RUBEE TUESDAY: Fabio on Fire, Sottise, Terra Tempe, Epicenter Agritopia, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, The House Brasserie
A weekly Tuesday feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.
Thursday, April 13: Fabio on Fire, Peoria. Katie Roe is the founder of Upper West Side PHX, so when we decided to get together for a double date, this mutual favorite on our side of the valley was an easy choice. We started with an off-menu special of the BEST calzone I’ve ever had, stuffed with cheese, onion, and porchetta (thank you Fabio!).
Recommended dish(es): Pasta special with sausage and porcini mushrooms, lobster ravioli, affogato, and homemade gelato.
The perfect ending was cream limoncello. Grazie Fabio!
Friday, April 14: Sottise, downtown Phoenix. Sottise had been on my must-visit list for quite a while, and I’m in love! Fantastic food, wonderful cocktails, friendly service, and a great wine list. Plus fabulous company with our friends TJ and Jenna.
I can’t think of a prettier downtown spot than its location in the historic Knipe House, built in 1901.
Recommended dish(es): Sottise Tower (Moondancer oysters, plain and with steak tartare, shrimp, boquerones, trout roe, creme fraiche, truffle potato chips, caviar, hiramasa, crab salad and octopus conserva); onion soup; cacio e pepe pasta with escargot, a “secret” menu item not listed, but always available; apple tart. And we were just as impressed with Lucas’ craft cocktails - I loved my Évasion, a clarified cocktail with tequila reposado, toasted buckwheat, and persimmon.
Tuesday, April 18: Staycation at Westin Tempe. We kicked off another great stay at our favorite Tempe hotel recording a Taste of AZ podcast with executive chef Mario Ventura and mixologist Nicole Robinson-Sanchez.
Thank you to Chef Mario and the team who upgraded us to this gorgeous Penthouse Suite, and for the wonderful welcome treats and cocktails!
Of course, we had to head upstairs for sunset cockails on the Valley's highest open-air rooftop bar - Skysill. You can see more of this beautiful lounge and our stay in my video Reel.
Pancho's Ponche (Roku gin, rosemary, yuzu and locally-owned Gran Ponche Mexicano).
We ended a perfect day with dinner at Terra Tempe to explore the newest menu from Chef Mario. Recommended dish(es): Charred baby corn with chipotle aioli and cotija cheese; Potato Frito Misto with potato bravas croquettes, calamari, chorizo, and chipotle aioli; Terra's Hot Stone with Westholme Wagyu beef, cherry vinaigrette, cranberry pistachio biscotti, and tart cherry gelee; Sonoran Chicken Tortilla Soup; pea and ricotta ravioli with asparagus; filet with purple pomme purée, king mushrooms, and guajillo demi-glace; Arroz Negro with forbidden rice, maine lobster, jumbo shrimp, mussels, calamari, crab, chorizo, and saffron aioli.
Wednesday, April 19: Media Tour at Epicenter at Agritopia, Gilbert. Epicenter is a new vertical mixed-use community with 320 apartments, popular Arizona bars, restaurants and retail spots. I will be spotlighting Epicenter’s food and beverage offerings and founder Joe Johnston in a four-page feature for SOMM Journal, but you can see a Reel of our fun-filled day HERE.
CEO Will Johnston and Agritopia Founder Joe Johnston (photo courtesy of Epicenter)
We started off at Chef Claudio Urcioli’s Source, a restaurant (soups, salads, pizzas, sandwiches, grain bowls) and shop (wine, bread, olive oils, and pantry items).
Then it was off to tour some of the many things Epicenter offers: Vintage Home, Peixoto Coffee Roasters, Wylde Salon, Barre3, The Tyler apartments, Beer Barn, UrbAna, and Bunky Boutique.
Thursday, April 20: Argentina wine dinner at ZuZu at the Hotel Valley Ho. I’ve attended many of the special dinners hosted by Executive Chef Russell LaCasce, and this one ranked as one of my favorites, celebrating the culture of Chef de Cuisine Alejo Candia and Pastry Chef Maria Arenas, who met in Argentina. The main event was asado, tri-tip and Argentine ribeye and skirt steak grilled on a beautiful parilla that was donated by WorldClass.
We were greeted with Argentina’s national drink, Fernet con Coca, before being spoiled with this delicous menu.
Executive Chef Russell LaCasce, Pastry Chef Maria Arenas, and Chef de Cuisine Alejo Candia
A short walk to The House Brasserie to visit Bar Director Richard Allison for a nightcap(s) was a perfect finale.
Check back for next week’s Rubee Tuesday for photos of Angry Crab, Foodist Awards, and Hearth ‘61 at Mountain Shadows resort.
And follow along on my Instagram for this week’s visits to Sandfish Sushi & Whiskey, Arboleda for a podcast, Mora Italian, and Tia Carmen for a special one year anniversary menu.