Summer is here, and the thought of eating hot soup may not be as appealing when the temperatures soar to 110 degrees. My family is a big fan of cold soup and enjoys a chilled bowlful of fruit or vegetable goodness throughout the year. Consider making a big batch of soup and savoring it throughout…
Whether it was called Franco’s Trattoria, or Franco’s Italian Caffe, for 30 years (off and on), there has been a Chef Franco Fazzuoli restaurant serving hungry Arizonans. There have been four different locations over the years, with each incarnation having a special offering. Franco’s Italian Caffe, in the heart of Scottsdale, is an intimate dining…
May 1 is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Celebrate the occasion by making shakshuka, a dish that closely competes with hummus and falafel as an Israeli staple. Originally introduced to Israel by Libyan and Tunisian Jews in the 1950s, shakshuka has since become a favorite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Israel is truly a melting…
Atop the site of a former decrepit Circle K, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, sits the newest creation from Fox Restaurant Concepts, Doughbird. If you have followed me on my journey through Valley restaurants, you already know I’m no fan of the focus-grouped, corporate-structured dining experience. (Shiver!) However, these Fox Concept guys have…
I always wondered why I never saw a lamb dish at the seder table. A roasted lamb shank on the seder plate doesn’t qualify. I recently discovered that some Jews (depending on their level of observance) will not eat roasted poultry or meat – especially lamb – during the seder. It is appropriate to serve…
Some of my earliest memories include hearing my maternal great-grandmother’s thick Russian accent (her name was Fanny) and my paternal grandmother (Bertha) singing lullabies to me in German. My Russian and German heritage helps to explain why I am genetically predisposed to enjoy the food at Sonata’s Restaurant in Scottsdale, a modern take on Eastern…
Tucked away in downtown Tempe, there is a “secret garden” of sorts: House of Tricks, a charming, cottage-style restaurant with a disarming sense of nostalgia and a sense of whimsy. Owned by Temple Emanuel members Robin Trick and her husband Robert, this bucolic oasis is walking distance from the lively bustle of Mill Avenue and…
It’s hard to believe that we’re talking “camp” again. I haven’t even begun to think about what I’m doing next week, let alone this summer! But like most of us, we just get it done along with all the applications for schools and scholarships, not to mention filing our taxes. Personal assistant, anyone? I love…
You often hear someone pipe up and say, “I don’t like Indian food” when the search for a place for dinner begins. I get that, because Indian food is intensely flavorful, exotically spiced and wildly colorful. Though that is exciting for many, the meat-and-potatoes crowd doesn’t care for it. (Again, I get that, though I…
One of my favorite foods I enjoy feasting on are “tartines,” also known as open-faced sandwiches. Endless topping variations allow you to create a meal for any time of the day. Tartines are a staple in France, but you can find these open-faced sandwiches all over the world, representing the tastes of that region. Here…
