RUBEE TUESDAY: B&B Cocktail Lounge, Talavera at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale, The Italian Daughter
I publish round-ups every Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.
WorldClass Argentine beef tenderloin at B&B Cocktail Lounge in Old Town Scottsdale
Thursday, December 21: B&B Cocktail Lounge (Old Town Scottsdale). Researching for a Spritz cocktail assignment for Experience Scottsdale, I stopped by B&B to sample a couple of their newest cocktails. A fun (and delicious!) shareable carafe coming to the "Make it a Party" cocktail menu in January is the Snap Sparkle Spritz with Jaya prosecco, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, gold glitter, and guests' choice of citrus (grapefruit, orange, lime, or lemon).
I will also be featuring the Hi Barbie Spritz made with Chandon sparkling rosé and soda water mixed with Lillet Blanc, vodka, and fresh watermelon juice. We had just as much fun at dinner, starting with the Charcuterie Tower and then sharing a juicy grilled Argentine beef filet from WorldClass and award-winning Devesa Beef. Of course, I had to end with a nightcap from their acclaimed whiskey list - thank you to Bailey who introduced me to of her favorites (and now mine!): Leopold Bros. Three Chamber Rye.
Friday, December 22: Talavera (Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale). I hadn’t been to Talavera in (sadly) three years, and wow! I am loving this latest menu with Chef de Cuisine Emmanuel Urban and his team.
And thank you to Beverage Manager Dean Cabeza, who surprised me with a special Negroni!
It was great to see Dave Fernandez, who knew us from prior visits and guided us with menu suggestions, including a fantastic tableside bone marrow steak tartare by Chef Eddy. Other outstanding highlights included an amuse of chia seed cracker with sweet potato and kumquat; croquettes with jamón Ibérico de bellota; gambas al ajillo; duck breast with duck jus reduction and sweet potato mille-feuille; Talavera paella with lobster, prawns, pork belly, mussels, clams, chicken, and chorizo; chocolate ring with hazelnut and white truffle ice cream; and smoked cheesecake.
Saturday, December 23: The Italian Daughter (North Scottsdale) When Chef Vittorio told me about some of the seafood dishes on the special holiday menu (including his award-winning clam chowder!), we had to book a reservation.
And I’m so glad I did. It was an incredible feast, with clams oreganata, the aforementioned clam chowder (which was so good, we ordered more to-go), fried lobster tails, swordfish involtini, and lobster oreganata with spaghetti guazzetto.
We were also treated to GM Gino’s special flaming coffee, and a sneak peek at two tableside desserts planned for New Year’s Eve - espresso crème brûlée and tiramisu. Click the photo below to watch my video reel of our wonderful night.
Check back for next week’s Rubee Tuesday with visits to Global Ambassador, Hermosa Inn, and Ember at We-Ko-Pa Resort and Casino.
For last week’s recap of Sel, Kembara, Morning Would, Krazy Cajun Seafood & Hibachi, and Marcellino's Ristorante, click here.