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

The Welcome Diner, the on-again off-again hipster hangout located on the outskirts of Downtown Phoenix has opened its doors once again. This time, the man working the griddle inside this 9-seat micro-restaurant is noted local chef, Payton Curry (most recently of Caffe Boa in Tempe). Now open 5 – 10 pm Sunday through Tuesday (open ‘til midnight Tuesdays) and First Fridays until the 4th of July, chef Curry and crew will be whipping up something different every night, using only local and organic products.

Arguably one of the Valley’s most talented (Editor’s note: and pretentious) chefs, Curry left Caffé Boa to eventually open his own restaurant. But in the meantime, he’s signed up for what he’s calling a three month ‘Therapy Project” to bring his talents to the Welcome Diner. After the diner’s fair share of ups and downs we’re hoping Payton can bring it an ‘up.’

Learn more after the jump.
»READ MORE

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

Talk about turning lemons into lemonade. Planned in the middle of the Valley’s recent real estate boom, when it was finally completed a few years later, the owners of a soaring 26-story high-rise in Downtown Phoenix found themselves with a mostly empty building in the middle of one of the worst real estate markets in history. So they threw out a Hail Mary and and ended up with something Heavenly.

Yes, the new Westin Downtown Phoenix (featuring this upscale hotel chain’s famed Heavenly beds) opens today inside the sleek Freeport-McMoRan Center. In case you’re wondering, the building is named after its other occupant, the world’s largest publicly traded copper company, which located its worldwide HQ inside the building’s the top floors.

Get all the details, including a smoking-hot grand opening rate and see a full picture gallery, after the jump.

»READ MORE

Calling all Valley foodies and urban hipsters (if that’s not completely redundant). Everybody’s fav dining gimmick, Cycle opens this weekend with not one, but two top local chefs crafting two completely different, if similar menus? Confused? Well read up quick, because the sign up for the first 30-person, reservation-only first dinner goes live today at 4 pm.

Long story short, Cycle is a temporary restaurant housed inside the Lexington Phoenix Hotel through the summer, when the property will undergo a wall-to-wall renovation. (Click here to learn more). In the meantime, the hotel’s owners have hired social-media scenester, Ty Largo, to create a little slice of foodie heaven featuring an ever-changing menu crafted by various local chefs and food truck purveyors. Still with us? Good, because this Friday’s kickoff shindig looks like a blast.

»READ MORE

Downtown Phoenix's new Province restaurant features bold Latin flavors such as shrimp and grits with Manchego cheese

Are you counting down the days until opening day at Chase Field? Do the D’backs have a chance to rebound from back-to-back awful seasons? If we knew the answer to that last one, we’d be in Vegas right now. But one thing we do know, there are some great new pre- and post-game drinking and drinking options in Downtown Phoenix. After all, just because you’re going to a baseball game doesn’t mean you have to settle for greasy nachos and (crappy) $12 beers. Hit up one of these sleek new hotspots featuring some serious culinary chops.

Tucked into the first-floor of the soaring new Westin Phoenix Downtown, Province restaurant is a stylish new spin-off of the Chicago original. Featuring a bold (and surprisingly affordable) menu of Modern Latin dishes, Province is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner up until 10 pm. Click here to see the full menu, including the killer-sounding shrimp and grits with Manchego cheese and a ‘BBQ’d Ten Hour Braised’ lamb with roasted eggplant, chorizo and cornbread.

»READ MORE

Housed inside an about-to-renovate hotel in Downtown Phoenix, this new restaurant is the tastiest-sounding marketing gimmick we’ve heard of in a long time. Named Cycle, it’s a ‘pop-up’ restaurant that opens on April 1 and already has an expiration date set for this Fall (when the Lexington Phoenix Hotel will undergo a wall-to-wall renovation). And forget about an ever-changing menu, Cycle will feature ever-changing chefs, most operating out of Food Trucks, as well as menus designed by local food bloggers and celebs.

The latter part sounds especially fun/horrifying. Does this mean we can expect menus by Malcolm in the Middle or Eric Eats Out? Or maybe this is where former New Times critic, Michele Laudig is landing?

»READ MORE

Speaking of transforming old commercial spaces into stylish dining hotspots, if you haven’t been to The Parlor Pizzeria you’re missing out on one of the Valley’s best new eateries. Located inside a sleek-yet-charming space near Camelback and 20th Street, The Parlor was actually carved out of a 60s-era hair salon—dig those vintage beauty chairs (see more pics after the jump). That said, The Parlor’s not-so-secret weapon is undoubtedly chef Jared Porter.

But first, you’re probably wondering about that cheeky photo?

»READ MORE

Talk about turning lemons into lemonade. Planned in the middle of the Valley’s recent real estate boom, when it was finally completed a few years later, the owners of a soaring 26-story high-rise in Downtown Phoenix found themselves with a mostly empty building in the middle of one of the worst real estate markets in history. So they threw out a Hail Mary and and ended up with something Heavenly.

Yes, the new Westin Downtown Phoenix (featuring this upscale hotel chain’s famed Heavenly beds) opens today inside the sleek Freeport-McMoRan Center. In case you’re wondering, the building is named after its other occupant, the world’s largest publicly traded copper company, which located its worldwide HQ inside the building’s the top floors.

Get all the details, including a smoking-hot grand opening rate and see a full picture gallery, after the jump.

»READ MORE

For all the dreary news we’ve been reporting about Downtown Phoenix’s supposedly up-and-coming dining scene, we’re practically ecstatic to pass on some good tidings. Opening this Thursday, March 10, inside the lobby of the sleek-looking brand-new Westin Downtown Phoenix, Province restaurant is yet another import from the Windy City.

But this ain’t no Italian Beef joint. The original Province in Chicago helped introduce Miami-style Modern Latin food to the City of Big Shoulders and has been featured in Food & Wine. Which might sound a little funky (and pricey), but the menus sure look affordable and downright delicious. Literally. See a savory picture gallery after the jump.

»READ MORE

Draft Beer Offered In-Flight by Japanese Airline [CNN]

Apple Deletes Consumer Reports Negative iPhone 4 Review [TUAW]

Downtown Phoenix Dining Guide Launches [Phx New Times]