Archive for October, 2008
October 28th, 2008, 9:16 pm by Jess Harter
What’s the best restaurant in the Valley? According to AAA, it’s Kai, the upscale American Indian restaurant at Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa near Chandler.
Kai is one of two Arizona restaurants to receive AAA’s highest rating — five diamonds — for 2009. The other is the Ventana Room at Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson.
Kai also received AAA’s five-diamond ranking last year, along with Mary Elaine’s at The Phoenician. Mary Elaine’s closed earlier this year; it is being replaced by J&G Steakhouse.
Valley restaurants receiving four diamonds for 2009: Windows on the Green and Il Terrazzo at The Phoenician, Latilla Room at The Boulders, Talavera at the Four Seasons, Bourbon Steak at the Fairmont Scottsdale, Palm Court at the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center, Asia de Cuba at the Mondrian Scottsdale, Elements at Sanctuary, Lon’s at the Hermosa Inn, Mosaic, Ristorante Tuscany at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort, Deseo at the Westin Kierland, Red’s Steakhouse and Arizona Kitchen at the Wigwam Resort, Alchemy at CopperWynd Resort, T. Cooks at the Royal Palms, Wright’s at the Arizona Biltmore and Different Pointe of View at the Pointe Tapatio Cliffs Resort.
Mosiac is the only non-resort restaurant to make the Valley rankings.
Also earning a four-diamond award for 2009 was La Hacienda, an upscale Mexican restaurant at the Fairmont Scottsdale. AAA apparently is unaware the restaurant closed a couple months ago.
Posted in: Chandler | Post a Comment »
October 28th, 2008, 9:30 am by Jess Harter
 If you haven’t been watching this year’s World Series between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay — and judging by the TV ratings, most of you haven’t — you’re probably not familiar with Taco Bell’s “Steal a Base, Steal a Taco” promotion.
The annual deal promises a free taco to everyone in America if there’s a stolen base during the Series.
Not a very difficult achievement: Tampa Bay shortstop Jason Bartlett accomplished the feat in the fifth inning of Game 1 last week. (Last year it took until Game 2.)
So anyone who goes to Taco Bell between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. today will get a free crunchy seasoned beef taco, thanks to Bartlett. No purchase is necessary.
Info: Steal a Base, Steal a Taco promotion
Posted in: Valleywide | Post a Comment »
October 27th, 2008, 7:55 pm by Jess Harter
The Keg, a Canada-based chain of steakhouses, opened its fourth Valley location Monday at SanTan Village shopping center in Gilbert.
The dinner-only menu includes steaks, prime rib and seafood.
The Keg also has restaurants at Tempe Marketplace, Chandler Fashion Center and Desert Ridge in Phoenix.
The Keg, 2240 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, is open 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Info: (480) 821-1500 or kegsteakhouse.com.
Posted in: Gilbert | 1 Comment »
October 27th, 2008, 4:01 pm by Jess Harter
 The second annul Festival of the Pig, an all-day celebration featuring a variety of pork dishes, will be held Sunday at Sassi in north Scottsdale.
Held on the grounds of the villa-style restaurant, the Italian festival’s pork presentations will include sausages, porchetta, ribs and prosciutto from chef Peter DeRuvo, who was promoted when Wade Moises left to open at Pasta Bar in Phoenix.
There also will be wine tastings and live music. Tickets are $65 in advance and $75 on Sunday.
Sassi is located at 10455 E. Pinnacle Peak Parkway, Scottsdale. Info: (480) 502-9095 or sassi.biz.
• Check out the menu for The Festival of the Pig at Sassi (pdf)
Posted in: Scottsdale | 1 Comment »
October 27th, 2008, 2:43 pm by Jess Harter
 Scottsdale restaurateur Sam Fox opened his latest concept, True Food Kitchen, today at Biltmore Fashion Park in Phoenix.
The restaurant — which, according to Fox, is not a health-food restaurant, but serves good-tasting food that happens to be good for you — is a collaboration with Dr. Andrew Weil (pictured at left).
Weil is the author of several best-selling health books and is the founder of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
True Food Kitchen features a menu of global cuisine, including soups, salads, pastas, wood-grilled dishes, sandwiches, burgers and brick-oven pizzas, from chef Michael Stebner, who formerly oversaw Fox’s Greene House.
Sustainable, certified organic and biodynamic wines are available by the glass ($5-$15) or bottle ($20-$81).
The 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats 130 inside and another 90 on the patio. Environmentally friendly touches include low-voltage LED lighting, reclaimed wood floors and low-use plumbing fixtures.
Fox’s other restaurants include Sauce, Olive & Ivy, Bloom, North, Chloe’s Corner, Blanco, Montana Avenue, Wildflower and Zinburger.
True Food Kitchen, 2502 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Info: (602) 774-3488 or foxrc.com.
• Check out the menu for True Food Kitchen (pdf)
Posted in: Scottsdale | Post a Comment »
October 21st, 2008, 10:42 pm by Jess Harter
Despite its name, Geisha a Go Go is not a Japanese restaurant. But the eight-month-old Old Town Scottsdale nightspot is an homage to Japanese pop culture.
Brightly lit pachinko machines — part pinball machine, part video game — line the entryway. Giant portraits of dead rock stars Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Sid Vicious loom behind the semi-circular bar.
Private karaoke rooms, not much larger than the typical walk-in closet, are available for rent by the hour. The restrooms even feature computerized Toto toilets.
All these high-tech accents are set against a traditional Japanese tavern-style décor. Dark brown clapboard covers the walls. Flickering faux-lantern sconces barely illuminate the space (making it difficult to read the black menus with tiny white print).
And, for some feng shui reason, a giant granite boulder is perched in the middle of the open floor plan.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Scottsdale | Post a Comment »
October 21st, 2008, 3:47 pm by Jess Harter
One of the most notable restaurant trends in the East Valley this year has been a boom in high-quality, non-chain pizza places that are both inexpensive and comfortable.
From Scottsdale (Humble Pie) to Tempe (La Bocca) to Gilbert (Liberty Market) to Queen Creek (The Deli), pizza fans are feasting on house-made doughs, fresh mozzarella and straight-from-the-farm toppings.
The latest to toss its hat — or, in this case, pies — into the ring is Old World Pizza Kitchen in Gilbert.
Even though it’s on Gilbert Road just south of Elliot Road, it’s not an easy place to find. Look for the country-ish JD’s Homestead center on the east side of the road, where it took over the former Jamaican Ice space.
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Posted in: Gilbert | 16 Comments »
October 21st, 2008, 10:10 am by Jess Harter
Aspen, South Beach and … Scottsdale?
The self-proclaimed “West’s Most Western Town” makes a bid to join the refined ranks of the country’s elite culinary festivals Thursday with the debut of Eats3.
The three-day celebration of food and wine includes an open-air kickoff party, a cocktail-themed art walk, cooking demonstrations by famous chefs, seminars from top winemakers and chef-hosted gallery and restaurant dinners.
The festival culminates Saturday with a grand tasting, where attendees can sample food and drink from more than 40 of the Valley’s finest restaurants and more than 200 wineries for $85.
Savor Scottsdale, a group of the city’s independent restaurant owners, came up with the idea for Eats3 18 months ago.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Scottsdale | 1 Comment »
October 20th, 2008, 1:41 pm by Jess Harter
The Mission, a Latin-flavored restaurant from chef Matt Carter and Terry Ellisor of Zinc Bistro and Brian Rabb of Merc Bar, has opened in downtown Scottsdale.
It takes over the building that formerly housed the short-lived Union Wine Bar & Bistro.
Carter’s menu includes influences from Mexico, Central America, South America and Spain.
The Mission, 3815 N. Brown Ave., is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Info: (480) 636-5005 or themissionaz.com.
Posted in: Scottsdale | 3 Comments »
October 20th, 2008, 1:37 pm by Jess Harter
After his urban market Foodbar failed to catch on with SouthBridge diners, developer Fred Unger retooled the year-old Old Town Scottsdale restaurant and has reopened it as Metro Brasserie.
The upscale bistro, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, features a New Orleans brasserie-style menu that combines French country techniques and flavors of the Deep South.
Chef Matthew Taylor’s specialties include ham hocks with pickled beets; beignets with Nutella; fried bacon with bourbon, maple syrup and grits; tahini-scented vichyssoise; oyster po’ boys; salt cod fritters with piquillo peppers; duck confit on rye toast with homemade sauerkraut and duck-fat mayonnaise; Brasserie burgers with sauce gribiche; and endive salad with Pork Shop bacon and poached egg.
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Posted in: Scottsdale | 3 Comments »
October 17th, 2008, 1:41 pm by Jess Harter
 If you love Scottsdale’s Fusion Restaurant & Lounge — which gets my vote for Best Valley Restaurant Not Enough People Know About — you’ll be thrilled to learn owners Matt and JenLyn Long finally have opened their long-anticipated spinoff, Daily Dose.
Located on Scottsdale Road just south of Indian School Road (kinda kitty-corner from the Sugar Bowl), Daily Dose is open for breakfast and lunch daily. When its liquor license arrives next month, it’ll stay open until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. weekdays and maybe as late as midnight on weekends.
Chef Matt’s menu showcases inexpensive comfort foods with upscale twists. Breakfast, which is served until 2 p.m., features omelets, pancakes, waffles and wraps. Lunch offers salads and sandwiches.
It took me a long time to settle on what I wanted to try during my first visit. Finally, I chose The Hangover breakfast sandwich ($9.95, pictured below), a tasty concoction of applewood bacon, turkey sausage, eggs, cheddar and caramelized onions and jalapenos on slightly toasted sourdough. It also comes with a slightly spicy North African harissa aioli.
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Posted in: Scottsdale | Post a Comment »
October 17th, 2008, 7:26 am by Jess Harter
 La Bocca Urban Pizzeria & Wine Bar in downtown Tempe has started a “Dinner and a Movie” promotion Sundays. The evenings include half-price bottles of wine and free popcorn.
Upcoming movies, which start at 8 p.m., include “Good Night and Good Luck” (Sunday), “Pan’s Labyrinth” (Oct. 26), “Who Killed the Electric Car” (Nov. 2), “Wedding Crashers” (Nov. 9), “Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?” (Nov. 16), “A Good Year” (Nov. 23), “Shawshank Redemption” (Nov. 30), “O Brother Where Art Thou?” (Dec. 7), “Into the Wild” (Dec. 14), “Nat’l Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (Dec. 21), “40 Year Old Virgin” (Dec. 28) and “Grizzly Man” (Jan. 4).
La Bocca is located at 699 S. Mill Ave. Info: (480) 967-5244 or laboccapizzeria.com.
Posted in: Tempe | Post a Comment »
October 16th, 2008, 1:59 pm by Jess Harter
In honor of Fire Safety and Prevention Month, Von Hanson’s Meats & Spirits in Chandler is giving a free pound of brats to all East Valley firefighters.
Firefighters just need to show their identification card at Hanson’s, 2390 N. Alma School Road, by Oct. 31.
Info: (480) 917-2525 or vonhansons.com.
Posted in: Chandler | Post a Comment »
October 16th, 2008, 12:47 pm by Jess Harter
 Village Tavern in north Scottsdale is offering a nightly “Red, White and Blue Plate Special” for just $9.95.
The all-American dishes: spaghetti, squash and zucchini (Mondays), grilled meatloaf (Tuesdays), marinated flank steak (Wednesdays), blackened chicken alfredo (Thursday), shrimp risotto Fridays) grilled chicken teriyaki (Saturdays) and pizza with side salad (Sundays).
For lunch, a soup-and-salad special is $6.95.
The specials run through Nov. 5.
Village Tavern is located on Scottsdale Road, just south of Doubletree Ranch Road. Info: (480) 951-6445 or villagetavern.com.
Posted in: Scottsdale | Post a Comment »
October 16th, 2008, 12:27 pm by Jess Harter
 Kabuki Japanese Restaurant at Tempe Marketplace is launching three new deals:
Mondays: Ladies Night, from 6 p.m. to close, will offer a selection of $3 sushi and rolls and $5 cocktails. Other specials include $3 off wine by the glass.
Tuesdays: Two Dollar Twos-day, from 9 p.m. to close, will offer $2 off all appetizers, hot sake, Kabuki cocktails and bottled and draft beers.
Wednesdays: Industry Night, from 9 p.m. to close, includes $3 select sushi and rolls, $2 domestic beers, $3 import beers and $3 off wine by the glass.
Info: (480) 350-9160 or kabukirestaurants.com.
Posted in: Tempe | 1 Comment »
October 15th, 2008, 4:01 pm by Jess Harter
 The Chick-fil-A restaurant on Stapley Drive just south of U.S. 60 in Mesa will hold a charity clothing drive with East Valley firefighters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Anyone who donates new children’s clothing or shoes will receive a free chicken sandwich.
Firefighters will have an historic fire truck for people to tour. Chick-fil-A’s trademark cow will be on hand for complimentary photos.
Info: (480) 892-9714 or chickfila.com.
Posted in: Mesa | 1 Comment »
October 15th, 2008, 3:50 pm by Jess Harter
 Kokopelli Winery & Bistro holds its annual Krush event this weekend in downtown Chandler. In celebration of the grape harvest, two-person teams will compete in crushing grapes with their bare feet.
Krush times are 7:30 p.m. Friday, 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Saturday’s activities will include music, food, games and children’s activities.
Prizes will be awarded in several categories, including most and least juice produced. This year, a children’s competition will be introduced.
Admission to the Krush is free, but there’s a $20 entry fee per team to compete ($10 for children’s teams). There also will be a $10 wine tasting with souvenir wine glass.
Kokopelli is located at 35 W. Boston St. Info: (480) 792-6927 or kokopelliwinery.com.
Posted in: Chandler | Post a Comment »
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