An Arizona-based food, beverage and travel writer since 2008, I launched this website in 2015 to document my culinary adventures, beverage escapades, gardening endeavors, and travel in the Phoenix area and beyond. Also find a comprehensive calendar of Phoenix-area food and drink-related events on my Events page.
I publish round-ups every Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.
Master sommelier Michael Jordan at Festivin at Wrigley Mansion in Phoenix
Thursday-Saturday, January 11-13: Festivin at Wrigley Mansion (Phoenix). One of my favorite Arizona events is Festivin, a four-day event at the historic Wrigley Mansion celebrating wine, food, and education with special dinners, seminars, chef demos, and tastings. I’ll be posting a comprehensive recap of the events I attended, but, in the meantime, click the photo below to see my video reel.
The first course of Chef vs Chef with Rochelle Danielle and David Brito at Festivin at Wrigley Mansion
Sunday, January 14:Uchi Scottsdale pop-up preview. Uchi Scottsdale opens next month and we were invited to a pop-up at the beautiful home of our host, Chef Christopher Gross, for a special media preview.
Hai Hospitality founder and executive chef Tyson Cole of Uchi
Austin-based Hai Hospitality opens its acclaimed flagship concept in Old Town on February 1, and we had a chance to drink, dine and mingle with James Beard award-winning executive chef and founder Tyson Cole, Scottsdale chef de cuisine Blake Luecke, and other members of the talented team.
I already have my reservations for opening week, and I’ll also be returning at the end of the month with Meridith May and Bill Brandel, owners and publishers of SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel magazines.
To see more, click the photo below of chef de cuisine Blake Luecke for my video reel.
Uchi Scottsdale chef de cuisine Blake Luecke
Wednesday, January 17:Pyro (Phoenix). We enjoy meeting up with Meridith and Bill at least once a month, and this time we decided on Pyro. It was my second visit, and I was as equally impressed as I was during our first visit.
We ordered past favorites (Ibérico pork skewers, Pyro Caesar, Dungeness crab noodles), and new must-orders (beef tartare with tamarind aioli, short rib and kimchi fried rice with nori kizami, and roasted chicken with carrot-ginger puree and Tokyo turnips). Special thanks to GM Nisa for taking such good care of us with her excellent sake and wine suggestions!
Thursday, January 18:Pretty Penny (downtown Phoenix). The newest concept from Pour Bastards Hospitality (Disco Dragon, Killer Whale Sex Club, FYPM), Pretty Penny is a fantastic addition to the downtown culinary scene. We loved everything about it, from the welcoming glasses of prosecco and cozy vibe to the fantastic menu and craft cocktails. And did I mention the super-talented team that includes Hospitality Director Ivan Herrera and Executive Chef Marcellino Ramos? Click their photo for my video reel.
Cocktails: Charred Bloody Mary, Hot Topic, and Un-Pho-Gettable.
And we’ll be returning to work our way through the entire delicious-sounding menu (including caviar priced at cost!), but note down these three winners for your visit: Plum-infused duck breast carpaccio with umeboshi preserve and pickled myoga ginger; bluefin duo with akami toro, caramelized shallots, and guanciale; and steak tartare with Calabrian chili, cured duck egg yolk, and sangak (Persian flatbread).
Anhelo (downtown Phoenix). As I’ve mentioned in past Rubee Tuesdays, Anhelo is one of our favorites and after chatting with chef-owner Ivan earlier in the week, I made plans to stop by. My reward was this brand-new stunner of a dish that Ivan is working on - I hope it makes it on the menu!
Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to Bourbon and Bones Peoria, Otro, Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg, and a Las Vegas assignment for Tasting Panel magazine.
A weekly Tuesday feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.
Hearth ‘61 at Mountain Shadows resort
Tuesday, May 16:Epicenter at Agritopia (Gilbert - first visit is HERE). I’m working on a feature on founder Joe Johnston and some of the F&B offerings at Epicenter, including Source, Belly, and Undertow Gilbert, so returned with Meridith May and Bill Brandel, owners of SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel magazines. Special thanks to Joe and Cindy Johnston who kindly made time to join us at Source!
Joe and Cindy Johnston chat with Meridith May, editor-in-chief and owner of SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel magazines.
Pre-dinner drinks at Undertow Gilbert: We’re big fans of Undertow in Phoenix, but this was our first time visiting the Gilbert location. And congratulations! Undertow Gilbert was just announced as a Top 10 Nominee for “Best New U.S. Cocktail Bar” in the 17th annual Spirited Awards®
Fireside at Undertow Gilbert (Plantation O.F.T.D Overproof Rum, Germana Umburana cachaça, Jägermeister, pumpkin, pineapple, lemon, lime, condensed milk, and cinnamon).
Dinner at Belly: Grilled oysters with dashi butter & scallions, wok-fried green beans with bonito, orange chicken, chicken skewers, Vietnamese crab crepe (bánh xèo), and fried chicken.
Wednesday, May 17: The Mission Kierland(North Scottsdale). Christiaan Röllich was recently announced as the Bar Director for all of Chef Matt Carter’s restaurants (Fat Ox, The Mission and Zinc Bistro). To learn more about this superstar talent and author of Bar Chef – Handcrafted Cocktails, look out for our A Taste of AZ podcast.
A Taste of AZ podcast with Christiaan Röllich at the Mission Kierland (photo credit: Paige Irvin)
Later that night, we joined my parents for dinner at Tomaso’s in Phoenix. As I shared in this press release, The Maggiore Group closed Tomaso’s after 46 years with plans for a new restaurant honoring Tomaso Maggiore’s legacy.
During its last week of restaurant service, the Maggiores brought back 1977 menu items and prices. It was a special night and I’m so glad I was able to share one last meal here with my mom and dad.
Thursday, May 18:Wrigley Mansion (Phoenix). To kick off Festivin, their third annual wine festival, the Wrigley Mansion hosted a series of special dinners, including the Club Tresors Champagne dinner with Christine Mercnick of Grace Under Pressure. Click on the photo below for my separate Festivin Event Recap with more photos and videos.
Friday, May 19: Mountain Shadows resort (Paradise Valley). I joined a group of fellow writers for a Sneak Peek of Summer media staycation, and we were spoiled with an itinerary exploring all this beautiful property has to offer.
After checking in, we toured The Gallery with Curator Cece Cole. Be sure to check out the exhibits of local artists that rotate every two months.
Afterwards, we enjoyed a delicious family-style lunch with a cocktail class with Beverage Director Jim Gallen, before spending the afternoon in our poolside private cabanas.
Soon it was time for sunset champagne sabering with Hearth ‘61 GM Jimmy (you can see him in action in my video Reel HERE).
Our dinner at Hearth ‘61 just happened to coincide with Arizona Restaurant Week. I loved my selections of sweet corn soup, striped bass, and berry layer cake. You’ll want to add this to your list the next Restaurant Week in the fall! My husband was just as happy with his appetizer of meatballs with artichokes and polenta, and THE BEST pork chop in the Valley - an incredibly juicy black pepper-glazed Duroc pork chop sliced and served with heirloom carrots and Jacob’s beans ragout.
Saturday, May 20. Before checking out, we headed back to Hearth ‘61 for brunch. My plans were for a healthy start to the day with a Green Machine smoothie with spinach, kale, parsley, pineapple, mango, and almond milk and maybe a yogurt parfait…until I saw Chef Carlos Rodriguez Rios’ fantastic specials. There were no regrets!
Then it was time to head back to Wrigley Mansion for more wine festival festivities, starting with a wine luncheon and cooking class with Geordie’s Executive Chef David Brito. Click David’s photo below to see more.
Monday, May 22: The Mick Brasserie (Scottsdale). I always love the wine dinners at the Mick, and this one celebrating Argentina with WorldClass ingredients like langoustines, octopus, Argentine beef, and dulce de leche paired with Siete Fincas wines from owner Edgardo Stallocca was my favorite one yet! Video:
