Now available for take home, Chef Jason Beckett’s famous Pumpkin Seed Brittle ($7) (yes, the same crunchy deliciousness that tops their famous chopped salad), Organic Cranberry-Orange Jam ($9) and the Beckett’s Table coffee, ($11) created just for Beckett’s Table at the Roastery of Cave Creek. Stuff your own face or those special holiday stockings with a taste of Beckett’s Table. Drop in or call to order.

Beckett’s Table | 3717 E. Indian School Road | Phoenix, AZ 85018 | 602-954-1700

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

It’s that time again. The courses keep coming, the desserts are delectably a-plenty and the wine is never-ending. Arizona Restaurant Week is in full swing, and somehow in between the marathon of meals and late-night noshing we managed to grab a few words with the namesake behind one of the Valley’s newest eateries: Justin Beckett.

»READ MORE

After today’s pork-a-licious interview with Chef Jason Beckett of Beckett’s Table, we’ve got bacon on the brain! What better to curb our carnivorous cravings between a bacon-laden breakfast and Beckett’s famous bacon s’mores for dessert than a pocket stash of this inventive Bacon Balm. Bring home the bacon balm from ICON on Mill Avenue.

It’s that time again. The courses keep coming, the desserts are delectably a-plenty and the wine is never-ending. Arizona Restaurant Week is in full swing, and somehow in between the marathon of meals and late-night noshing we managed to grab a few words with the namesake behind one of the Valley’s newest eateries: Justin Beckett.

Besides being the genius behind his restaurant’s chocolate-dipped housemade-marshmellow bacon s’mores (the best mouthful we’ve ever eaten written), Beckett has made quite the culinary stamp in the Valley, including stints at Roy’s, Steamer’s Genuine Seafood, Zuzu’s and Trader Vics. Most recently, he helped create brief foodie favorites Metro, Estate House, Food Bar and Canal in Scottsdale. When those closed, Beckett (along with his wife and co-owners Scott and Katie Stephens) decided to merge his love for great food and great times to open the Arcadia neighborhood hangout Beckett’s Table. »READ MORE

No dipping our chip in the hot salsa this week, we are dumping the whole bowl and taking a Guy-Fiere-sized bite. Here’s a Redux on this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs:

Never ones to turn down dessert first, we thought we’d share what Michele Laudig was kind enough to dish out on Monday. Turns out our very own Sweet Republic was featured on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” recently. We heard the buzz awhile back, but the episode finally aired and yet another Valley fave has skyrocketed to Food Network fame. The Toffee Banofi Sundae was a favorite of Alton Brown and is now to be a favorite of the million bandwagon jumpers within a 30 mile radius. While we joke, we seriously don’t blame you. Check out the video spot on Laudig’s blog here. »READ MORE

A rosé by any other name would still taste as sweet, but would probably still get the same subpar treatment from wine connoisseurs. To that kind of snobbery, we stick our noses up. Yeah, so what? The wine is pink. Big deal. Just because a wine is delicious, refreshing and summery in its bouquet or whatever, does not mean it doesn’t deserve a little respect. Yes, rosés can be sweet, but they can also be dry, light or rich in flavor depending on what you’re in the mood for. Thanks to restaurants like Beckett’s Table, Petite Maison and Quiessence, rosé is finally getting some street cred.  »READ MORE

We all have one. That one friend who is really, unbelievably awful at telling stories. Their tales are followed by awkward stares and half-hearted chuckles because really, they’re that terrible. The Arizona Storytellers Project will be nothing like that.

Tomorrow night at Beckett’s Table, members of our community including Robert Ortega, Philip Haldiman and Megan Finnerty will be baring their souls for five minutes for us to mercilessly mock. Just kidding!  These brave individuals will briefly be letting us into their lives by telling their extraordinary tales of love, loss and hilarity. The key thread? Everything happened in Arizona. The slogan for the event is “We Heart Arizona: Stories of the People, Places and Things We Love– That Have Broken Our Hearts,” so you know this is going to be good. Bring Kleenex.

Beginning at 7 p.m., suggested donations of $10 will benefit various charities in honor of AZ’s centennial celebration. Listen to their ‘Once Upon a Times,’ their ‘Happily Ever Afters,’ or maybe their ‘To Be Continueds.’ Whatever the story may be, this will be an amazing night filled with community laughter and love. And leave those awkward stares and half-hearted chuckles at home, they have no place here.

For more details on Arizona Storytellers Project call 602.444.8770 or click here.

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Empty patios and forlorn misters attempting to cool in vain. Walking past a restaurant in an Arizona summer can sometimes resemble a ghost town in an old western film. The reason for this is simple: It is hot as hell outside. But now, finally, the Arizona Restaurant Association (the same geniuses behind Arizona Restaurant Week) have come up with a solution that rewards patrons for risking third degree seatbelt burns to eat out by cooking up the Great Arizona Summer Dine-Out. Those cooky cooks will actually pay you in gift cards for heading to local restaurants Tuesdays through Thursdays this summer and will offer pre-fixe menus so you can save on your meals while eating deliciously. There will also be a grand prize given away at the end of the summer for those who stuff their faces most often.

The process is simple enough, just head the the website and join the club. You can also check out a list of all the restaurants participating like Beckett’s Table and other local favorites like Malee’s Thai Bistro and the Melting Pot. Finally, a reason to venture outside the confines of your air conditioned living room and to eat something other than cereal for dinner.

Empty patios and forlorn misters attempting to cool in vain. Walking past a restaurant in an Arizona summer can sometimes resemble a ghost town in an old western film. The reason for this is simple: It is hot as hell outside. But now, finally, the Arizona Restaurant Association (the same geniuses behind Arizona Restaurant Week) have come up with a solution that rewards patrons for risking third degree seatbelt burns to eat out by cooking up the Great Arizona Summer Dine-Out. Those cooky cooks will actually pay you in gift cards for heading to local restaurants Tuesdays through Thursdays this summer and will offer pre-fixe menus so you can save on your meals while eating deliciously. There will also be a grand prize given away at the end of the summer for those who stuff their faces most often.

The process is simple enough, just head the the website and join the club. You can also check out a list of all the restaurants participating like Beckett’s Table and other local favorites like Malee’s Thai Bistro and the Melting Pot. Finally, a reason to venture outside the confines of your air conditioned living room and to eat something other than cereal for dinner.

Two experts, one dinner. Film director turned winemaker Sam Pillsbury and vegetable grower guru, Bob McClendon are joining forces to host an Arizona Heirloom Tomato and Wine Dinner at Beckett’s Table on June 8th. The pair will talk farming in Arizona and hold a Q&A session for any DIYers. Starting at $69 the five course meal will include an array of tomato based dishes (note: if you don’t like tomatoes, this isn’t for you) and a wine pairing for each. The wining and dining starts at 6pm. Call 602-954-1700 to RSVP.

Beckett’s Table
3717 E. Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018

In honor of our newfound love of working out and eating right, we’ve decided to run in this weekend’s PF Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Roadblock Marathon. After all, we’re not so out of shape that we couldn’t huff and puff for a measly 2.6 miles. Wait, what’s that? 26.2 miles. That’s nuts, people. Let’s go gastropubbing instead.

What’s a gastropub? Only the best … trend … ever!

»READ MORE

Nobuo at Teeter House, 5 stars [AZ Central]

Beckett’s Table Is Playing It Safe [Phx New Times]

An Evolutionary Case for Cannibalism [Slate]

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Another year has come and gone, and it’s time to make amends for my wrongdoings and make some plans for 2011. So, if you would indulge me for a moment, I’d like to say the following:

To Chef Christopher Gross: I’m sorry that we had a public spat a while back regarding my 2008 review of Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge. I’ll be more careful with my words, and I learned a lesson. I stand by the experience I had on that particular night, but have no doubt about your culinary talents. You, among a select few, are responsible for raising the bar of the Phoenix culinary scene in the past 20 years. Moreover, you have been incredibly gracious to me and I’m proud to now call you a “friend.” P.S. Can I borrow your Ducati? »READ MORE

Another year has come and gone, and it’s time to make amends for my wrongdoings and make some plans for 2011. So, if you would indulge me for a moment, I’d like to say the following:

To Chef Christopher Gross: I’m sorry that we had a public spat a while back regarding my 2008 review of Christopher’s Restaurant and Crush Lounge. I’ll be more careful with my words, and I learned a lesson. I stand by the experience I had on that particular night, but have no doubt about your culinary talents. You, among a select few, are responsible for raising the bar of the Phoenix culinary scene in the past 20 years. Moreover, you have been incredibly gracious to me and I’m proud to now call you a “friend.” P.S. Can I borrow your Ducati? »READ MORE

Scoop Factory says forget the Butterball Hotline, because chef Justin Beckett is ready and willing to tackle your most pressing poultry problems:

Are you feeling a little kitchen-phobic at the thought of cooking the big bird this Thanksgiving? Or have you been burned (literally) by a relative’s secret recipe that left you gnawing on a bone dry hunk of overcooked poultry? Then have we got the perfect solution for you. Yes, famed local chef, Justin Beckett will be available all-day this Thanksgiving to help resolve any turkey ‘tastrophes.

»READ MORE

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

Scoop Factory has the deets on the best chef you’ve never heard of, Bernie Kantak, creator of the most craveable (and copied) salad in the Valley. Read on to learn his plans for the tiki-tasic space pictured at right:

After reading our story on all the shakeups over at SouthBridge Scottsdale, you were probably left wondering, “But what about Bernie?” »READ MORE

Scoop Factory has the deets on the best chef you’ve never heard of, Bernie Kantak, creator of the most craveable (and copied) salad in the Valley. Read on to learn his plans for the tiki-tasic space pictured at right:

After reading our story on all the shakeups over at SouthBridge Scottsdale, you were probably left wondering, “But what about Bernie?”

»READ MORE

As chosen by you, here are the most popular stories OF ALL TIME (aka last week). Just in case you missed it.

For month’s we’ve been tracking the progress of a cool-looking new restaurant in Phoenix. Now, we’re happy to report that Beckett’s Table will be opening exactly one week from today. Manned by the best Valley chef you’ve never heard of,Justin Beckett, it’s housed inside the old That’s Italiano space on Indian School just north of 36th St. More important, this upscale-yet-causal eatery promises “homey classics made with inventive flourishes,” and affordable prices (appetizers, $5-$8; entrees, $14-$19). So what exactly does that mean? »READ MORE

For month’s we’ve been tracking the progress of a cool-looking new restaurant in Phoenix. Now, we’re happy to report that Beckett’s Table will be opening exactly one week from today. Manned by the best Valley chef you’ve never heard of, Justin Beckett, it’s housed inside the old That’s Italiano space on Indian School just north of 36th St. More important, this upscale-yet-causal eatery promises “homey classics made with inventive flourishes,” and affordable prices (appetizers, $5-$8; entrees, $14-$19). So what exactly does that mean?

»READ MORE

A few days ago we jokingly called chef Justin Beckett a restaurant wrecker after word broke that he was launching another new eatery. Turns out chef’s sense of humor is as sharp as his knives, and instead of throwing a frying pan through our office window, he had his business partners reach out to us to give us the inside scoop on his new project.

»READ MORE

Sorry to bag on you, Justin Beckett. You seem like a nice guy, and you’re obviously a talented chef. But when we saw the news that you’re opening another restaurant, we instinctively started prepping an obit, just in case. »READ MORE