The fine varieties of Michael-David Winery, with 550 acres of vineyards in Lodi, California, are recognizable to wine lovers worldwide. In addition to Earthquake reserve-tier wines, its other offerings include 7 Deadly Zins, 7 Heavenly Chards, 6th Sense Syrah, Incognito, Petite Petit and new top-echelon wines such as the luscious Rapture Cabernet and Lust Zinfandel. (more…)

When Sung Yoon was planning to open his Sushiya restaurant about a year and a half ago, he knew there were five or six other similar restaurants in the region. But with his experience in the business, he knew he could make a go of it. (more…)

Pub gearing up for Super Bowl Party

Looking for a great place to watch NFL playoffs or the Super Bowl? Check out Stadium Club, with its 24 screens set up throughout the pub that offers a great view of the game from any angle.

It’s like a tailgate party without having to do all the work, with great food, drink specials and great customer service. Keri Kruse, who has owned the Stadium Club for the past 3 1/2 years, says the pub has developed a big following of football and other sports fans despite changing its location in June.

The Stadium Club is one of Chandler’s original sports bars, opening 20 years ago in a strip mall on Chandler Boulevard and Alma School Road. Kruse bought the bar/restaurant and decided to make the move to a new location on Ray Road and Alma School about a year ago.

She took a site at a former Famous Sam’s restaurant and after a three-month remodeling project opened on June 8.

“A lot of our regulars followed us,” says Kruse, who is originally from Buffalo, New York, and uses an authentic Buffalo Wings recipe at Stadium Club. “We’ve gotten a lot of new customers too.”

The former Famous Sam’s was a big Green Bay Packers bar and Kruse says a Super Bowl featuring either the Cardinals or the Packers would probably be the best for her business. She’s working on some great Super Bowl food and drink specials to help entice patrons to come out for the game.

Kruse says the Buffalo Wings, which she calls the “real deal,” are the most popular items, along with the burgers, which are made with only fresh and never frozen ground beef. The carne asada tacos are also a big favorite.

Besides football and other televised sports, Kruse says the restaurant also has live music on Saturdays and karaoke on Wednesdays and Fridays. Also on Fridays, there is a Team Trivia contest with various prizes offered. There are also pool tables available.

The Stadium Club is located at 940 North Alma School Road (on the southwest corner). Call (480) 963-3866.

Written by Louis Sacco

La Calabria Ristorante offers taste of chef’s home

Do a Google search

for Calabria, Italy, and you’ll find that the main tourist attractions are the coastline, with its rugged cliffs and sandy beaches, and its mountains.

But San Tan area residents who visit La Calabria Ristorante in Gilbert will crave to visit the area on the very south of the Italian peninsula for the cuisine, particularly as it’s cooked by Giovanni Spataro at its location at 1534 East Ray Road. The restaurant is hidden away in a strip mall behind a tire store at the northwest corner of Ray Road and Val Vista Drive.

La Calabria is a true mom-and-pop eatery with Giovanni running the kitchen and wife Clara overseeing the front of the house. Two previous restaurants have come and gone in this location, but Clara says they decided to give it a go because it’s been their dream to run a restaurant.

“We’ve had so many people come to dine in our home say that we should open our own restaurant,” Clara says. “So we did. We wanted to give an authentic taste of Calabria, which is where Giovanni is from.”

The restaurant has been open for 15 months now, but still is trying to overcome the hurdle of being stashed in the shopping center that includes a dance studio, karate studio and a dentist. There is no visibility from the busy Val Vista Drive or Ray Road streets.

“Giovanni creates different specials every night,” Clara says. “And we use only the freshest products.”

Some of the entrée selections include Chicken Amalfitano, a chicken breast topped with proscuitto, fresh mozzarella, red wine, demi glace, fresh mushrooms and fresh herbs; Gamberi Marinara, shrimp in marinara sauce; Veal Scalloppine Sorrentino, veal topped with proscuitto, eggplant, sliced tomato, mozzarella and light marinara sauce; and Filetto Di Manzo Al Pepe Verde with Shrimp Scampi, a filet mignon grilled to perfection served with green peppercorn brandy sauce.

Entrees are served with a side salad and vegetable of the day.

Desserts are also highlights, including the homemade tiramisu and homemade Italian cheesecake.

The restaurant also has great lunch specials and also offers catering and room for parties. La Calabria is open Tuesday through Friday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. It’s open Saturdays from 4 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. It’s closed Mondays, with the exception of private parties.

Clara says the restaurant is family friendly and also offers a great selection of menu items for children. Those interested can call the restaurant at (480) 726-3537.

Written by Louis Sacco