‘We Can’t Forget’: Amped Coffee Co. pledges to remember 9/11 with memorial
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Keith and Janine Walashek remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks vividly. They recall exactly where they were, and the pain and fear that overcame their bodies.
So when Keith heard that at one...
Staying Safe: Pita Jungle takes extra precautions to keep its staff and guests healthy
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Pita Jungle is taking its staff’s health seriously.
Restaurant co-founder Bassel Osmani and his partners hired Company Nurse, a triage and reporting service for workplace injuries, to further protect their employees, customers and...
Authentic Italian: Pizzicata treats everyone like family
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Pizzicata owner Federico Venturini considers his guests and employees family at his Carefree Italian restaurant.
Guests impart stories of visits to Italy, from which Venturini hails. In turn, Venturini shares authentic dishes like...
Squeeze Play: Breakfast spot raising funds for special needs pups
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The breakfast and lunch spot Morning Squeeze is spending August raising funds for the Be Like Josh Foundation, a local nonprofit that raises awareness about special needs animals.
For every dog biscuit order...
Fire and Fun: Kasai Japanese Steakhouse maintains its high energy
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
When Sapporo in Scottsdale rebranded as Kasai Japanese Steakhouse in November 2018, the move infused new energy into the 11,000-square-foot airy building.
Owner Michael Russello says that energy hasn’t subsided at the teppanyaki...
Truly Successful: There’s nothing basic about Tru Burger
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Stuart Gee has literally spent his life in the restaurant business.
Growing up in Waterloo, Iowa, he split his days between school and his father’s Chinese restaurant. After college, he worked for Red...
Convenient Ordering: Fantasticós adds drive-thru and online ordering in Cave Creek
By Connor Dziawura
With the stay-at-home order over and many restaurants trying to return to some semblance of normalcy, while still maintaining safe practices during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, one local establishment is aiming to...
A True Visionary: Chef Marcellino Verzino brings the flavor to Old Town
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Sima Verzino calls her husband, Chef Marcellino Verzino, a “visionary.”
That relates to the creative dishes at Marcellino Ristorante in Old Town Scottsdale and his thoughts for the restaurant, which was temporarily closed...
Backyard Party: New sports bar is where neighbors get their ‘grubb’ on
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
Regina Holmes believes everything happens for a reason.
When she and her husband, J.J., had the chance to rebrand the couple’s Native Grill and Wings stores, they ran with it.
“Life happens for a...
Musical Meals: VooDoo Daddy’s offers takeout guests can dance to
By Liz Renninger
Laissez bon ton roulette! Takeout just got a little livelier at VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen. The locally owned Cajun and creole restaurant is open and offering pickup and takeout orders in the...