 700 locations, announced that it will open Caribou Coffeehouses inside all Phoenix area stores beginning June 26. In celebration of the marriage of these two iconic brands, now through July 20, guests can enjoy $2 mochas …

But, yeah, it’s about the barbecue By Kathryn M. Miller Since opening its doors in March 2017, the family-owned Liberty Station has quickly become a favorite neighborhood joint, with some patrons stopping in three or four times a week. And a neighborhood social spot is exactly what Keeler Ho…

Valley residents are invited to an evening of epicurean delights and fine wines as the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association showcases the world-class culinary scene of Arizona’s resorts and restaurants at its seventh annual Arizona Wine & Dine. Nearly 20 prominent chefs will present…

Because Halloween isn’t just for the kids, modern American seafood-centric restaurant Ocean Prime Phoenix offered up the recipe for its smoking “Berries & Bubbles” cocktail. This complex, refreshing and balanced cocktail — not too sweet, not too tart and lightly effervescent — is made wi…

Restaurants have always been a part of chef Jagger Griffin’s life — his mother served tables to support the two of them. At the age of 17, Griffin’s mother got him a line cook position at the casual restaurant where she worked. After trying out different positions in the food service industr…

– By Darla S. Hoffmann, Certified Specialist of Wine Laramita means ‘The Twig’ in Spanish; Laramita Cellars has big plans for many of them. Have you ever concocted an extravagant brainchild while sitting at a bar sipping on a glass of wine? You weren’t sure you would make that dream a realit…

– By Darla S. Hoffmann, Certified Specialist of Wine The art of making wine has much in common with having a baby. Both creations bring joy and happiness yet are fallible existences that will endure many trials and tribulations throughout its lifetime. I have the pleasure of doing weekly win…