Yesterday we learned about an interesting family feud.   It turns out that Cathy Bua, of Cathy’s Rum Cakes has a daughter who has broken off from the family biz, knocked off her mom’s logo and is trying to piggy-back on the long history of Cathy’s success.  We love Cathy, we covered her back in the DL “Magazine” days, and we love those rum cakes.  So what drives a daughter to do this to her very own mother?

Check out Cathy’s site to see the old DL picture of her “eating cake.”

Tyda has more, Here.

Nothing says ice cream like late night talks how host, Jimmy Fallon, right? Then again, considering most of his audience is probably made up of (how shall we put this?) medical marijuana patients, it only makes sense Ben & Jerry’s would roll out this new Late Night Snack ice cream. The true showstopper: Salt-studded potato chip clusters wrapped in fudge.

Pardon our French, but F-yeah!

[Buzz Feed]

How about this weather? It is January or mid-May? Either way, it’s beautiful out. So beautiful, in fact, that we’re thinking about breaking our no-walking-unless-absolutely-necessary rule. So grab your overalls and toss some hay in the back of the pickup truck because we’re heading to the heart of the Valley’s farm country.

Located in the far Southeast Valley suburb of Queen Creek, Schnepf Farms (pictured) is a sprawling slice of country charm, as well as one of AZ’s oldest family-operated farms.

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If you’ve popped by the MercBar lately, you may have noticed something a little different, a little out of place inside this Phoenix outpost of the iconic original in NYC. First things first, there are actual lights inside this infamously dark, candlelit space that’s hidden behind a nondescript door inside a Biltmore-area high-rise. And even more intriguing, the lights are illuminating a man tucked behind the bar, who’s dressed in a white chef’s coat and knocking out gourmet nibbles out of a micro-kitchen.

Meet chef Walter Sterling, formerly of Scottsdale’s Oakville Grocery (and Sol y Sombra), who’s now serving as the Valley’s first true bar-chef. Armed with nothing more than a crock-pot, a toaster oven and a high-tech hot plate, he’s serving up everything from spicy, slow-braised pork sandwiches to scratch-made soups (click here to see the full menu, including the new seasonal cocktails menu and ‘Best $7 Glass You’ll Ever Drink’ wine list).

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And so the upscale dessert train rolls on. First it was cupcakes that got the froufrou treatment, as gourmet ‘cupcakeries’ such as Sprinkles in LA and New York’s Magnolia Bakery turned this bake sale favorite into a posh (and pricey) status symbol. Next, frozen yogurt was rescued from the trashbin of history when the much-copied Pinkberry took this 1980s fad to a whole new level thanks to pretty packaging and a slew of celebrity fans. Then it was the classic churro that went from deep-fried fair food to ‘premium Spanish fritters’ with the opening of xooro here in the Valley.

Now the latest indulgence to go the chichi route is the humble doughnut. According to the NY Times, ever-more outlandish fried pastries are all the rage among hipster foodies, including doughnuts glazed with (clockwise from top left) “hibiscus flowers, chocolate chipotle, plain glazed, chocolate with cacao nibs, dulce de leche with toasted almonds and toasted coconut.”

So where can you lay your hands on some top-flight doughnuts here in the Valley?

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Regular DLT readers know that we love to poke fun at Hillstone, the silly-secretive corporation behind top restaurant chains such as Houston’s, Bandera (and now the not-at-all-clunky Hillstone by Houston’s). That said, even we think they’re getting the raw end of this deal. According to the Miami New Times, an area doctor is suing Hillstone for letting him eat an entire artichoke, including the inedible, dagger-like outer leaves.

Needless to say, the doc ended up in the hospital, and now he’s suing for ”disability, disfigurement, mental anguish,” and “loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life.” ¡Ay, carumba!

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Speaking of cutesy consignment shops, we just discovered a new hotspot for foodie flip-flopping. Yes, Kitchen Switchin’ is a darling boutique specializing in high-end cookware and appliances. Housed inside a handsome old home in central Phoenix (so cute that we don’t even mind the kitschy missing ‘g’ on switching), it’s the perfect place to feed your inner foodie for less.

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Amidst a sea of gourmet cupcakeries and trendy frozen-yogurt shops, the mother-daughter duo of Donna Gabrilson and Stacey Barnes have taken the desert’s dessert world by storm with their brainchild, Goodytwos Toffee. Launched in 2004, Goodytwos has expanded to include a storefront complete with a commercial-grade kitchen that is baking up seven traditional and contemporary toffee creations sure to please any palate. And rest assured, there’s no cookie cutting here, just handmade, hand broken and hand packaged product available in your backyard or shipped to your door anywhere in the world.

Like most company’s, Goodytwos started out small. Donna Gabrilson was ready to start fresh after a divorce and opted out of a career in Corporate America in order to go back to the kitchen, a place she connected with as a young girl. With a little encouragement from friends and family, Gabrilson began selling her traditional toffee recipe at Farmer’s Markets and relied on word of mouth from fans to spread the delicious gospel which lead to an upsurge in corporate gifting.

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Classic comfort foods and a ‘home-made’ vibe are huge food trends for 2011, and this has even extended to the lowly pickle. Popping up in boutique restaurants nationwide, these handmade pickled foods range from the traditional cucumber to more exotic jalapeños and trendy heirloom tomatoes. However, the zaniest pickle trend isn’t found in farmers markets or restaurants, but in bars! That’s right, the “pickle back” is growing in both popularity and availability. A shot of Jameson Whiskey followed by a shot of, you guessed it, pickle juice. The advocates of this quirky chaser claim the smooth taste of whiskey is balanced by the bitterness of the pickle juice. So, next time you have a big night out, impress your friends and the bartender by ordering yourself a ‘pickle back’ with that!

Provided you can find a bar offering said shot. Have any of you hipsters out there spotted one here in Greater Phoenix?

-Brad Wulff

Just in time for swimsuit season, Cadillac Ranch is hosting a 2nd annual “Hooked On Chili Cook Off” Saturday, April 2 at Tempe Marketplace. So grab your spoon and savor a full day of chili slurping, cold drinks, live music and an ice cream eating contest. Even better, your expanding waistline will also benefit a great cause, the Phoenix chapter of the Texas Exes Scholarship Fund.

Held from 10 am – 4 pm at “The District” main stage inside Tempe Marketplace, admission is free, but unless you’re some kind of stomach sadist, you’ll want to kick in $10 for chili tasting privileges.

First it was a ‘pop-up’ shopping experience, and then it was a ‘pop-up’ restaurant. Now there’s a delicious-sounding ‘pop-up’ charity event coming to Downtown Phoenix to support the relief efforts in Japan. Hosted this Wednesday, March 30, from 6 – 9pm inside the Madison Event Center, drop in to donate to Red Cross and enjoy amazing food from local restaurants such a Hana Japanese Eatery, Barrio Cafe, and (the delicious) Citizen Public House.

Wanna help? Well if you’re a local business, click here and fill out the form, and someone will be in touch immediately.

Meanwhile, individuals can best help by simply showing up and give the suggested donation of $20 at the door (or more if you’d like). All funds raised will go directly to the Grand Canyon Red Cross.

Any just when you thought AZ’s crazy guns-inside-bars law would kill you, comes this report. Yes, our fat fair state ranks 9th in the nation in terms of “Deadliest Eating Habits,” according to a Wall Street Journal write-up. Aside from the fact that a full 25% of Arizonans are obese, what’s surprising is why AZ in particular is such an unhealthy place to eat. Read the stomach-stretching results (60 gallons of soda, anyone?) after the jump.

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Because you can never get too much good food (or snark), we’re re-running this Q&A with feared blogger and man of mystery, Eric Eats Out. Read on as he dishes on his fav restaurants, the difference between himself and ‘professional’ food reviewers and why he became a blogger in the first place (hint: flying airplanes and fatherhood don’t mix).

When did you launch Eric Eats Out?
About a year and a half ago. My passion had been flying airplanes, but after my wife and I started having children, I realized I needed a new hobby. And, the only other thing I knew how to do was eat. I’d been doing it my whole life, several times a day.

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

Do you like bottomless plates of world-class, hand-rubbed and slow-smoked BBQ? Of course you do. That’s a silly question. What about an open bar to help wash it all down? Duh, as the inimitable Mr. Charlie Sheen might say. OK, one last question. Do you like getting pampered VIP-style, including being whisked away via a private entrance right into a special tent where you can enjoy all of the above?

Not really your thing, you say? Well, then you’ll probably want to skip this story, because that’s exactly what we’re offering to one lucky reader.

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With the ongoing tragedies in Japan on the top of everyone’s mind, we thought we’d check in with the charming mom-and-pop sushi shop, Hana Japanese Eatery. Owned by Japan native, Koji Hashimoto and several members of his extended clan, Hana’s built a hardcore following for its flopping-fresh fish flown in weekly from Hawaii. Plus it’s BYOB and never charges a corkage fee. More important, the Hana owners are helping to organize a way-cool ‘pop-up’ fundraiser next week to help support the Red Cross’ relief efforts across Japan. (Click here for details on how you can get involved.)

But the coolest thing going at Phoenix’s coolest sushi shop has nothing to do with seafood. It’s called shabu shabu and it’s only available on Sunday nights.

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Do you like bottomless plates of world-class, hand-rubbed and slow-smoked BBQ? Of course you do. That’s a silly question. What about an open bar to help wash it all down? Duh, as the inimitable Mr. Charlie Sheen might say. OK, one last question. Do you like getting pampered VIP-style, including being whisked away via a private entrance right into a special tent where you can enjoy all of the above?

Not really your thing, you say? Well, then you’ll probably want to skip this story, because that’s exactly what we’re offering to one lucky reader.

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Here’s the latest from DLT’s contributor, Amanda Szot. Pronounced just like “hot,” she’s our fav local blogger, fashionista, amateur chef and aspiring TV host. Look for Amanda every other Thursday, as she serves up recipes (especially desserts), outfit suggestions, do-it-yourself home and fashion projects and the trials and travails of a wannabe television host and personality.

For anyone know knows me on a personal level, it should come as no surprise that I like weird stuff, especially when it comes to food. I’m not the least bit embarrassed to admit I used to drink malt vinegar straight out of the bottle, or suck the salt and vinegar flavoring off of chips and dropping the remnants back in the bag. Fortunately I’ve matured and developed healthier snacking habits. Enter kale and sweet potatoes! I won’t bore you with the healthy deets of the super veggies, but simply add a bit of cayenne pepper seasoning and olive oil and you’ll never think twice about trying these baked, not fried goodies again. I got the recipe for kale chips here and the recipe for sweet potato chips here. Full recipes and photos after the jump! »READ MORE

We could come up with some overwrought intro about how good eats are vital for your everyday wellness and then whip up something even more clever about how this week’s recap has such a vast array of reviews, recipes and exotic cuisine, but why don’t we just cut to the chase?

Here’s a redux of this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs. »READ MORE

With AZ Beer Week in full swing, we feel it entirely necessary to give you something savory to go with that tall glass of brew. From delicious burgers to fancy foie gras, this week recap of the food blogosphere is finger-lickin’ good. Keep a napkin handy because …

Here’s a redux of this week’s happenings in our favorite food blogs. »READ MORE

Have no fear, local moms and dads, AZ’s politicians are not about to let any Commie Food Nazi Pinkos take away your kids’ Happy Meal Toys. Yes, our local leaders have taken a break from racking up Super Extreme DUIs and ignoring questions about their criminal kids, to approve a bill ensuring that no one will restrict any toys or games offered with kids’ meals. Which no one is actually proposing. But still, chalk one up for the good guys?

That said, in light of the recent report that says AZ residents spend more on fatty fast food than all but three other states, they better not try try to mess with us adults. They can have my last In-N-Out animal-style fry when the emergency room doctors pry it out of my chubby, grease-stained hands.

Feed your inner night owl as couple of famed local eateries will be rolling out new offerings. Over at the posh perch that is J&G Steakhouse atop The Phoenician, they are celebrating the full moon tonight starting at 5:30 pm with a $30 all-inclusive tasting featuring a lights-out assortment of aphrodisiacs and Champagne-based cocktails. Meanwhile, over at Pane Bianco in Phoenix, famed chef Chris Bianco has finally expanded to dinner (5- 8 pm), featuring a compact menu of from-scratch soups and hearty Italian entrees.

Seriously, are there two better words in the English language other than ‘gourmet hotdogs’? We’re talking hand-crafted sausages and frankfurters from those ground meat gurus at Schreiner’s in Phoenix who’ve been cranking out casings inside a family-run factory since 1955. And forget ketchup and mustard, these posh puppies are topped with exotic delights such as mango chutney, aged English cheddar and fresh cilantro, and then served on a warm Indian-style flatbread called naan.

Sounds a little froufrou and pricey, you say. Besides, aren’t the best hotdogs served out of the back of a roadside stand? Well, meet Short Leash Hot Dogs, the Valley’s first ‘mobile hot dog eatery.’

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In honor of our BBQ-tastic This Week in Food Blogs, we’re reposting this ode to the purple palace that is, Stacy’s Smokehouse BBQ.

Housed inside a bare-bones, purple-painted and graffiti-decorated space just west of the 51 freeway on Indian School, Stacy Phipps’ little smokehouse has developed on oversized reputation. In fact, everybody from the New Times to the gourmands at Bon Appetit magazine have raved about his rib-stickin’ menu of slow-and-low classics.

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How crazy-cool is this? You’ve heard of the gourmet food truck trend, right? (If not, get your tummy to the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, toots sweet!) Well now one ski resort in California is offering gourmet burritos served mountainside out of a snowcat. Yes, next time you’re carving up the slopes at Mammoth Mountain keep your eye out for these all-new Roving Mammoths.

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You may still be in a Super Bowl food coma (or as we like to call it Death by Guacamole Day) but that’s no excuse to skip your food blog fix. Yes, TWFB is back and we’re talking savory BBQ to help keep that ever-expanding stomach satisfied. Here’s a redux of this week’s happening on our favorite food blogs.

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