20 May 8th-May 14th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | Questions? Feedback? Email me at [email protected] • Follow me on RATING (out of 5 McFly’s) THE 2025 OUTBACK: FOR PEOPLE WHO HIKE, OR AT LEAST OWN A FLEECE 2025 SUBARU OUTBACK The 2025 Subaru Outback The 2025 Subaru Outback is still the official vehicle of is still the official vehicle of granola, golden retrievers, granola, golden retrievers, and getting lost on purpose. and getting lost on purpose. With its signature rugged With its signature rugged wagon look, standard all- wagon look, standard all- wheel drive, and just enough wheel drive, and just enough cladding to say “I camp... at cladding to say “I camp... at least once a year,” it’s ready least once a year,” it’s ready for whatever trail, Target run, for whatever trail, Target run, or midlife crisis you throw or midlife crisis you throw at it. Priced at $44,356, at it. Priced at $44,356, it’s a solid investment for it’s a solid investment for adventurers who also adventurers who also appreciate heated seats and appreciate heated seats and a killer safety rating. a killer safety rating. Under the hood, it’s got Under the hood, it’s got enough pep to get you up enough pep to get you up a mountain pass without a mountain pass without holding up traffic, thanks holding up traffic, thanks to its turbocharged 2.4L to its turbocharged 2.4L BOXER engine (on higher BOXER engine (on higher trims). Fuel economy sits at a trims). Fuel economy sits at a respectable 22 MPG city / 29 respectable 22 MPG city / 29 MPG highway, so you won’t MPG highway, so you won’t have to stop for gas every have to stop for gas every time you detour for a scenic time you detour for a scenic overlook or an emergency overlook or an emergency kombucha refill. It’s capable, kombucha refill. It’s capable, confident, and built like a confident, and built like a hiking boot with Bluetooth. hiking boot with Bluetooth. Inside, it’s comfy, tech-savvy, Inside, it’s comfy, tech-savvy, and surprisingly plush—like and surprisingly plush—like your crunchy friend got a your crunchy friend got a promotion and upgraded promotion and upgraded to leather seats. Subaru’s to leather seats. Subaru’s EyeSight safety suite keeps EyeSight safety suite keeps an eye on the road (and the an eye on the road (and the rogue deer crossing it), while rogue deer crossing it), while the massive touchscreen the massive touchscreen infotainment system helps infotainment system helps you navigate both trails and you navigate both trails and brunch spots. The Outback brunch spots. The Outback isn’t flashy—it’s functional, isn’t flashy—it’s functional, reliable, and always down for reliable, and always down for a road trip, just like your most a road trip, just like your most outdoorsy ex. outdoorsy ex. Comfort: Value: Fuel Economy: Looks: The Drive: Safety & Security: Overall: Sound System: Bells & Whistles: Looking Sharpe Scottsdale’s Sharpe Haus helps chefs, home cooks find the perfect edge. BY MELISSA PICKERING I n November 2024, Sharpe Haus opened on the northwest corner of Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard. At the family-owned business, chefs and amateur cooks alike can find professional-grade cutlery, knife blocks, smallwares, aprons, chefs’ coats and nearly any other item to round out their cooking arsenal. Customers can also bring in their knives for sharpening. Sharpe Hause is owned and operated by Joe Roybal — who goes by the moniker Joe Sharpe — and his wife, Heather Roybal. The couple is originally from North Carolina. Though he worked in restaurants growing up, Roybal’s professional back- ground is not as a chef, but in mergers and acquisitions. He was hired to sell a knife- sharpening business. After evaluating the business and feeling that he could success- fully operate it, the Roybals purchased the company. It was their first foray into mobile knife sharpening. To hone his experience, Roybal began studying knife sharpening with renowned knife expert Mike Solaegui in San Francisco. He studied for eight years, even- tually putting that knowledge and experi- ence to use to design his own custom knife sharpening system. After starting their first mobile sharp- ening business in North Carolina, the Roybals expanded to Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia. However, having lived in the Valley for a stint, the couple felt the desert calling and decided to move back. They wanted to open a storefront to provide their services to the public. They chose Scottsdale, as it is centrally located and near many restaurants and resorts, and opened Sharpe Haus on Nov. 20, the week before Thanksgiving. “Every month we get a little bit busier and busier,” Roybal says. At the shop, Robal has implemented his proprietary system, which uses polyester, sponges and muslin, among other mate- rials. Compared with using sharpening stones, this custom method removes less metal, creates a sharper edge and takes a fraction of the time, Roybal says. Using his unique technique, Roybal can sharpen straight-edge and serrated knives to an extremely acute edge. He can even re-serrate or put the “teeth” back on bread and steak knives. “We put the best edge in the Valley,” Roybal says. Sharpe Haus also has a mobile unit that travels to a rapidly growing list of commer- cial clients. Sharpe Haus provides mobile knife sharpening and restaurant supplies to over 90 commercial clients, including private chefs, the Arizona Biltmore, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess and The Phoenician. During the cooler months, Sharpe Haus also provides sharpening services to the public on Wednesdays at the Uptown Farmer’s Market. For customers interested in purchasing knives, Sharpe Hause carries options from Japan, Germany, the U.S. and China. The selection also includes knives by Kikuichi, the oldest knife manufacturer in the world. Roybal explains that Kikuichi’s origins go back to a bladesmith hired to make Samurai swords in the 13th century. When it later became illegal to carry swords, Kikuichi transitioned to making cutlery. Their beautiful handles are made of buffalo horn and maple and the knives are surprisingly lightweight. Sharpe Haus is also the exclusive carrier of local bladesmith Corey Dunlap’s stainless steel chef’s knife. Although Sharpe Haus carries many well-known brands, Roybal feels it’s essen- tial for customers to feel comfortable using their knives. He encourages customers to take their time looking so they find the knife that is the most comfortable for them to use. “We don’t sell off of brand. We want you to find the most comfortable knife because that’s the best for you to buy,” Roybal says. “If it doesn’t feel good, if you don’t like the balance of it, you’re not going to use it and you’ve wasted your money.” Sharpe Haus 7126 E. Becker Lane, Scottsdale Joe “Sharpe” Roybal helps home cooks and professional chefs alike find the perfect knife at his Scottsdale shop. (Joe Roybal) ▼ Food & Drink
