By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Look around the airy and bright interior of Bryan’s Black Mountain Barbecue, and the wood walls are covered with awards from the eatery’s 11 years in Cave Creek. Owner/chef Bryan Dooley chalks it up to good food and the staff’s caring nature. “We’ve made a conscious effort in the beginning to make sure that we take people’s names,” Dooley says. “Guests are not just a number. We ...

What’s brewing at Scottsdale coffee shops By Olivia Munson Every day, Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee. For some, the day does not truly begin without a signature cup of Joe. Over the past years, coffee drinkers shifted from drinking in fast chains to enjoying the quiet atmosphere of a coffee shop. In Scottsdale, there are plenty of shops to help fit your coffee fix. Echo Coffee 2902 N. 68th Str ...

Rinaldi’s Italian Deli brings breakfast burritos and boundless hospitality to the table Story and photos by Madison Rutherford If you had to guess where to get one of the best breakfast burritos in North Scottsdale, an Italian deli probably wouldn’t be at the top of your list. But Rinaldi’s, which has called the Scottsdale Promenade home for nearly 15 years, is best known for its breakfast. Mornings at Rina ...

Dara Thai Café spices up Anthem’s culinary scene with authentic flavor Story and Photos by Madison Rutherford If you ask me about some of the more memorable Thai dishes I’ve consumed in the last decade, a few key culinary experiences come to mind, chiefly sitting cross-legged on a beach in Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand while devouring creamy kaeng khiao wan over a fluffy foundation of jasmine rice, or squeezing int ...

The Tennessee Grill & Bar serves superb smoked meats and more By Niki D’Andrea The smell of slow-smoked meats and tangy barbecue sauce fills the large and bustling space that is The Tennessee Grill & Bar every night, creating a mouth-watering wait on especially busy nights, like Wednesdays, when tender, smoked chicken wings are on special, and Fridays, when the all-you-can-eat fish fry draws locals ...

New look, menu at Scottsdale icon By Alison Bailin Batz 10 Lively Libations at La Hacienda Smoked cocktails Rose: reposado tequila with lime, orgeat, orange bitters, rose water and smoke ($16) Port: rich mezcal with lime, agave-infused port, ginger beer and smoke ($16) Margaritas Barbary Fig: blanco tequila with lime, prickly pear and hibiscus ($14) Avocado: blanco tequila with lime, chartreuse and avocado ...

Copper Blues brings elements of community to Desert Ridge venue   By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski   Joel Bachkoff knew he had a jewel in Copper Blues and Stand Up Live when he opened the venues in CityScape nearly eight years ago. Hoping for the same success, he is unveiling Copper Blues Live in Phoenix’s Desert Ridge Marketplace in early December. “I’m really excited to be up north,” Bachkoff says. ...

Ancient spice has modern benefits By Angela Shelf Medearis   Turmeric has spiced up the news over the past few years. It’s a unique ingredient with an ancient history. Turmeric is thought to have originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It’s also a common ingredient in Chinese medicine and the centerpiece of Ayurveda, a traditional Indian medicine. The spice is present in nearly every Indian curry dis ...

Flower Child opens fourth Arizona location at Desert Ridge By Madison Rutherford   Flower Child proves it’s the little things in life that mean anything. For the fast-casual health food chain, it’s things like serving seasonal lemonade out of mason jars and ensuring each table is adorned with fresh flowers or succulents. The restaurant is the newest addition to a fast-growing family of approachable, ch ...

The North Valley’s newest sushi spot challenges the status quo By Madison Rutherford   If you’re operating on the assumption that all sushi spots are the same, Echo Sushi will seriously challenge your belief system when it comes to rice and raw fish. It is surprisingly rare to find an establishment that seems to focus just as much on the feeling of the space as much as its food, but Echo has struck a b ...

Flower Child opens fourth Arizona location at Desert Ridge By Madison Rutherford   Flower Child proves it’s the little things in life that mean anything. For the fast-casual health food chain, it’s things like serving seasonal lemonade out of mason jars and ensuring each table is adorned with fresh flowers or succulents. The restaurant is the newest addition to a fast-growing family of approachable, ch ...

Flo's Fetes 20 years of chinese food with new recipes By Catherine Hathaway   When a restaurant has been around for 20 years, you know there has to be a good story behind it. Flo's  is no exception. A Hong Kong native, Florence "Flo" Chan has been in the restaurant business since college. "I've always worked in a restaurant," Chan says. "I loved the restaurant business. Especially after I met Dustin an ...

Dining in the Dark  iPic brings food and film together thanks to Tanzy’s chef. By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski Sherry Yard is passionate about two things: food and film. Six years ago, she saw an opportunity in iPic Theaters and jumped in headfirst. With a recently renovated location in the Scottsdale Quarter, iPic is now the nation’s fastest-growing, affordable luxury “movie-going experience.” “I’m an avid m ...

Book Your Flight  PNPK’s innovative concept is taking the North Valley to new heights. By Alison Bailin Batz Photos by Connor Sutcliff Ladies and gentlemen, your taste buds have been cleared for takeoff––thanks to PNPK. Named in homage to nearby Pinnacle Peak Mountain, PNPK is one of the newest hot spots in North Scottsdale. The 2,600-square-foot venue, which is located on the southeast corner of Scottsdale ...

A Chance of Meatballs  The forecast for the Maggiore Group’s new Sicilian Butcher looks bright. By Niki D’Andrea Photos by Debby Wolvos “This is sooo good! It’s sooo good!” The woman at the table across from us is talking to her male dining companion, pointing emphatically with her fork at the dish in front of her. I don’t know what she’s eating, but that doesn’t matter, because we are at The Sicilian Butch ...