Filtering by Tag: Persian Room

RUBEE TUESDAY: Canal Club, Sedona, The Market by Jennifer, Virtu, Persian Room, Rose Garden, Franco’s Italian Caffe, Over Easy, Christopher’s at the Wrigley

October 03, 2023 / Christina Barrueta

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

WorldClass Iberico ribs with chipotle-mango glaze, shaved Brussels sprouts salad, and elote puree at The Canal Club at The Scott Resort

Tuesday, September 12: The Canal Club (The Scott Resort). Our second dinner for Arizona Restaurant Week was the Cuban-inspired restaurant at The Scott. Three highlights from our delicious visit - ropa vieja tostones, chipotle-mango WorldClass Ibérico pork ribs with shaved Brussels sprouts and elote puree, and black bean dip with tostones (off the regular menu - you can find the recipe in my Phoenix Cooks book).

Thursday, September 14: Che Ah Chi at Enchantment Resort (Sedona). We were invited for a overnight stay and a special ZD wine dinner at Enchantment, a gorgeous resort with stunning red rock views. Stay tuned for my recap in the Travel section.

ZD wine dinner at Enchantment Resort in Sedona

Saturday, September 16: The Market Restaurant + Bar (Phoenix). We closed out Arizona Restaurant Week out with a long overdue visit to this Phoenix gem. Not only does Jennifer Russo’s restaurant consistently offer one of the BEST Restaurant Week menus in town, but we were also spoiled with a tasting of the entire menu!

Arizona Restaurant Week menu at Jennifer's Market

Monday, September 18: Virtù Honest Craft (Old Town Scottsdale). It was a perfect way to kick off the week when the Italian Association of Arizona gathered us together for a beautiful night of wine and food. Click the photo below to watch my video reel.

Tuesday, September 19: Persian Room (North Scottsdale). When I was assigned a “Travel the World” feature for Experience Scottsdale, I knew right away that one of the restaurants I would feature is Persian Room. Click the link to read about my favorite dishes like lamb koobideh and kash o'bademjan.

Lamb koobideh, adas polo, and Shirazi Salad at the Persian Room in Scottsdale

Wednesday, September 20: Rose Garden (downtown Phoenix). Back for another fun cocktail class led by Trey, this time paired with Chef Kam’s delicious bites of Khmer beef jerky, papaya salad, and shrimp rolls.

You can watch my video of the inaugural class HERE.

I had promised my husband that I would squeeze in a visit to Franco’s Italian Caffe this week, so after our class, it was off to one of our favorite Italian restaurants!

Vitello al Tartufo special (veal with truffle cream sauce) at Franco’s Italian Caffe in Old Town Scottsdale

Thursday, September 21: Over Easy (Glendale). The Glendale location at 67th Avenue and Deer Valley celebrated their Grand Opening, and we have a new favorite neighborhood breakfast spot! You can read all the details of their 12th location HERE.

Banana Nut French Toast at Over Easy in Glendale

Three of our favorites on our first visit: Mimosa flight, Banana Nut French Toast, and Chicken Fried Steak with Potatoes O’Brien.

That night, we were invited by Rancho de los Caballeros resort in Wickenburg for a special night at Christopher’s at Wrigley Mansion with guest Chef Jacob Ellis to kick off of their Celebrity Chef Ranch Weekends dinner series. The series kicks off on Nov 11 with Chef Beau MacMillan. Get all the details, including dates for Chefs James Porter, Lisa Dahl, and Christopher Gross HERE.

Jacob Ellis, executive chef of Rancho de los Caballeros in Wickenburg

Check back on the next Rubee Tuesday for visits to Nogales and Tucson, Mora, Federal Grill, JT Prime, Cottonwood, Herb Box, an Omni Tempe staycation, and a CALA Alliance Peruvian dinner.

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tags / Canal Club, Sedona, The Market by Jennifer, Virtu, Persian Room, The Rose Garden, Christopher's at Wrigley Mansion, Franco's, Franco's Italian Caffe, Old Town Scottsdale, Downtown Phoenix

Visit Proof at the Four Seasons in July for My Spanish Burger Winner!

July 06, 2016 / Christina Barrueta

To celebrate National Burger Month in May, the Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North held a BYOB contest: Build Your Own Burger. The Facebook contest announced "From toppings to bun-style, tell us how you would construct the perfect burger. Comment below, and your dream creation could be featured for a week at Proof!" There were so many creative submissions, such as Emett E's andouille burger with asiago and caramelized onion remoulade or Tony P's caprese burger with tomato, mozzarella, and balsamic, so I was thrilled to learn my burger submission was the winner.

On Tuesday, we were invited to Proof for the burger launch, which will be offered for the entire month of July from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Even more exciting was joining Chefs Joey Cavaretta and Del Morris in the Proof kitchen and getting to taste what they had created. I was handed a chef's jacket with my name (thank you Chef Mel!) and then it was time to cook. One tip I learned from Chef Joey? I've been under-seasoning my burgers. Note to self: Salt more generously.

With Chefs Joey Cavaretta and Dell Morris of Proof at the Four Seasons Scottsdale

And how is the burger? Wow! I can't imagine you'd find a more juicy, flavorful burger. The Proof team's creation features a beef burger mixed with chorizo and its tangy, smoky chile heat, layered with creamy pimentón mayo, melted Manchego cheese, romesco (a traditional Catalan sauce made with pureed tomatoes, peppers, garlic and nuts), and fresh arugula. The toasted brioche bun is the perfect texture - soft enough to press around the generous fillings, but sturdy enough to capture all the delicious juices without falling apart. Served with hand-cut skin-on fries dusted with paprika, it's the perfect combination.

While Ernesto opted for the burger and beer duo, I ordered a Just Beet It (beet, rosemary, and ginger-infused gin with elderflower, lemon, and pineapple) and finished with a well-crafted Sazerac. It's not just the burger that is delicious at Proof. We started with the addictive pretzel knots and spicy cheddar dipping sauce, and the king crab special with four special accompaniments: a Tito's vodka cocktail sauce, Tabasco aioli, housemade jalapeño salsa verde, and shooters of chile de árbol hot sauce.

And save room for dessert since Proof has a bake shop and a soda fountain with grown-up milkshakes and ice cream. Our knowledgeable waiter's suggestion of the Big Island with decadent coconut-rum ice cream topped with pineapple, toasted macadami nuts, whipped cream, and Hawaiian sea salt was a winner, and my husband polished off his "C is for Cookies" milkshake with cookies and cream ice cream, crushed Oreos and chocolate chip cookies. Bonus: For Proof's Ice Cream Days of Summer special, all ice cream treats are 50% off through August 31st.

While I was there, I learned about the other special summer promotions at Proof, including Bacon Happy Hour, Sunday Night Oysters, Pie Fridays, Summertime Smokehouse, Secret Password specials, and more. Click here for my write-up on the details, along with Chef Mel's entry into the James Beard Blended Burger Project.

If you get to Proof this month and try the Spanish burger, tag me on Twitter or Instagram - I'd love to know what you thought!

Chef Joey Cavaretta of Proof and Executive Chef Mel Mecinas of the Four Seasons

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categories / Dining Out
tags / Persian Room, Proof, Four Sesaons Scottsdale, Mel Mecinas, Joey Cavaretta, Dell Morris, burger

The Persian Room

August 12, 2015 / Christina Barrueta

The Persian Room in North Scottsdale has been around for more than 25 years, but I'm sad to say it took me 7 years of living in the valley before I made my first visit - but it won't be my last. In fact, I have lunch plans with friends again tomorrow.

It's a pretty, upscale space with a lofty second floor, chandeliers, and high ceilings. Generous portions for lunch made two meals, and I'm still thinking of the Kash O'bademjan (roasted eggplant with whey and topped with crispy garlic slices) and juicy chicken kebabs. The lunch plates come with regular basmati, but you can upgrade to a different rice dish. I loved the one with dates and lentils called Adas Polo. I was joined by two friends for lunch on my first visit and we enjoyed:

Doogh, a tangy carbonated drink with yogurt and milk. Each table also receives complimentary pita with butter, onion, and fresh basil.

Kash O'bademjan (roasted eggplant mixed with kashk/whey, garlic, onions & mint). Shirazi Salad with cucumbers, onions, and tomatoes.

Mast o moosier (yogurt and garlic dip). Lamb Koobideh (minced lamb kebabs) with Adas Polo (basmati rice with raisins, lentils, dates and saffron);

Beef Shish Kebab with basmati and Chicken Barg Sultani with two kinds of chicken kebabs and Baghala Polo (basmati with dill and fava beans).

If you need a speedy lunch, this isn't the place, so allow plenty of time. I especially liked the Doogh, Kas O'bdemjan, and Adas Polo, which I will be ordering again. And this time I'll save room for dessert!

Afterwards, I did a little shopping at the Caspian Market next door: Fava beans, Bulgarian feta, yogurt, zoolbia (honey syrup-soaked fried pastery) and pistachios.

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categories / Dining Out
tags / Persian Room, Persian food