Archive for the 'Valleywide' Category
June 29th, 2009, 8:00 am by Jess Harter
Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4, but the lesser-known Independents Week — a Valley shopping holiday of sorts — starts today.
 The latter is an annual event, now in its seventh year, from Local First Arizona, a non-profit organization that promotes locally owned businesses. It runs through July 5.
By printing a “Golden Coupon” available on the group’s Web site, shoppers receive 20 percent off almost any purchase at more than 80 participating businesses. The coupon can be printed multiple times for purchases at multiple businesses.
Many of the participants are restaurants and food-related stores, ranging from eateries (such as Cowboy Ciao) to ice cream shops (such as Udder Delights) to retailers (such as Pop the Soda Shop).
The wide variety of non-restaurant businesses includes Changing Hands Bookstore, Phoenix Rock Gym, the Hotel Valley Ho, Hoodlum’s music store, the Heard Museum and Mood Swings Salon.
You can find the complete list of participating business and print coupons here.
Posted in: Valleywide | Post a Comment »
June 23rd, 2009, 12:26 pm by Jess Harter
If you’re into cooking, there’s a cool new website that just launched today. One of those “aggregators” that brings together related content in one place, Good Bite rounds up posts from some of the country’s most popular food bloggers.
The 10 spotlighted blogs include such sites as Simply Recipes, David Lebovitz and Smitten Kitchen.
Good Bite also has other features, such as a weekly panel discussion on a cooking topic. Recipes are accompanied by how-to videos for those whose kitchen skills are less than impressive (cough, cough).
Good Bite is already in my browser’s bookmarks. You also can follow it on Twitter at @goodbite.
Posted in: Valleywide • Web | 1 Comment »
June 9th, 2009, 12:12 pm by Jess Harter
Taking a cue from other fast-food chains, Dunkin’ Donuts is experimenting with a 99-cent breakfast item called a Wake-up Wrap.
The wrap, which has fewer than 200 calories, is made with a 5-inch tortilla, one-half of a scrambled egg and a slice of cheese. You can add bacon for an extra 30 cents.
It’ll be available for about a month at participating Dunkin’ Donuts.
Posted in: Valleywide • Dunkin' Donuts | Post a Comment »
June 3rd, 2009, 9:34 pm by Jess Harter
Friday is National Donut Day, and Dunkin’ Donuts is celebrating by giving customers a free donut of their choice with the purchase of any beverage. There’s a limit of one per customer. Find your nearest store here.
Posted in: Valleywide • Dunkin' Donuts | Post a Comment »
June 3rd, 2009, 10:19 am by Jess Harter
Sonic Drive-In is giving away free 10-ounce root beer floats from 8 p.m. to midnight tonight. No purchase is necessary.
Posted in: Valleywide • Sonic | Post a Comment »
April 21st, 2009, 9:35 am by Jess Harter
The good news: Ben & Jerry’s is doing its annual Free Cone Day from noon to 8 p.m. today. The bad news: Only one of the two B&Js in the East Valley is participating. It’s the one at 9301 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale.
If that’s not convenient for you, you can wait until April 29 for Baskin-Robbins’ annual 31-cent scoop day from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. You can find your nearest B-R location here.
In non-ice-cream deals, Dunkin’ Donuts is selling 16-ounce iced coffees today for 50 cents.
Posted in: Valleywide • Baskin-Robbins • Ben & Jerry's | Post a Comment »
April 17th, 2009, 8:10 am by Jess Harter
I was flipping through TV channels the other day and came across an HBO airing of “Ratatouille,” one of my favorite movies that celebrate food and drink. It got me thinking of others, so here are five more movies I highly recommend, all of which are available on DVD:
 Big Night: Two brothers (Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub, pictured above) try to save their struggling Italian restaurant on the Jersey shore in the 1950s by creating a magnificent feast for legendary band leader Louis Prima. The cast of this 1996 dramedy also includes Isabella Rossellini, Allison Janney, Minnie Driver and Ian Holm.
 Eat Drink Man Woman: A widowed Chinese master chef (Sihung Lung) struggles to maintain complex relationships with his three adult daughters — an old maid teacher, a commitment-phobic business executive and a free-spirited college student — in modern-day Taiwan in this 1994 drama from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee.
 Tortilla Soup: Tamales are substituted for dumplings in this 2001 remake of “Eat Drink Man Woman” set in Southern California’s Mexican-American culture. The veteran Los Angeles chef is played by Hector Elizondo, and the ensemble cast also includes Racquel Welch, Paul Rodriquez, Jacqueline Obradors and Tamara Mello.
 Tampopo: A truck driver (Japanese Academy Award winner Tsutomu Yamakazi) helps a widow turn her run-down noodles restaurant into one of the finest in Japan in this offbeat 1986 comedy often described as a “noodle western.” A young Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai,” “Letters from Iwo Jima”) plays Yamakazi’s sidekick.
 Bottle Shock: This 2008 film recounts the true-life story of the famous 1976 Paris wine tasting that revolutionized the industry and established California’s Napa Valley as one of the world’s great wine-producing regions. Bill Pullman plays acclaimed winemaker Jim Barrett, and Alan Rickman is tasting organizer Steven Spurrier.
Do you have a favorite food or drink movie that’s not on this list? Let me know so I can check it out.
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Valleywide • Movies | Post a Comment »
March 11th, 2009, 6:35 pm by Jess Harter
KTVK-TV has laid off longtime “Good Morning Arizona” personalities Brad Perry and Dan Davis, according to a published report on the Phoenix Business Journal’s website.
 Earlier Wednesday, KTVK parent company Belo announced it was laying off 150 people nationwide.
Perry (pictured on left), who mostly did weather reports from remote locations, had been with Channel 3 for 11 years. Davis (pictured on right), who worked as an in-studio anchor, had been with the station for 26 years.
Perry has been pursuing a music career. He’ll have a release party for his first single, “Life is Good,” at Martini Ranch in Scottsdale at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Belo would not reveal how many other employees were laid off at Channel 3.
Posted in: Valleywide • Channel 3 • TV | 318 Comments »
March 11th, 2009, 1:05 pm by Jess Harter
Battle of the Bone, an annual Buffalo chicken wing eating contest, kicks off at 6:30 tonight at the Native New Yorker in Tempe. Each Wednesday, a contest will be held at one of Native New Yorker’s 23 locations.
 The entry fee is $15, and the contests are limited to amateurs only. The weekly winners will compete in the finals in September for a yet-to-be-announced prize. Last year’s grand prize was a Honda Element.
Native New Yorker’s Tempe restaurant is located at 1301 E. Broadway Road.
The next two contests will be held March 18 at the Queen Creek location (23706 S. Power Road) and March 25 at the Gilbert location (110 S. Val Vista). See the full schedule here.
Every Wednesday, Native New Yorker will offer 23-ounce Bud Light drafts for $2.50 at participating restaurants.
Posted in: Valleywide • Contests • Native New Yorker • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
March 10th, 2009, 10:14 pm by Jess Harter
The East Valley is an incubator of sorts for the fast-growing neighborhood market concept.
In October, Wal-Mart opened its first four Marketside stores, about half the size of typical grocery store, in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Tempe. They hope to take the concept national.
Marketside joined British retailing giant Tesco’s new Fresh & Easy stores, which debuted in late 2007 and now number more than 100 in Arizona, Nevada and California.
Both concepts offer bargain prices on grocery staples like milk, bread and cold cereal. But I was intrigued by their numerous heat-and-eat entrees.
I recently taste-tested eight entrees from each store. I wasn’t expecting restaurant-quality cuisine, but I was hoping to find a decent, inexpensive meal I could microwave after a long day at work.
This week I’ll look at Fresh & Easy’s offerings. Next week, it’ll be Marketside’s turn.
Chicken Alfredo
What: Sliced chicken breast in a creamy alfredo sauce.
Cost: $6.99.
Notes: The white-meat chicken is alright, but the runny alfredo sauce lacks seasoning, especially the garlic promised on the label. The container is big enough to serve two people, but you need to provide your own pasta.
Nutrition (per container): 540 calories, 52g protein, 20g carbs, 48g fat, 1,600mg sodium.
Grade: B-
Meatloaf
What: Meatloaf in a tomato sauce with mashed potatoes.
Cost: $5.49.
Notes: I have problems getting the two sides to cook evenly. The meat is getting overcooked, while the potatoes are barely warm. The meatloaf is bland. The potatoes are dry, a problem compounded by the lack of gravy.
Nutrition: 580 calories, 30g protein, 76g carbs, 18g fat, 1,360mg sodium.
Grade: D+
Penne Arrabiata
What: Penne pasta topped with a spicy tomato sauce and roasted vegetables.
Cost: $4.49.
Notes: The tomato sauce indeed has some zest. Although microwaving renders them a bit mushy, the roasted bell peppers and zucchini are a nice touch. It’s the healthiest meal of all I try, and big enough for two.
Nutrition (per container): 475 calories, 15g protein, 75g carbs, 10g fat, 1,150mg sodium.
Grade: B
Pepperoni pizza
What: Pepperoni pizza.
Cost: $4.49.
Notes: The 10-inch pizza has a thick, bread-like crust so chewy that it borders on gummy. The skimpiness of cheese and tiny slices of pepperoni is readily apparent, as is the scant amount of orange sauce. Give me a frozen grocery store pizza over this one any day.
Nutrition: 930 calories, 45g protein, 129g carbs, 30g fat, 2,100mg sodium.
Grade: C-
Chicken enchiladas
What: Chicken enchiladas with rice and beans.
Cost: $6.99.
Notes: I always tell people “spicy” is not a flavor, and this is a perfect example. The soggy enchiladas are slightly spicy (thanks to chipotle cream cheese filling) yet utterly bland despite a chili sauce. The beans and rice aren’t much better.
Nutrition: 540 calories, 26g protein, 68g carbs, 20g fat, 1,060mg sodium.
Grade: C
Orange chicken
What: Breaded chicken with a sweet and tangy orange sauce and jasmine rice.
Cost: $4.79.
Notes: Just three pieces of chicken with soggy breading falling off and clumpy, unappealing rice make this dish a disaster. Both this and the chicken enchiladas are listed as two-serving containers, but that’s not realistic.
Nutrition: 540 calories, 26g protein, 96g carbs, 5g fat, 700mg sodium.
Grade: D
Jambalaya
What: Creole-style rice with seasoned chicken and andouille sausage.
Cost: $4.99.
Notes: The rice mixture is a soggy, clumpy mess, and the chicken is plain and forgettable. But the andouille sausage, fiery hot and full of flavor, is a star in this dish. I just wish there was more than three tiny slices.
Nutrition: 360 calories, 16g protein, 52g carbs, 8g fat, 1,000mg sodium.
Grade: C+
Carne asado burrito
What: Flour tortilla stuffed with seasoned beef, rice, beans, Monterey Jack, chili sauce and sour cream.
Cost: $3.99.
Notes: For a moment, I forget this is beef — when you think you’re eating dark-meat chicken, it tells you about the quality of the carne asada. The best thing about this burro is plenty of cheese.
Nutrition: 720 calories, 35g protein, 82g carbs, 29g fat, 1,560mg sodium.
Grade: C+
Some final thoughts
I like Fresh & Easy’s variety of heat-and-eat items, which seems a little more adventurous and worldly than Marketside’s. Overall, though, I was disappointed in the quality. I’ll take Marie Callendar’s frozen sweet-and-sour chicken bowl over F&E’s orange chicken bowl any day. Ditto for a Tombstone frozen pizza over F&E’s version.
On the plus side, I was glad to find detailed nutritional information printed on each item, and I thought the two-compartment packaging on appropriate items was a nice touch (and something Marketside doesn’t offer). But I did have difficulties removing the plastic wrap from several dishes, a problem I didn’t have with Marketside dishes.
Read more about Marketside’s entrees next week.
Posted in: Valleywide • Fresh & Easy • Markets | 5 Comments »
March 8th, 2009, 12:43 pm by Jess Harter
 A couple of free food deals this week:
• Arby’s is giving away its brand-new Roastburger with purchase of a drink. Just print this coupon off its website. The coupon is good through Saturday.
• On Tuesday, Jack in the Box is offering free fries and a free drink. No purchase is necessary. The coupon is only good that day.
• It’s not free, but Jamba Juice also has a coupon to get its new steel-cut oatmeal for just $1. The coupon is good all month.
Posted in: Valleywide • Deals • Fast Food • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
February 24th, 2009, 2:00 pm by Jess Harter
Jack in the Box is giving away free tacos until midnight. All you have to do is print this coupon and bring it in.
Posted in: Valleywide • Deals • Jack in the Box • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
February 23rd, 2009, 2:00 pm by Jess Harter
 IHOP is celebrating Pancake Tuesday by giving away free short stacks of buttermilk pancakes from 7 to 10 a.m. Tuesday.
There’s no charge, but customers are asked to make a small donation to the Children’s Miracle Network. Last year, IHOP raised $875,000 for the charity; this year they hope to raise $1 million.
Pancake Day, for the uninitiated, is not some made-up IHOP holiday. It’s another name for Fat Tuesday, and also is known as Shrove Tuesday in the United Kingdom and Australia.
Historically, Pancake Tuesday was an opportunity for people to use up the last of their eggs, milk and sugar before the 40 days of Lent.
Posted in: Valleywide • IHOP • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
February 23rd, 2009, 1:39 pm by Jess Harter
Quiznos is trying to give away a million sub sandwiches this week. Go to the chain’s website to register for a free coupon while supplies last. According to the website’s tracking counter, Quiznos has given away about 86,000 subs so far.
Posted in: Valleywide • Quiznos • Restaurants | 2 Comments »
February 2nd, 2009, 3:36 pm by Jess Harter
Tribune graphics artist Christy Byerly alerted me to this news: Denny’s is giving away free Grand Slam breakfasts from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday.
No purchase is necessary. The offer is good at any Denny’s.
A Grand Slam breakfast, for the uninitiated, includes two eggs, two pancakes, two strips of bacon and two sausage links. Denny’s sells more than 12 million Grand Slams a year.
Customers also will get coupons for additional free menu items with purchases.
Posted in: Valleywide • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
January 30th, 2009, 4:30 pm by Jess Harter
Finalize your Super Bowl plans yet? Kickoff is scheduled for approximately 4:20 p.m. Sunday. If you’re planning to go to a sports bar, they’re ecommending you get there around 2 p.m. to get a seat. Of course, not just sports bars are getting into the act.
• If you want to stock up on last-minute Pittburgh foods, check out Pittsburgh Willy’s in Chandler.
• Not sure what “Pittsburgh foods” are? I poked fun at some of them.
• There’s not much new in Valley movie theaters this weekend. The one to avoid is “New in Town,” starring Renée Zellweger. The review in the Tribune gives it an F, and USA Today calls it “one of the worst movies of any year.”
• Jean-Claude Van Damme fans will want to catch his latest flick, “JCVD,” as part of Grindhouse Redux Friday and Saturday in Chandler.
• Cardinals fans get in to the Phoenix Zoo for half-price this weekend. And get a free burrito at Chipotle from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
• Saturday is your last chance to get a Flint-style coney at Joan’s Kitchen in south Scottsdale.
• If you want to do something artsy Saturday before spending the next day watching football, Mesa Contemporary Arts is unveiling two new exhibits.
• Don’t forget to set your DVR for TCM’s annual “31 Days of Oscar,” which start early Sunday morning.
• Tickets for Bruce Springsteen’s April 3 concert in Glendale go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday.
• If you support the local food movement, you need to make plans for Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar’s Locavore 6 Monday.
Posted in: Valleywide • Arts • Attractions • Concerts • Movies • Restaurants • Sports • Super Bowl • Weekend Planner | Post a Comment »
January 29th, 2009, 4:07 pm by Jess Harter
Over the past two decades, Scott Adams has owned some of the most popular sports bars in the Valley. He thought he’d seen just about everything.
But the Arizona Cardinals playing in the Super Bowl?
“I don’t have any comparisons for something like this,” he says. “Time is going to stand still for the Valley this Sunday.”
For 18 years, Adams operated McDuffy’s in downtown Tempe, walking distance from Cardinals games at Sun Devil Stadium. After closing that sports bar, he opened McDuffy’s Grille (pictured above) in Chandler in 2007.
Sports bars, he says, make up to 50 percent of their weekly revenue on weekends during football season. For big games like the Fiesta Bowl, it can be as high as 75 percent.
So it’s not surprising that Valley sports bars are pulling out all the stops for Sunday’s game. Like most, McDuffy’s Grille is offering food and drink specials. It’s also giving away prizes like autographed balls and posters and handing out red beads.
If you’re going to McDuffy’s Grille, or any Valley sports bar, Adams has one piece of advice: Get there early.
“If you want to get a chair, you’re talking about (arriving) two hours before kickoff,” he says.
 Sports bars aren’t the only businesses getting in on the act. Across the Valley, almost any place with TVs and a liquor license — Scottsdale nightclubs, Mexican cantinas, microbreweries, restaurants, casinos — are throwing parties.
“We’re trying to make it where people don’t have to spend a lot of money,” says Tom McGill, director of marketing at Fort McDowell Casino north of Mesa.
The casino will offer free popcorn, 50-cent slices of pizza, $1 chili dogs and $1 draft beers Sunday. There will be free prize giveaways, and guests will be invited to play in free poker tournaments.
McGill says gamblers will be able to follow the game on big-screen TVs throughout the casino, as well as in its Lucky 7 Saloon. Even some of the slot machines have small TVs that will be showing the game.
Of course, there also are a few bars and restaurants that will be closed Sunday.
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A requires all 1,340 of its quick-service restaurants nationwide to close every Sunday so its employees can spend time with their families.
Still, Chick-fil-A is advertising Super Bowl food trays of chicken nuggets, wraps and other menu items. With the purchase of any large tray for Sunday’s game, customers get a free small tray of brownies.
The only caveat: Orders must be picked up by Saturday night.
Sharon Harfst, marketing director for the Chick-fil-A at Baseline and Stapley roads in Mesa, says, “We’ve done decent business in years past.”
Among all the Valley’s restaurants and bars, though, no one is treating Sunday’s game quite like D’Vine Wine Bar & Bistro (pictured above right). Every year, its Mesa and Chandler locations close on Super Bowl Sunday.
The 40 or so employees participate in a two-hour flag football game — “We use the dirty napkins from the night before as the flags,” says executive sommelier David Newton — followed by a staff photo.
Afterward, they enjoy the Super Bowl and a meal at owner Mark Nowicki’s home in east Mesa.
The annual tradition started after D’Vine’s first Super Bowl Sunday turned out to be it worst sales day of that year.
“There are people who don’t give a (expletive) about football and would go out to a wine bar (on Super Bowl Sunday),” Newton says. “But those people are few and far between.”
Posted in: Valleywide • Bars • Casinos • Restaurants • Super Bowl | Post a Comment »
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