Archive for March, 2009
March 30th, 2009, 3:32 pm by Jess Harter
Why cook Easter dinner when Flancer’s will do it for you? For just $17.99 per person, Flancer’s will prepare a feast of apricot-honey-glazed ham; cream of asparagus soup; spinach salad with spiced pecans, apples, Gorgonzola and bacon vinaigrette; green chile scalloped potatoes; pearl onions and baby carrots in a sweet balsalmic reduction; and apple-cinnamon cobbler.
Order before April 8 and you will get 15 percent off. Orders can be picked up April 11 or 12 at Flancer’s Gilbert or Mesa locations. Info: (480) 926-9077 (Gilbert), (480) 396-0077 (Mesa) or flancers.com.
Posted in: Gilbert • Mesa • Flancer's | Post a Comment »
March 30th, 2009, 3:20 pm by Jess Harter
Speaking of owner-chef James Porter, he has seasonally updated Tapino’s menu and introduced a weekly prix fixe dinner menu featuring many local food products. The prix fixe menu is four courses for $34, with the option of a paired wine flight for another $21.
The prix fixe menu will change every Wednesday and be available for a week. You can check out the latest incarnation here. Info: (480) 991-6887 or tapino.com.
Posted in: Scottsdale • Tapino | Post a Comment »
March 30th, 2009, 1:00 pm by Jess Harter
 Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar chef James Porter, one of the leaders of Arizona’s local food movement, is taking his famous “locavore” dinners on the road, and the first stop will be this Saturday at Superstition Farm in southeast Mesa.
Porter has hosted a half-dozen of the popular dinners - featuring ingredients from Arizona farms, ranches and wineries - at his acclaimed Scottsdale restaurant. This year, however, the owner-chef is moving the dinners to various locales around the state in what he’s calling the Locavore AZ Tour.
At 3 p.m. Saturday, attendees will meet at Superstition Farm to learn about the daily workings of the 1,000-head dairy operation from brother and sister Casey and Alison Stechnij. Afterward, there will be a cocktail reception followed by an outdoor, four-course dinner of tepary bean hummus, garden salad, spit-roasted suckling pig and pecan-and-date Brown Betty. (See the full menu here.)
The cost for the dinner, which includes Arizona wine pairings, is $125 per person. Reservations, which are limited to 200 people, are required and only can be made by e-mail at locavoreaz.com. Approximately 100 people already have signed up.
Superstition Farm, located near Elliot Road and the Loop 202, looks like your only chance to catch the Locavore AZ Tour in the Valley for at least six months. Future dinners are May 16 at Ash Creek Ranch near Dewey, June 20 at Dos Cabezas WineWorks near Sonoita, July (date TBD) at the Grand Canyon and Sept. 12 at Apple Annie’s Orchard near Willcox.
Posted in: Mesa • Locavore | Post a Comment »
March 30th, 2009, 11:53 am by Jess Harter
 Got salsa? The annual Salsa Challenge, which will be held April 25 at Tempe Beach Park, still is seeking contestants.
There are two divisions, hot and mild, with three categories in each: individual, business or restaurant. Salsas will be judged on taste, color, consistency and heat.
Contestants must make 13 gallons of salsa. Ingredients can be chopped in advance, but must be mixed at the festival.
The grand prize is a trip for two to Puerto Vallarta. Info: (602) 955-3947 or salsachallenge.com.
Posted in: Tempe • Salsa Challenge | Post a Comment »
March 30th, 2009, 7:58 am by Jess Harter
If you live or work in Chandler, you could get a free lunch today, courtesy of Famous Dave’s Legendary Pit Bar-B-Que. The Chandler Fashion Center restaurant will have five catering trucks cruising the city between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. today. If you see one, flag it down and you’ll get a free barbecue sandwich, a coupon and a bottle of barbecue sauce.
Posted in: Chandler • Famous Dave's | Post a Comment »
March 29th, 2009, 4:47 pm by Jess Harter
Blu Burger Grille, a create-your-own burger restaurant, has opened on the northeast corner of Alma School and Chandler Heights roads in south Chandler.
Blu Burger, which also has two locations in north Scottsdale, offers several types of burgers, including Angus, American Kobe, buffalo, turkey, salmon and veggie.
Customers also can choose from six kinds of buns, eight cheeses, 11 vegetables, 15 sauces and 10 speciality toppings.
Blu Burger also has a variety of salads and sandwiches. Info: (480) 895-6308 or bluburger.com.
Posted in: Chandler • Blu Burger Grille | 5 Comments »
March 29th, 2009, 12:36 pm by Jess Harter
 Who wouldn’t enjoy Sunday brunch at one of the Valley’s best restaurants for less than 13 bucks?
At Cork, the restaurant and wine bar located on the northeast corner of Alma School and Chandler Heights roads in south Chandler, Sunday brunch includes bottomless flutes of mimosas, Bellinis or champagne and free housemade doughnuts with cinnamon and honey.
Unlike the appetizer-sized “small plates” offered during the week, Cork’s brunch entrees are full-sized. My choice: a Monte Cristo ($12) made with thin slices of Virginia smoked ham from Edwards & Sons, Swiss cheese and sourdough French toast.
This isn’t a Monte Cristo you pick up with your hands and eat like a sandwich. You drench it with maple syrup — a sweet balance to the salty ham — and eat it with a fork. It also comes with lightly fried potato pieces. Delicious!
The bill for my Monte Cristo, potatoes, doughnut and three mimosas, including tax, is just $12.97. You can bet I’ll be back.
The rest of the 14-item brunch menu ranges from customized omelets ($10) to biscuits and gravy with eggs and bacon ($11) to a mushroom cheeseburger with fries ($15).
Cork, 4991 S. Alma School, Chandler, is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays for brunch (and at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for dinner). Info: (480) 883-3773 or corkrestaurant.net.
Posted in: Chandler • Quick Bite | Post a Comment »
March 27th, 2009, 8:40 am by Jess Harter
 Wine dinners are great way to not only learn about wine, but also how wines pair with certain foods. Chefs typically prepare special, multi-course menus, and the winemaker often will be in attendance to talk about his or her wines.
Here are five East Valley restaurants that regularly host wine dinners, most of them monthly, along with information on each one’s next dinner. These fill up quickly, so early reservations are recommended.
Cork: Acclaimed Napa winemaker Peter Franus will pair his wines with six courses from chef Brian Peterson at 6:30 p.m. April 13. $95 per person, including tip buy not tax. 4991 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 883-3773.
D’Vine Bistro & Wine Bar: The winemaker hasn’t been finalized for the next five-course dinners at 7 p.m. April 28 in Chandler ($65, plus tax and tip) and April 29 in Mesa ($75). 2837 N. Power Road, Mesa, (480) 654-4171; 3990 S. Alma School, Chandler, (480) 782.5550.
Romeo’s Euro Cafe: Layer Cake Wines will pair vintages from Argentina, Italy, Australia and California with a four-course, globally inspired meal at 6:30 p.m. April 27. $45, plus tax and tip. 207 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, (480) 962-4224.
Fleming’s Steakhouse: Wine manager Candy Taylor takes two selections from Fleming’s 100-wines-by-the-glass list and two from its reserve list to pair with four appetizers at 6 p.m. Wednesday. $29, plus tax and tip. 905 N. 54th St., Chandler, (480) 940-1900.
Caffe Boa: Ehren Jordan, voted “winemaker of the year” in 2008 by the San Franciso Chronicle, hosts a four-course Failla wine dinner at 6 p.m. April 8. $69, plus tax and tip. 398 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, (480) 968-9112.
Posted in: Chandler • Gilbert • Mesa • Tempe • Caffe Boa • Cork • D'Vine • Fleming's • Romeo's Euro Cafe | Post a Comment »
March 26th, 2009, 12:35 pm by Jess Harter
 Savor Scottsdale, the independent restaurant group behind last fall’s Eats3 culinary festival (now renamed Crave Arizona), has announced another cool event: The Notorious P.I.G.
On Sunday, April 26, five of Scottsdale’s top chefs will pool their talents for a five-course meal featuring a prized pig. Courses will be prepared by:
• Aaron May (Sol y Sombra, Autostrada)
• James Porter (Tapino)
• Brandon Crouser (Atlas Bistro)
• Payton Curry (Digestif)
• Tracy Dempsey (Spaghetti Western Productions)
Arizona’s Dos Cabezas WineWorks will provide wine pairings for each course.
The dinner, which will be hosted by Digestif in Old Town Scottsdale, will begin with a reception with passed appetizers at 6 p.m.
Cost is $65 per person, not including tax and tip. Seating is limited. For reservations, call (480) 425-9463.
Posted in: Scottsdale | Post a Comment »
March 26th, 2009, 12:08 pm by Jess Harter
Just in time to capitalize on this weekend’s crowds for the Festival of the Arts, Regions Bistro & Bar opens at 5 p.m. today on downtown Tempe’s Mill Avenue.
Regions, which opened its first location last month in north Scottsdale, features a menu of comfort foods and seasonal cuisine.
The regular dinner menu includes burgers ($7-$11), sandwiches ($8-$13) and entrees like mushroom meatloaf ($14), mac and cheese with lump crab ($15) and roasted chicken with cornbread pudding ($14).
There also are smaller regional menus that will change monthly. To start, there’s one for the Deep South (fried green tomatoes, grits, catfish, etc.) and another for New England (lobster bake, stone clams, etc.).
While the regular menu is available tonight, the Tempe restaurant only will offer a special arts festival menu Friday through Sunday.
Regions Bistro, 690 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Info: (480) 921-3770 or regionsbistro.com.
Posted in: Tempe • Regions Bistro | Post a Comment »
March 25th, 2009, 8:02 pm by Jess Harter
Eats3, the fabulous Scottsdale culinary festival that debuted last fall, has been renamed Crave Arizona. The event also has launched a new website and a Twitter profile, and announced the dates for this fall’s fest: Oct. 22-24.
The festival’s schedule of events for 2009 again includes a kickoff party, a cocktail artwalk, art gallery dinners, a bartending competition, wine tastings, wine lunches, a “BBQ and Bubbles” event and a final-day grand tasting (pictured) on Old Town’s SouthBridge.
The non-profit festival is organized by Savor Scottsdale, a group of locally owned, independent restaurants. Proceeds go to Food & Wine’s Grow for Good and Scottsdale’s Waste Not.
Posted in: Scottsdale • Festivals | Post a Comment »
March 25th, 2009, 6:54 pm by Jess Harter
Here’s your chance to sample some delicious food and support a good cause at the same time: The 24th annual Bon Vivant will be held Sunday at Rawhide in Chandler.
More than 3,500 people are expected to enjoy samples from two dozen East Valley restaurants, including Cork, The Landmark, The Melting Pot, Native New Yorker, Queen Creek Olive Mill and BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery.
Bashas’ will provide more than 300 choices of wine, beer, liquor and non-alcoholic beverages. There also will be entertainment and silent auctions.
The 21-and-over event, which runs 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., is a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley. Tickets are $100 ($150 for VIP).
Info: (480) 820-3688 or clubzona.org.
Posted in: Chandler | Post a Comment »
March 24th, 2009, 7:47 pm by Jess Harter
When most people think of New Mexican cuisine, the first thing that comes to mind is chile peppers. From the mouth-searing salsa at Los Dos Molinos to the hurts-so-good habanero cheeseburger at Carlsbad Tavern, New Mexican restaurants in the Valley have a well-earned reputation for bringing the heat.
So you might be surprised by Blue Adobe Grille, which has been serving tasty but not necessarily spicy New Mexican food for nearly a decade near downtown Mesa.
 In fact, it’s likely the only scary thing you’ll encounter at Blue Adobe are the noticeable water stains on the 1970s-era popcorn ceiling that detract from an otherwise casual-comfortable dining room with dark saltillo tile and a copper-sheathed bar.
Blue Adobe’s menu is divided into two main sections. “Adobe plates” are mostly traditional Mexican entrees like tacos and enchiladas. “Blue plates,” which generally cost a little more, are more creative — chef’s specialties, if you will.
The key to the menu is a pecan-wood grill, which the kitchen uses for dishes in both categories. Even the salsa that comes with tri-colored chips starts on the grill, where tomatoes and onions are blackened to give the delicious dark brown sauce an earthy yet slightly sweet flavor.
Entrees range from merely average to impressive. The latter include the chiles rellenos ($14.95, pictured below right), fire-roasted Anaheim chiles filled with beef tenderloin, chorizo and two cheeses. If there are better in the Valley, I’ve yet to find them.
 Another don’t-miss item is the juicy beef tenderloin medallion with a mild jalapeño hollandaise sauce ($18.95, pictured below left). I also enjoy the honey-smoked pork in the tamales but wish it wasn’t overwhelmed by so much masa, a cornmeal dough.
Of course, grilled meats are only as good as the person working the grill. A pork tenderloin with mango salsa and chipotle raspberry sauce ($17.95) arrives slightly overcooked and dry, as does chorizo-stuffed chicken with an Amaretto mushroom sauce ($14.95). I’d like to try both again when they’ve spent a little less time over the fire.
If burgers are your thing, Blue Adobe’s bacon cheeseburger ($8.95) is one of the better ones you’ll encounter. For no extra charge, they’ll top it with mild green chiles — no need for ketchup or mustard.
 Those who don’t like really spicy foods only have a few items to watch out for on Blue Adobe’s menu (most notably the chiles rellenos and carne adovada). Otherwise, most of its dishes and sauces are flavorful but not overly hot.
If you do need to cool your mouth, the bar offers six specialty margaritas ($5.95 to $11.95), a dozen tequilas and a small but eclectic selection of beers.
Blue Adobe Grille
Where: 144 N. Country Club Drive, Mesa (just north of Main Street)
Open: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday
Prices: Appetizers $5.95-$12.95, salads $7.95-$8.95, entrees $9.95-$19.95, desserts $4.95-$7.95.
Info: (480) 962-1000 or blueadobegrille.com.
Posted in: Mesa • Reviews | 5 Comments »
March 24th, 2009, 1:12 pm by Jess Harter
 Well-regarded Tuscan bistro 3 Tomatoes & a Mozzarella has closed in north Scottsdale. A sign on the door indicates the restaurant’s assets have been seized by the landlord.
A staffer at 3 Tomatoes’ Peoria location, which remains opens, says the closure of the restaurant at Miller and Pinnacle Peak roads was due to “a lack of business.”
Just a couple years ago, Scottsdale-based Global Restaurant Concepts was trying to take the fast-casual concept national. In a 2005 interview with the Tribune, the company’s president said 10 franchises had been sold.
Today, the only locations open are the Peoria restaurant and another in Las Vegas.
Posted in: Scottsdale • 3 Tomatoes & a Mozzarella | Post a Comment »
March 24th, 2009, 12:16 pm by Jess Harter
If you’re not already using the free social-networking Web site Twitter, here’s a reason to start: East Valley Friday Nights.
How cool is this? Every Friday, a fast-growing group of Twitter users meet for an informal social gathering of what it calls “libations, conversations and gesticulations“ at a different East Valley restaurant or bar.
Anyone is invited to attend, even those not using Twitter. There’s no admission fee. There’s no agenda. There’s no dress code. They just meet and have fun.
I ran into the group several weeks ago at SanTan Brewing Company in Chandler. On that night, there were about 20 people there.
The weekly event seems to be catching on. Last Friday, 67 people — the most yet — showed up for food and drinks at Liberty Market (pictured) in Gilbert.
This Friday, the gathering will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the tapas bar at the Chandler Whole Foods on the southeast corner of Ray Road and the Loop 101.
Twitter users can find out more by searching for #evfn. You also can find the group’s #evfn page on Facebook.
By the way, you also can use Twitter to follow this blog at twitter.com/jessharter.
Posted in: Chandler • Gilbert • Mesa • Tempe • Liberty Market • SanTan Brewing • Twitter • Whole Foods | Post a Comment »
March 24th, 2009, 12:03 pm by Jess Harter
 Only a couple hundred tickets remain for Agave on the Rocks — a nightlife event featuring margaritas, food and contemporary art — which will be held Friday at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Attendance is limited to 1,200 people. John Sallot, the garden’s marketing manager, says a little more than 300 tickets remained as of late Monday.
“We’re selling about 50 tickets a day,” he says. In other words, don’t count on being able to show up Friday and get tickets.
Tickets are $75 ($70 if you’re a garden member) and include two drink tickets, all the food you can eat and access to the garden’s current Dale Chihuly glass sculpture exhibit.
More than a dozen restaurants and caterers will provide the food, including Red White & Brew, The Stockyards, Sam’s Cafe, Atlasta Catering (Basis and the late Bar Tepo) and M Catering by Michael’s.
The 21-and-over event runs 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Info: (480) 481-8188 or dbg.org.
Posted in: Phoenix • Agave on the Rocks • Desert Botanical Garden | Post a Comment »
March 23rd, 2009, 9:25 pm by Jess Harter
 Cork, Robert and Danielle Morris‘ acclaimed small-plates restaurant and wine bar in south Chandler, celebrates its one-year anniversary Thursday.
Look for a free tasting of more than a dozen wines and free hors d’oeuvres from 6 to 9 p.m. The Energy Trio will provide live jazz music.
If you can’t make it Thursday, chef Brian Peterson is offering a $25 spring tasting menu from 6 to 8 p.m. daily with a choice of:
• Organic greens or rocket salad
• Beef tenderloin, buttermilk fried chicken or fish of the day
• Creme brulee or flight of sorbets
• One glass of house red or white wine
Info: (480) 883-3773.
Posted in: Chandler • Cork | Post a Comment »
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