Write On Rubee

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.

Filtering by Tag: Ocotillo

RUBEE TUESDAY, May 3-9, 2016: Joe's Midnight Run, Herb Box, Ocotillo, Capital Grille, Counter Intuitive, La Bocca, Doglicious Hot Dogs, AVA, Andreoli's, Sweet Republic

May 10, 2016  /  Christina Barrueta

This is my first installment of Rubee Tuesday, a weekly recap of my week's adventures in dining and drinking in and around Phoenix.  

Tuesday, 5/3/2016: I'd been wanting to return to Joe's Midnight Run since attending a soft opening early last month, and lunch with my friend Angela was a perfect excuse.  

Wednesday, 5/4/2016 (Part I): I joined the fabulous team of VisitPhoenix along with some of my favorite travel writers for a media luncheon to celebrate National Travel and Tourism Week at the new Herb Box at the Colony (look for an upcoming dinner recap when I return next week). 

Wednesday, 5/4/2016 (Part II): After the Herb Box, I met up with some fellow USBG Phoenix members at Ocotillo for brainstorming on a Moscow Mule fundraiser while I enjoyed some cocktails.  It's always nice to spend time with Kim, Lillian, Kirti, and Cristen and I think we came up with a great game plan.   A special treat was to run into friends filmmaker Andrew Gooi, Stephanie Sanstead with the Sheraton Grand Wild Horse Pass, and Chef de Cuisine Ryan Swanson of Kai.  Be sure to check out the video below with Geoffrey Wilson's fabulous Write On Rubee cocktail (gin, chartreuse, Campari, egg white, and Serrano Spice) at Ocotillo. 

Wednesday, 5/4/2016 (Part III): Due to car trouble, AAA and a car tow (with great service from Jesse!) we ended up with an impromptu Part III.  We finished our day at The Capital Grille in North Scottsdale treating Ernie, Jr. to dinner as a thank-you for driving us home.  One of our favorite steakhouses, it's always great to see manager Brian and bartender Matt (and order my favorite lobster mac 'n cheese in town).

Thursday, 5/5/2016: I had a fabulous time at the fun and festive Cinco de Mayo media preview of Counter Intuitive's 1929 Agua Caliente episode which debuted on May 6th to the public (click on photo for more pictures).

Friday, 5/6/2016: Write On Rubee celebrated a 2016 Favorite Local Food Website win at Arizona Foothills Magazine Best of Our Valley Bash at the SandBar (and nice to chat with Favorite Mixologist winner Jon Crone of Proof and Brian Leeds of Hopdoddy's!)  We later retired to La Bocca to end the evening with our friends and fellow winners Tram Mai (Channel 12 winner of Favorite TV Personality) and her husband Steve Kraus (Favorite Valley Dad) and owner of Press Coffee Food and Wine (Best Sky Harbor Airport Dining).  

Saturday, 5/7/2016:  While doing errands, we stumbled upon Doglicious Hot Dogs, a family-owned gem in Glendale.  Click on photo for details.

Monday, 5/9/2016: A highlight was attending the inaugural Tasting Panel for Arizona Vignerons Alliance certification at Vinum 55. Click here for an exclusive photo recap. Details on the AVA can be found at this link:  Arizona Vignerons Alliance Launch. 

Afterwards, photographer Jenelle Bonifeld and I lunched at Andreoli's, an Italian favorite in North Scottsdale which I've previously mentioned here and here. 

And since we were close to Sweet Republic, I had to pick up a pint of ice cream to bring home - this time it was Rhubarb Crumble. 

Check back for the next Rubee Tuesday recap as my plans include visits to Franco's Italian Caffe, New Hong Kong, LDV Wine Gallery, Atlas Bistro, and Miracle Mile Deli.  

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categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Sweet Republic, Franco, Andreoli's, Capital Grille, Joe's Midnight Run, Ocotillo, Herb Box, Colony, La Bocca, Counter Intuitive

Ocotillo

December 30, 2015  /  Christina Barrueta

Our friend Dave Johnson, General Manager, sommelier, and partner of Ocotillo, had shared his vision of Ocotillo with us last year so it was with eager anticipation that I awaited its debut in late September.  It is an impressive and ambitious project with well-thought-out details and archictecture, and a recent Saturday night's full house attests that this collaboration with Chefs Walter Sterling and Sacha Levine is well on its way to success.  In fact, I was told the Friday night before, they had 400 covers.  Nicely done Ocotillo! 

Ocotillo opened with a brunch menu initially, and four of us met to enjoy the dinner menu after it had launched in mid-November.  

I asked bartender Brian Loesche to surprise me with a couple of his libation creations and he kindly agreed. Thank you Brian for the great cocktails! Both were well-balanced, fresh, and bright. Left: Pimm's, yellow chartreuse, ginger syrup, lemon, lime, simple syrup, and Peychaud's bitters.  Right: Viejo rum, dry curaçao, lemon, honey syrup, AZ Bitters Lab Figgy Pudding bitters, Aztec chocolate bitters, and freshly-grated cinnamon. 

Many have told me the fresh locally-sourced vegetable dishes here shine, and the beet salad didn't disappoint. Pecan wood-smoked beets were tumbled onto creamy ricotta and strewn with arugula, truffle honey, and roasted pistachios with a simple dressing that allowed each element to make its own statement.  

The grilled lemongrass pork steak was listed under Small Plates, but made a perfect entree for me. Recommended by our helpful server, this was fantastically juicy and captured all the bright flavors of Asian cuisine I love with its tangy house pickles and chopped peanuts and fried shallots for texture. 

Our friend Andrew Gooi shared a bite of his dish and it was another winner - crispy-skinned roasted Pekin duck on a bed of polenta drizzled with a rich duck jus and garnished with the tart pop of pomegranate seeds.  

I was also happy Elise passed a share plate of her Ocotillo Chicken which is fast becoming a signature dish.  It's a stellar taste of Arizona on plate, with the tender roast chicken, honey and citrus sourced locally, as well as the dates and pecans that elevate the humble potato salad.  A brilliant combination. 

A perfect sweet treat to end our evening? Buttery Meyer lemon pound cake with ice cream and fresh berries.

After dinner, GM Dave graciously offered a tour of the grounds of this expansive property.   After being shown the tubs of fresh bucatini, campanelle and creste di gallo, I know I'll be ordering pasta on my next visit.  In addition to the main dining room where we were seated, there is an adjacent open-air beer garden with communal tables and its own bar and cozy fire pit, a large landscaped courtyard area with outdoor seating, and a separate O to Go coffee bar with daytime hours. Dave also pointed out a built-in screen that flips out for movie viewing on the lawn, and told of us plans in the spring for a jasmine-covered ramada to shade the al fresco picnic tables.   With what Ocotillo has already accomplished, I can't wait to see more.  

 
Ocotillo Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
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tags / Ocotillo