The Welcome Diner $$ 924 E Roosevelt Street Phoenix, AZ 85006 602-495-1111 welcomediner.net Downtown Phoenix revelers and late night munchie/nightcap people are going to love me for this. Hugging the edge of Roosevelt Row, a fabulously renovated arts, restaurant and downtown shopping district, sits an authentic 1940s mobile diner (wheels off and permanently installed) serving…
I’m a mother of four wonderful and amazing children: Aviva, Benzi, Gavi and Yasi. A breast cancer survivor of 10 years this month (baruch HaShem), I see my life and all that has come to us since, as a real gift. My Aviva was six months old when I was diagnosed, and after beating the…
Local, natural, organic … and now kosher! What started as a hobby in Cheri Romanoski’s kitchen over 30 years ago has bloomed into a bustling business. Today, her team is just as busy as the bees that pollinate the prickly pear and produce honey for Cheri’s Desert Harvest. Born in Tucson, Cheri grew up with…
I love the culinary challenge of creating fun foods that make Passover memorable. I’m a big fan of gefilte fish, and have enjoyed it many different ways. The simple ingredients consist of white fish, onions, starch, and eggs, and have been an object of culinary delight and a linchpin of “Jewishness” for decades. Gefilte fish…
When we think of Passover, we think of food. Yes, of course there’s more to the holiday than just matzah. But everything we do to prepare for the seder and plan for a week without chametz (bread and other leavened foods) brings us back to old favorite dishes and new adaptations. We asked our readers…
The Tamale Store $$ 13046 N Cave Creek Road Phoenix, AZ 85022 602-435-2604 thetamalestore.com It’s not a restaurant, which makes this an unusual restaurant review. It’s exactly what its name says, a tamale store. Those two words, Tamale Store, in bright red letters, caught my eye as I was careening down Cave Creek Road. A…
Sleep away camp – that annual rite of summer – will be here before you know it, along with all the preparations for getting your child there. For our children, leaving the comfort of their home and familiar friends can cause anxiety, but the results can lead to lifelong memories, friends and increased independence. To…
Okra Cookhouse & Cocktails $$ 5813 N 7th St. Phoenix, AZ 85014 602-296-4147 okraaz.com It was the name that drew me, the aroma of heavenly cooking that floated me toward the door, and the intimate space that indicated something special was about to happen. Honestly, I didn’t know much about this place except that my…
Photo by Matthew Strauss Love is in the air as wedding proposals and wedding planning is in the making, and so is the stress of making it all happen. The most important thing is to remember this is about celebrating a new life together, and there is no right or wrong way to showcase what…
The Clever Koi $$$ 4236 N Central Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85012 thecleverkoi.com Friends have been urging me to try The Clever Koi for some time now. It always comes up in conversation about great food in Phoenix, so I had to overcome my fear of being crashed into by the light rail and get myself…
