Write On Rubee

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.

Filtering by Tag: The Americano

RUBEE TUESDAY: The Americano, Toro at the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess, Arboleda, Bourbon and Bones Peoria, Proof at the Four Seasons

August 01, 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.

The Zombie at Toro at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

Friday, July 14: The Americano (North Scottsdale). Every summer, I work with one of my favorite organizations, Experience Scottsdale, on assignments for the Scottsdale Visitors Guide. A printed guidebook released annually, it can be downloaded or mailed to you.

Some of my current favorites: Happy Hour lobster salad with caviar and, on the regular menu, burrata with peach, speck, and pistachio crumble, roasted clams, and Fiore di Vitae cocktail.

Wednesday, July 19: Toro at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was another stop on assignment.

Located on the Scottsdale’s TPC course, the menu showcases the diverse flavors of South and Central America and its Japanese and Chinese-Peruvian influences. Here are some must-orders:

WorldClass black cod with miso-chipotle glaze, kabayaki sauce, grilled asparagus, daikon radish, and togarashi aioli:

  • Danmari Negroni (Roku gin, Trakal, Japanese sweet sake vermouth, bitter liqueur, Banane du Bresil, and Sakura bitters)

  • Grilled avocado with corn pico de gallo

  • Fried rice with butter-poached lobster and chorizo

Grilled WorldClass Argentinian Devesa beef (picanha cut) with chimichurri, house BBQ sauce, potatoes, and shishitos:

Thursday, July 20: This was a busy day with three fun stops. First, was back to Arboleda for a special cocktail creation by Richie Moe, gambas pil pil, and smoked salmon on potato rösti with caviar and champagne cream.

Stop Two was the Grand Opening of Bourbon and Bones in Peoria. I’m pretty excited that the newest location of this upscale steakhouse is only a 10-minute drive.

A perfect ending to the day was an invitation to a fantastic mezcal dinner at Proof at Four Seasons Scottsdale Troon North. So glad Proof has brought back these cocktail dinners! We were all impressed with this menu by Chef Edgar, Pastry Chef Yudith, and cocktail pros Jackie and Autumn:

Check back on my next Rubee Tuesday for visits to Sugar Bowl, House Brasserie, Frasher’s Tavern, TEXAZ Grill, Course, and The Mick Brasserie.

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categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / The Americano, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Toro, arboleda, Scottsdale Quarter, Bourbon and Bones, Four Seasons, Proof, Cocktail Dinner

RUBEE TUESDAY: Tia Carmen, Arizona Restaurant Week Preview, The Americano, D & Y Chinese, Arboleda, Pomo Pizzeria Biltmore, Giuseppe's On 28th

May 09, 2023  /  Christina Barrueta

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.

Mark Stone and Chef Angelo Sosa of Tia Carmen

Restaurateur Mark Stone and Executive Chef Angelo Sosa, co-owners of Tia Carmen at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge

Saturday, April 29: Tia Carmen, Scottsdale. We were invited to join the one-year celebration of Tia Carmen at JW Marriott Desert Ridge. As I’ve gotten to know co-owners Mark Stone and Chef Angelo Sosa in my interviews (for So Scottsdale magazine, SOMM Journal, and A Taste of AZ), I loved having the opportunity to celebrate their success with them!

I started with a Yuzu and Bergamot Paloma, before commemorating the occasion with a fantastic wine-paired tasting menu of Tia Carmen’s signature dishes (above), all of which have become personal favorites over the past year.

And thank you to Mark for introducing us to - and joining us in - a Don Abraham Extra Anejo Tequila nightcap. It was the perfect ending to a special night at Tia Carmen. For a video Reel of the Grand Opening in 2022, click HERE.

Monday, May 1: Arizona Restaurant Week Dine-Around Preview. The Spring Arizona Restaurant Week takes place May 19-28 this year and I joined a lively media group as we toured three of the 160 restaurants offering special menus: Arboleda for appetizers, Thompson 101 for entrees, and cocktails and dessert at Chauncey Social. Reel:

And since we ended at Chauncey Social which was next door to The Americano, I had to stop by to check out the new cocktails. In addition to an excellent Espresso Martini, I loved the new Live and Let Thai with tea-infused vodka, Velvet Falernum, Chocolate Spice bitters, pandan, blood orange and Prosecco, and the Fiore di Vitae with Salvadoreno coffee rum, Bacardi, pomegranate, lavender, Primitivo and Flores Bitters.

Tuesday, May 2: D & Y Chinese, Glendale. Back to our favorite Chinese restaurant! My mom actually discovered this gem when she was looking for a spot in the NW Valley that had roast duck, but now we’ve been here more often than they have. Not only do they have roast duck (which we usually get to-go), but they also have tanks with fresh lobster, crab, and fish. We try something different every time (the menu is much larger than that on the website), but my current favorite dishes are Westlake soup, salt and pepper pork chop, green beans with XO sauce, sugar pea shoots with garlic, salted fish and eggplant pot, salt and pepper lobster, and roast duck. TIP: Call ahead to reserve your duck order as they sometimes run out.

Some past feasts:

Wednesday, May 3: Arboleda, Scottsdale Quarter. If you’ve read my past Rubee Tuesdays, you already know that this is a favorite of mine. This time, we introduced Meridith May and her husband Bill Brandel, owners of The SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel magazines, to this fantastic spot.

Worldclass Cinco Jotas jamón Ibérico de bellota with sourdough tomato toast

I’ve already mentioned previous favorite dishes like hummus and WorldClass Cinco Jotas jamón Ibérico de bellota with pan con tomate (above), but now I’m adding El Bulli olive spheres, foie gras cones, coffee and date-glazed duck breast, and Ibérico pluma to the list! Look for my Arboleda article in the next issue of A Taste of AZ magazine.

Baked Arizona with prickly pear sorbet and Chocolate Marshmallow Sundae paired with a Bonal divestivo at Arboleda

Thursday, May 4: Pomo Pizzeria, Biltmore. There’s a new location for your Neapolitan pizza fix! I’ve been a long time fan of Pomo and their fantastic pizza (and pasta) and featured them in my Phoenix Cooks cookbook. So of course we had to stop by for their Biltmore Grand Opening celebration and enjoy Aperol Spritzes, charcuterie, and a mini Neapolitan pizza.

We continued our ItalIan night with a first visit to Giuseppe's On 28th, a 20+ year Valley fixture. Cute, cozy neighborhood spot and friendly service, with my favorite dish being the lobster ravioli with sage butter special.

Check back next week for visits to Renata’s Hearth, The Phoenician Kentucky Derby Party, a Taste of AZ podcast at Wrigley Mansion, Prime at Gila River Resort & Casino at Wild Horse Pass

And you can follow along on my Instagram as I visit Course (new restaurant alert!), STK Steakhouse, Arboleda, Pa’La Downtown, and The Cave at Quartz Cocktail Bar.

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categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Tia Carmen, Arizona Restaurant Week, The Americano, D&Y Chinese, Pomo Pizzeria Biltmore, Arboleda