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.
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 atThe 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!
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.
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.
A weekly feature, Rubee Tuesday is a recap of my week's adventures in dining and drinking in the Phoenix area.
Mariposa Latin Grill in Sedona
Wednesday, May 23. My aunt and uncle from New Hampshire were visiting Arizona for the first time and we had a fun week of exploring Arizona, including a visit to the Desert Botanical Garden.
Temperatures at 105+ were a little too warm for me, my husband, and my dad, so we relaxed at Gertrude's, the on-site restaurant, where we enjoyed snacks and cocktails.
That night I joined photographer Jenelle Bonifield and Janet Gordon of The Gordon Group who introduced me to one of her clients, Kazzit, a brilliant new winery resource. We met at Christopher's and Crush Lounge, where I interviewed co-founder Babak Motamedi and Master Sommelier Laura Williamson. After learning about this application, I'm excited to share this indispensable tool for travelers and wine lovers. Look for an upcoming interview and feature in June.
Babak Motamedi, Chef Christopher Gross, Laura Williamson, MS
As described on the website: "Kazzit was founded by long time friends Babak Motamedi, a wine-lover and entrepreneur, and Peter Kasperski, the proprietor of Scottsdale’s Kazimierz World Wine Bar and owner of one of the largest collections of fine wine in the United States. Recognizing the need for a comprehensive source of information for all things wine, Kazzit was created to bridge the information gap between wine producers and consumers. Still in its first year of operation, Kazzit is helping select vineyards and wineries tell their stories to an international audience of consumers". You can find out more at http://kazzit.com
We chatted over cocktails and charcuterie as we learned the Kazzit story. My husband and I also stayed for dinner at Christopher's to take advantage of Restaurant Week with a three-course meal at the chef's counter, starting with foie gras torchon paired with a glass of Domaine Bru-Bache Jurancon.
On Thursday, May 25th, we began our Sedona road trip with breakfast at Rock Springs Cafe. They're known for their pies but my stack of dinner-plate-size pancakes was so good, I was too full to order a piece. Next time!
We then headed to Jerome to show our visitors this unique historic mining town founded in 1876. Located on Cleopatra Hill, its winding roads offers beautiful views of Arizona.
We spent a couple hours in Jerome wine tasting at the Echo Canyon Winery tasting room with my friend Cody, aka The Wine Monk, visiting galleries and shops such as Rickeldoris Candy & Popcorn Company, and ending with a stop at the Grand Jerome Hotel. I came home with wine purchases from Echo Canyon and Caduceus Cellars.
Next was the beautiful drive to Sedona with stops at photo op viewing sites. Once there, the men relaxed with beers at Oak Street Brewery & Grill while I spent the afternoon shopping with my mom and aunt at Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village.
To end our family day, I had planned dinner and sunset at one of my favorite Sedona restaurants - Mariposa Latin Grill - and it couldn't have been more perfect.
We were seated on the covered patio and greeted with complimentary appetizers from gracious chef and owner Lisa Dahl - flaky corn and queso empanadas with pineapple criolla, addictive Aguacate Frito (fried avocado) with pimentón aioli, and smoky grilled housemade chorizo (a must-order!) We rounded out our delicious feast with dishes such as grilled rack of lamb accompanied by a roasted yellow pepper coulis and cilantro-mint pesto, a juicy veal chop with zesty house chimichurri, decadent mashed potatoes scented with lemon and draped with lobster in a buttery garlic sauce, and sweet finales of key lime pie and chocolate and pistachio gelato.
As sunset approached, the restaurant and patio quickly filled with people gathered to celebrate the stunning view (video below). It was a glorious ending to a beautiful day in Arizona. I'll be back at the end of the month to join Mariposa as they celebrate two years with a festive party. You can register to join in on the festivities here.
We ended the night at Market Street Kitchen for, as usual, excellent cocktails by Garrit Guthrie and Chef Hunn's winning menu, including fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, burrata with heirloom tomatoes, pasta alla vodka with lobster, and a fantastic special of fresh littleneck clams tossed with sauteed leeks and nduja.
On Saturday, May 27th, we celebrated my aunt's and uncle's (17th) and my parents' (53rd) anniversaries at one of Arizona's gems - Different Pointe of View. Sommelier Ian spoiled us with a round of bubbly and Chef Anthony sent out fabulous oysters and scallops that had mom and dad exclaiming they were the best they ever had. This special occasion also happened to fall on Arizona Restaurant Week. DPOV is one of the best deals in town where the special three-course prix-fixe includes full-size dishes from the regular menu with choices in red.
Seared scallop on polenta cake topped with herb-artichoke tapenade
A memorable dinner and gorgeous sunset, what a grand finale to the weekend! (video below):
For last week's Rubee Tuesday recap of visits to Desert Mountain Club for the Arizona Foothills Magazine Best of Valley Party, Cafe ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, Arrowhead Grill, and The Mix Up Bar and T. Cook's at Royal Palms Resort, see photos at this link
To browse past Rubee Tuesday recaps, visit this link.
A recently launched feature, Rubee Tuesday is a recap of my week's adventures in dining and drinking in and around Phoenix.
Etch at L'Auberge de Sedona
Monday, June 21. After a night at the Sedona Rouge to attend Mariposa's celebratory first year anniversary wine dinner, we headed home, but not without a stop at one of my favorite Sedona destinations, L'Auberge de Sedona with its idyllic creekside setting. Check back next week for a detailed recap under the Travel section.
Friday, June 24. Dinner plans included the best favorite chicken fried steak in town - at TEXAZ Grill, a beloved Phoenix institution for over 30 years. Click the photo below for details and more pictures.
Since we didn't dine out as often this week, I had a chance to do some home cooking, including quesadillas with Sonoran tortillas from Anita's in Tucson, local Arizona Homeboy's Verde, and homemade chili verde with Hatch chiles and tomatillos from my garden.
Check back next week when my plans include the Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia, Bitter and Twisted Cocktail Parlour, Drexyl, Christopher's and Durant's.
