The Arizona Asian American Association will hold its annual festival in Mesa this weekend, moving the event from its former home in Phoenix.

C-Fu Gourmet (2051 W. Warner Road [480] 899-3888). This Chinese eatery is best known for its daily Dim Sum, a kind of snack lunch full of tasty dumplings and pastries, served between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. And with good reason — it’s the best in the East Valley, highlighted by the shumai (pork dumplings) and shrimp rice noodle roll. Their dinner service is also a winner, offering nearly 200 options and 13 “regional specialty sauces.” $$

Stir-fry and salsa aren’t traditional companions on the plate, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little common ground.

Stir-fry and salsa aren’t traditional companions on the plate, but that doesn’t mean there can’t be a little common ground.

Plant an assortment of Asian vegetables in the family garden or in any suitable pot and you’ll be able to stir up an inexpensive batch of fresh, flavorful food easier than you can say “Chinese takeout.”

It’s no Chinatown, but it’s the closest thing the East Valley will have.

Aah, the Far East! And, because a smear of brown mustard obstructed his in-flight compass, the Captain has skipped China. Just as well. The Captain loves Chinese food, but with P.F. Chang’s and Pei Wei enjoying Starbucks-ian success and Panda Express applying for admission to the United Nations, this food genre does not need his endorsement now.

BALAKOT, Pakistan - The death toll soared to 79,000 Wednesday from South Asia's mammoth earthquake, following a survey of one of the two hardest-hit Pakistani regions - making it one of the deadliest quakes in modern times.

A packed parking lot on a recent 94-degree afternoon speaks volumes about the recently opened Asian mall in west Mesa. One week since the 100,000-square-foot Mekong Plaza opened to a 10,000-plus crowd, excited Asians and curious others are still filing in to keep the buzz going about the Valley's first Asian-themed indoor mall.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistan's official earthquake death toll jumped by 16,000, and officials warned Wednesday that it is likely to rise further as relief supplies fail to reach thousands of victims stranded in remote parts of the Himalayas.

As food banks nationwide rushed supplies to Louisiana and Mississippi in the wake of Gulf Coast hurricanes, few thought twice about its effect on the holidays. But with Thanksgiving looming this week, at least one prominent Valley food bank is worried that donors are fatigued.

As food banks nationwide rushed supplies to Louisiana and Mississippi in the wake of Gulf Coast hurricanes, few thought twice about its effect on the holidays. But with Thanksgiving looming this week, at least one prominent Valley food bank is worried that donors are fatigued.

After feeding more than 500 families for Thanksgiving, the Vista del Camino Food Bank wants to do the same for Christmas, but it still needs help gathering gifts and goods for needy teenagers.

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, businesses and food banks are seeking donations to make sure everyone has enough to eat.

For parents of children allergic to a kitchen staple like peanut butter, it’s hard to know what’s safe outside the home.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, Vista del Camino Community Center still needs help putting food on the tables of 150 Scottsdale families.

Jamba Juice said it is just trying to make people feel good. And who doesn’t feel good after receiving free food?

This is shaping up to be one of those glorious weekends in which the Valley really is our oyster. The weather forecast calls for temps in the mid-80s, and there’s a glut of fun stuff going on to ensure you get out and enjoy yourself.

Sloppy plates of hot wings and nachos are easy to spot on happy hour menus, but finding carefully prepared plates of gourmet grub on the cheap takes some hunting. Here are the five best places for bite-size fine foods at a hefty discount:

Unable to force nutrition labeling by restaurants, a Yuma Democrat has instead agreed to a purely voluntary program - and only for the items the food servers want.

The holidays have started off slowly for a prominent Valley food bank, reigniting concerns that people might be wearing thin from giving to charities during a year filled with disaster worldwide.

It's easy to have romantic visions of the holidays - cozy fires, perfectly wrapped gifts, your house decorated like a magazine spread, all your friends gathered to celebrate, marveling at your culinary prowess.