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.
Malpeque oyster stew at Sel in Old Town Scottsdale
Thursday, December 14:Sel (Old Town Scottsdale). Sel, a personal favorite (one that I featured in my Phoenix Cooks book), introduced a lunch menu this year for the first time.
Celebrating something special? Splurge on caviar and Miyazaki A5 Wagyu. A casual get-together with friends? Check out the Korean short rib buns, carnitas tacos, or Sel Burger. How about a foodie luncheon? I loved my Malpeque oyster stew with truffle-potato puree, smoked trout roe (lead photo above), duck confit poutine, and Old Bay tuile and miso-marinated fish and chips with Tokyo street fries and tomatillo remoulade.
Afterwards, I stopped in to two spots for a margarita assignment I’m working on - Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequilaand Prado at Omni at the Montelucia. Be on the look-out for my Experience Scottsdale feature.
Friday, December 14:Etta (Scottsdale Quarter). Our friend Matt Allen is now behind the stick in the dining room bar which opened up seating just a few weeks ago.
I first met Matt when he taught this cocktail class eight years ago, and I’ve been a huge fan of his cocktail skills ever since. Our evening started off with a Vieux Carre for my husband, and a fantastic Negroni for me with Campari, vermouth, rum, banana liqueur, and coffee beans.
To pair with Etta’s excellent cocktails, we dined on delicious House Foccacia with rosemary and black truffle-honey whipped ricotta; Bubbling Shrimp with ginger and cilantro; Wagyu Meatballs with Calabrian chile gremolata; and Cannoli Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Saturday, December 16:Kembara (JW Marriott Desert Ridge). I was so excited to introduce my parents to Chef Angelo Sosa and his new restaurant celebrating the flavors of Asia, especially since my mom is Vietnamese and we had lived in Thailand, where my brother was born.
Needless to say, they fell in love with both the restaurant and Chef Angelo himself (thank you Angelo for bringing mom into the kitchen - that was such a highlight for her!).
Don’t overlook the excellent craft cocktails named after books and Asian authors. Two favorites below: The Sympathizer (Akashi White Oak whisky, Genmaicha tea, toasted rice, and cherry wood smoke poured from a teapot) and The Joy Luck Club (a clarified punch with bourbon, rum, coconut milk, and yuzu).
Angelo chose some of his favorite dishes for us to try and what a feast! We all had different top three favorites (mine were the lamb spring rolls, chili crab, and rendang) but every dish was a winner. You can listen in to Angelo here describing some of the dishes.
Pictured below: Tuna Thai Jewel with ginger-coconut broth; chicken satay; noodles with pork belly and pea tendrils; fish head curry with lemongrass and coconut milk; chili crab with tamarind and sambal; green papaya salad; Wagyu beef rendang; Vietnamese Coffee Donuts and Thai tea shaved ice with pound cake and meringue; Vietnamese egg coffee and a Vietnamese Coffee Martini.
Sunday, December 17: Morning Would (Scottsdale). Course is one of my favorite restaurants, and I had been wanting to get to its “immature sibling” Morning Would for Sunday Brunch.
The party-sized Spritz XL set the tone for a fun morning with our friends Lisa, aka Cocktail Maven, and her husband Gregg.
Wednesday, December 20: Krazy Cajun Seafood & Hibachi (Phoenix). It’s alway fun to discover a new spot, especially when our friends Jason and Tawnya of CRUjiente Tacos introduce us to one of their favorites!
Thursday, December 21: Marcellino’s Ristorante (Old Town Scottsdale). I’m working on a Scottsdale Aperol Spritz round-up, so of course I had to include Marcellino’s, which celebrated 20 years in 2023. Bonus: Spending time chatting with owners Sima and Chef Marcellino Verzino.
Chef-owner Marcello Vezino of Marcellino’s Ristorante in Scottsdale
We didn’t have time to have a full dinner but shared antipasti, Marcellino’s signature Polenta e Funghi (recipe is in my Phoenix Cooks cookbook!), and a fabulous special of grilled WorldClass calamari.
And thank you to Marcellino and Sima for sending us home with this generous gift! You can see what I did with Marcellino’s delicious sausage ragu here.
Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to B&B Cocktail Lounge, Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, and The Italian Daughter.
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.
Foie gras torchon topped with papaya and pomegranate arils at Anhelo in downtown Phoenix
Michael Regan, Director of Operations of Elliott’s Steakhouse, The Hidden House, and Brickyard Downtown in Chandler
Thursday, August 31: Elliott’s Steakhouse (downtown Chandler). This swanky steakhouse set in a 1912 theater is the newest addition to the team who introduced The Brickyard Downtown and The Hidden House to Chandler. It’s all the buzz and I can see why - we had a fabulous first-time experience with Meridith May and her husband Bill Brandel, owners and publishers of SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel magazines.Look for my interview with Director of Operations Michael Regan in the February issue of SOMM Journal.
Friday, September 1: Anhelo (downtown Phoenix). As you can see from past recaps, Anhelo is a personal favorite. This time we joined WorldClass owner John Bergman and his team for another fantastic evening.
Lobster and tomato risotto at Anhelo in downtown Phoenix
Wednesday, September 6:Fat Ox (Scottsdale). We were overdue for a visit to this modern Italian steakhouse, and an interview with Beverage Director Christiaan Röllich was a perfect excuse. Look for my feature in the January issue of Tasting Panel magazine.
Friday, September 8:Famiglia (Scottsdale). When I saw Famiglia’s Arizona Restaurant Week menu on our last visit, I had to book a reservation.
My delicious feast included the Vesper Martini and wine pairings with Bangs Island mussels, slow-roasted porchetta, and pumpkin cannolo, while my husband opted for the prosciutto and melon appetizer with cacio pepe off the regular menu.
Saturday, September 9:Pa’La Downtown (downtown Phoenix). Our second stop for Arizona Restaurant Week was another favorite.
My husband ordered off the regular menu (hummus and WorldClass presa, a special cut of Iberico pork), while I chose the warm cabbage Caesar salad and the WorldClass Iberico ribs above with Japanese sweet potatoes (along with GM Gilles’ wine pairings). We were also spoiled with a dessert sampler. Thank you Pa’La!
Wood-grilled Worldclass Iberico presa with I'itoi onion salsa verde at Pa’La Downtown Phoenix
Tuesday, September 12: Atlas Wines (Scottsdale). We spent the afternoon hitting a few spots in Old Town Scottsdale. First up: A wine tasting featuring The Hilt Estate, Jonata, and The Paring.
Rounding out the day, assignments for Experience Scottsdale brought me next to Cala at The Senna House hotel and Sel.
Roasted Cauliflower with za’atar, romesco, lemon aioli, and feta at Cala in The Senna House Hotel in Scottsdale
Beet gazpacho with peach sorbet, tomato salad, Crow’s Dairy goat cheese and Kalamata olives at Sel in Old Town Scottsdale
Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to Canal Club, Sedona, Virtu, The Market by Jennifer’s, Persian Room, Rose Garden, Franco’s Italian Caffe, Over Easy, and Christopher’s at the Wrigley.
I first discovered the gem that is Sel on a lovely afternoon while strolling the Scottsdale ArtWalk in Old Town Scottsdale. This weekly Thursday event celebrates artists and galleries, and its Main Street path brings visitors past Sel, located in a former gallery in Plaza Garcia. On that warm July day, Sel's pretty location and patio with cooling misters beckoned us in to enjoy a break from the heat.
We pulled up stools at the sleek bar and were immediately welcomed by friendly bartender Josh at whose hands excellent, well-crafted cocktails were imbibed. My husband ordered a classic Manhattan, while I opted for the Cerise Fumée with Vida mezcal, Ancho Reyes Chili Liqueur, black cherry puree and lime, garnished with a smoked sea salt rim and amarena cherry.
Sel offers a four-course prix-fixe, but dishes can also be ordered a la carte. Since we were stopping in for just a cocktail and a bite, we shared and savored two superlative summer dishes: A vibrant yellow tomato gazpacho adorned with avocado-lime gelée, peach granité, tarragon oil drizzle, and a light and crispy squash blossom stuffed with mesquite-smoked lobster and partnered with creamy roasted corn puree, micro greens and a pickled bing cherry.
We left happy and thrilled to find such a special spot, vowing to return to experience a full dinner. We were so impressed, that I included Sel in my article on ArtWalk dining stops for the Scottsdale Visitors Guide.
It might have taken longer than planned, but last month we finally returned to experience the full tasting menu and wine pairings. Sel is a beautiful, intimate restaurant seating 50 people inside and 50 more on the patio. It's a modern, elegant space flanked by a 10-seat bar and tufted purple chenille banquettes. Accents include crystal chandeliers and a glowing quartz bartop, with whimsical touches such as the imbedded salt shakers in the restroom walls.
Sel is the creation of co-owners Executive Chef Branden Levine and his wife May, who runs the front of the house as the restaurant's manager. Acclaimed for his prix fixe menu as previous Executive Chef at Cafe Monarch, Chef Branden has brought his talent for sophisticated and creative dishes to Sel. He has also brought his years of experience, which include graduating from the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales, time spent in Las Vegas working for Charlie Palmer at Aureole, chef positions in Tanzania, Africa, Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and five years as owner of a successful restaurant in Heathsville, Virginia. He has also made his mark on the national arena with TV appearances on “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell." Most recently, Chef Branden Levine and his team won the Chef's Classic Final Four, airing on CBS during the Final Four on April 2, 2017. Congratulations Chef!
It's thus no surprise that our dinner turned out to be a wonderful, memorable experience.
The prix fixe four-course menu is offered at $80 per person, including a vegetarian menu at $60, and optional wine pairings at $60. Dishes are also available to order a la carte or as supplements. Diners can choose between two items each for the first and second courses, and six entrees. Taking advantage of seasonal ingredients and Chef's creativity, the menu changes every three weeks.
Pre-dinner cocktails included a Manhattan and a perfect Negroni, my favorite cocktail.
My wonderful repast began with pristine East Coast Blue Point oysters embellished with bird chile mignonette and the herbaceous-anise accent of Thai basil oil. I also sneaked a bite (or two) of my husband's airy smoked goat cheese mousse topped with a rich wild mushroom ragout studded with the textural bites of Le Puy lentils and millet, and finished with black truffle-lemon emulsion.
Next was one of my favorite dishes of the night - delicate ravioli stuffed with tender rabbit confit and Red Kuri squash graced with smoked ginger butter, yuzu vinaigrette, and a shower of grated chocolate. A close second was my husband's bowl of verdant asparagus puree gilded with pops of tobiko and sweet red king crabmeat brightened with preserved lemon.
Each prix fixe menu includes a third course of the salad du jour and on our evening it featured farm-fresh winter greens complemented by roasted Chiogga beets, dried strawberry chips, molasses and applewood bacon, tossed with smoked anchovy dressing and garnished with a parmesan tuile and cheese profiterole.
Main courses brought a fabulous orange and anise-lacquered duck cleverly adorned with duck skin cooked into crispy "chicharrones" on a bed of velvety salsify puree accompanied by sauteed Swiss chard and roasted sunchokes, and enhanced with a burgundy wine-duck stock reduction. Special thanks to our knowledgeable server Michael, who expertly paired my dish with a Damilano Barbera.
My husband likewise raved about his sophisticated surf and turf which arrived as juicy sliced Lone Mountain Wagyu hanger steak with Lyonnaise potato pavé, crispy rice flour tempura asparagus, Banyuls reduction and a 6-oz black-truffle poached lobster tail supplement.
We almost decided against dessert, but were glad we listened to Michael. You don't want to miss the decadent strawberry shortcake layered with irresistible marzipan almond cake, Chantilly crème, and fleur de sel caramel, topped with a balsamic drizzle and vanilla bean gelato. I also finished with another expert cocktail by Josh using his housemade green-tea infused Old Tom gin (tip: be sure to ask Josh if he is working on any off-menu cocktails).
Our second (but not our last) visit reinforced everything we love about this Scottsdale jewel. In fact, we have plans to return with friends next month. Tune in this Sunday during the NCAA Final Four broadcast on CBS to learn more about Chef Branden's Final Four Chef's Classic win.
I was hosted by Sel and my dinner was complimentary
A recently-launched feature, Rubee Tuesday is a recap of my week's adventures in dining and drinking in and around Phoenix.
Squash blossom stuffed with mesquite-smoked lobster on roasted corn puree at Sel in Scottsdale
Tuesday, July 5. Proof at the Four Seasons Scottsdale Resort held a contest inviting Facebook fans to suggest a burger with creative toppings for a BYOB or Build Your Own Burger. The winning submission would be featured for a week in July. I was so excited to find out that my Spanish-inspired burger won, and also that it would be featured for the whole month! On Tuesday, we were invited for dinner to launch the burger and I even joined the chefs in the kitchen. Click the photo below for details of the delicious burger Chef Joey Cavaretta created. Thank you Chefs!
Chorizo burger with smoked paprika mayo, Manchego cheese, romesco, and arugula
Wednesday, July 6. My favorite neighborhood steakhouse, Arrowhead Grill in Glendale, had a Buy One, Get One special on their signature Delmonico. It's my favorite cut so I didn't hesitate when my husband suggested dinner out. And bonus! We timed it right for Wine Down Wednesday where they offer special bottles at 50% per off. Justin Vineyards Isosceles was a perfect pairing.
We also shared sides of baked stuffed potatoes and creamed spinach, and finished with the addictive butter cake. And a shout-out to Ronnie Buchanan for the great service.
Thursday, July 7. On assignment for the Scottsdale Visitors Bureau, we spent an evening at downtown Scottsdale's weekly Artwalk. What a fun event. It was my first time (what took me so long?), but not my last. The theme was International Artwalk and in addition to beautiful galleries like Casa des Artistas owned by one of my husband's high school friends, I admired Vietnamese artists at the Calvin Charles Gallery, and enjoyed entertainment such as Japanese Taiko Drummers and live Caribbean music and Japanese lanterns.
Cocktail and restaurant stops included a new gem I had never been to before: Sel. Located right in the middle of the artwalk (it was a former gallery), it's a wonderful find that has only been open three months. Chef Branden Levine welcomes guests to a fine dining experience with a four-course, prix fixe dinner menu. You can also order a la carte, as we did when we stopped in for excellent cocktails and fabulous appetizers before our stroll. Look for a future in-depth feature when we return for dinner.
We strolled on to more galleries and our next two stops: Offering 35+ wines by the glass and live music, 5th and Wine was a perfect oasis to cool down and take a break between the galleries. Bonus was live music on gallery nights.
Later, we ended our evening with cocktails at the bar of Citizen Public House. We also couldn't resist ordering another round of appetizers. Thanks to Elijah for the great recommendations and cocktails.
Crabcakes, yellowfin ceviche, and Bernie's mac 'n cheese
Sunday, July 10. We weren't out, but since it was National Piña Colada Day, we had to whip some up at home.
Monday, July 11. Uber announced the launch of its UberEats Phoenix program at DeSoto Central Market. Check out the current UberEats delivery area, which will be expanding in the near future. Invitees at the private event were treated to cocktails from Bitter and Twisted, an array of delicious food by The Larder + The Delta, Tacos Chiwas, The Vig, The Clever Koi, and, for dessert, High Spirited Cupcakes. Yes, you can now have dishes from Phoenix' best restaurants like these delivered right to your door. Aside from enjoying Lauren Klein's wonderful High Spirited Cupcakes at Bitter and Twisted, UberEats is now exclusively the only other way to get these delicious boozy cupcakes.
