A semi-regular feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday on Tuesdays to recap my recent drinking and dining adventures in the Phoenix area.

Friday, January 3: Mezcal Carreño, Cocktails and Compas at my friend Lisa’s house: Lisa, aka The Cocktail Maven, threw a wonderful cocktail party at her beautiful home, gathering her friends and neighbors to introduce them to Ivan and Abel of Mezcal Carreño. We sipped on Lisa’s creative mezcal cocktails as they educated the crowd on the history of mezcal and their family’s traditions. For a previous interview with Abel, visit this link.

We were also treated to tasty pollo, carne asada, and carnitas tacos by Tacos Trafi Catering.

Tuesday, January 7 - Nook Kitchen Grand Re-Opening Party: Nook recently moved to bigger digs and it’s a warm and inviting space. Their first 2,000-square foot restaurant opened in 2013 and has become such a popular neighborhood spot that it was time to expand (there is a second Nook downtown). The new location at 4231 East Indian School Road, a half mile away from the original Nook, is 3,400 square feet with a larger bar, dining room, and pizza counter. And check out the beautiful gold-tiled Acunto M. Napoli pizza oven.

We were treated to cocktails, wine and passed bites such as Caprese skewers with house-pulled mozzarella, tunar tartare with wasabi cream, stuffed mushrooms with sausage and roasted fennel, and the fragrant pizzas that chef-owner Nick LaRosa was pulling from the pizza oven throughout the night. For all the details of the new location, follow this link.

Taj Mahal Restaurant: We had reservations that night to meet our friend chef George Alatriste at one of his personal favorites, Taj Mahal. He ended up having to work (Sicilian Butcher Chandler), but we kept our plans. He had been telling us we would love this spot and he was right! We had a great time chatting with owners Gill and Sandra Singh, learning that they opened their second restaurant in Old Town at the request of the Scottsdale-area fans of their original location in Prescott.

It was nice to see such an interesting cocktail menu created by Sandra. I started with India Spice (spiced rum, coconut, peach liqueur) while Ernesto ordered an Indian Old Fashioned with Malabar liqueur with its notes of cardamom and cloves. Round two included a Bombay Bourbon with bourbon, ginger beer, lime and Arizona’s Superstition Meadery Marion made with berries and Arizona wildflower honey (see a prior feature on Superstition I wrote here), and a cocktail made with Feni, my first introduction to this Indian brandy made with cashew fruit.

And of course, the excellent food! Sandra explained that since their menu reflects Northern India, the Southern India specialty of Ghobi Manchurian wasn’t on the original menu but due to numerous requests, was added. This Chinese-influenced dish of crispy battered cauliflower tossed with a soy sauce-accented glaze accompanied by mint chutney, mango chutney, and creamy hummus is now one of their best-sellers.

It was a great introduction to our equally-delicious entrees:

A naan trio (garlic, onion, and green chile)
Saag paneer with eggplant, fish vindaloo, basmati rice, chicken korma and goat curry
Tandoori rack of lamb (so glad Sandra insisted we try these tender lamb chops marinated in spiced yogurt)
Dessert: Mango and ginger ice creams and gulab jaman (milk pastry spheres soaked in syrup)

Thank you George for introducing us to a new Old Town favorite and to Sandra and Gill for your hospitality. Stopping by for lunch? Tip: Check out their special Thali combination plates. On weekends, for $3.00 more, it includes a glass of champagne, wine or draft beer (or soda, mango lassi or chai).

Wednesday, January 8 - Oscar’s Pier 83: I had been wanting to try this Glendale seafood spot (a PHOENIX magazine “Best of the Valley” winner) for quite a while. After a nearby doctor’s appointment, we stopped by to pick up lunch and, as a native New Englander, I was pretty happy to see haddock on the menu. Expertly-fried fish, crispy thin fries and a tangy coleslaw - we’ll be back.

They offer six varieties of fish and chips, such as cod, mahi mahi and catfish, along with fried oysters, cod cakes, broiled seafood, fish sandwiches and more. I can’t wait to come back and try the New England clam chowder!

Friday, January 10 - Pigtails Desert Ridge: Knowing we were going to be in the area for a media event, I made sure to squeeze in a visit to Pigtails, the speakeasy-inspired bar in the back of Whining Pig. Award-winning mixologist Kyla Hein now manages the bar and I’ve been a fan since meeting her at Market Street Kitchen and judging some of the cocktail competitions she’s won.

The cocktail menu is a collaborative effort, but I happened to order two of the drinks that are Kyla’s creations.

Match Made in Heaven (Helio Basin Brewing hop syrup, Death’s Door gin, Quinquina and fresh lemon juice). I loved the richness that the hop syrup imparts to this refreshing libation.
All Hail the King (Novo Fogo Cachaça,Worthy Park Overproof Rum, Blue Curacao, coconut, pineapple and lime juice). Kyla is known for her tiki cocktail competition wins, and this is one of the best variations of a Blue Hawaiian I have ever had. Get to Pigtails before the next menu change!

Hula’s Modern Tiki: Our next stop was the VIP Preview Party for the newest location of Hula’s on High Street in North Scottsdale. It’s a bright and airy design with an expansive center bar, divided dining rooms and a wrap-around patio with firepit.

We dined on Hawaiian sliders, coconut ceviche, and poke as we imbibed on Scorpion bowls, Hurricanes, Mai Tais and more. Stay tuned for the official opening date!

Monday, January 13 - Set Jet: I love this concept. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, Set Jet is a private jet charter offered to security pre-screened and approved members. Memberships start at $99.95 a month, and flights start at $399 one-way to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco.

We gathered at the VIP terminal at Scottsdale airport where we had a chance to chat with co-founder Craig Allen Johnson and enjoy some Ocean Prime bites before he led us on a tour of two of their Bombardier CRJ200 planes.

This is the way to travel! When my busy schedule finally frees up to allow us to start vacationing again, we’ll be following up to look into memberships.

Maple and Ash (media invite): We are big fans of Maple & Ash and their fun-loving team. On Monday night, they held their first wine dinner, which quickly sold out. Beloved winemaker Maggie Harrison was the special guest and we were seated with Colin Moore of the Antica Terra and Lillian wine portfolio. He shared a lot of information about Maggie’s wine and vintner philosophy, so look for an in-depth recap (including my first caviar bump!) to post next week.

Check back for my next Rubee Tuesday, with visits to Gertrude’s at the Desert Botanical Garden, Taylor’s Chowder House, Cafe Monarch, my book signing at Changing Hands, Southern Rail and Angry Crab Shack.

For my last Rubee Tuesday recap covering visits to Sicilian Butcher Chandler, The Cambria Downtown Phoenix, The Brickyard Downtown, Fabio on Fire, Pita Jungle, George and Son's Asian Cuisine, go to this link.

Rubee Tuesday: Mezcal Carreño, Nook Kitchen, Taj Mahal, Oscar's Pier 83, Pigtails, Hula's Modern Tiki, Set Jet, Maple & Ash