Archive for the 'Paradise Valley' Category
August 25th, 2009, 3:48 pm by Jess Harter
Pink Pony and Quilted Bear, two venerable Scottsdale restaurants with nearly a century of history between them, are among the latest victims of the economic recession.
Pink Pony — once labeled the best baseball restaurant in America by famed baseball writer Roger Angell — had been an Old Town mainstay for 60 years.
Known for its huge steaks served with homemade biscuits and Pink Pony’s own steak sauce, the restaurant displayed a huge collection of commemorative bats behind the bar.
Quilted Bear was opened in 1973 by legendary restaurateur Dale Anderson, who died earlier this year. It offered steaks, seafood and a huge salad bar.
The two closures follow the May shutdown of 72-year-old El Chorro Lodge in Paradise Valley.
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Scottsdale • El Charro Lodge • Pink Pony • Quilted Bear | 3 Comments »
July 30th, 2009, 11:58 am by Jess Harter
Native New Yorker is celebrating its 30th anniversary today by giving away free chicken wings: Stop in any of its 24 Valley locations to get six free wings with the purchase of any beverage.
The offer is dine-in only — no to-go orders.
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Valleywide • Native New Yorker | 1 Comment »
May 27th, 2009, 8:33 am by Jess Harter
Is the faltering economy finally catching up to the Valley’s restaurant scene? I was surprised the first four months of 2009 brought relatively few high-profile restaurant closings — certainly no more than years past and perhaps even fewer than usual. But the true test, many experts predicted, would come when seasonal visitors departed and summer arrived.
They may be right. Last week, James Porter closed his acclaimed Tapino Kitchen & Wine Bar in Scottsdale. Going into the weekend, the Republic reported Paradise Valley landmark El Chorro Lodge was being shut down. Today, New Times is reporting Fine’s Cellar, wine guru Michael Fine’s bistro (pictured above) in Old Town Scottsdale, is kaput.
Those inclined to see the glass half-full will point out that, while the economy surely played a large role, Porter also blamed an ongoing dispute with Tapino’s landlord. (He’s preparing to open a new restaurant in downtown Scottsdale this summer.) El Chorro has been sold, but the new owners haven’t announced their plans for the 22 acres of prime real estate.
Tapino, El Chorro, Fine’s. All gone is just over a week. Coincidence or the beginning of a trend?
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Scottsdale • El Chorro • Fine's Cellar • Tapino | 3 Comments »
April 17th, 2009, 8:10 am by Jess Harter
I was flipping through TV channels the other day and came across an HBO airing of “Ratatouille,” one of my favorite movies that celebrate food and drink. It got me thinking of others, so here are five more movies I highly recommend, all of which are available on DVD:
 Big Night: Two brothers (Stanley Tucci and Tony Shaloub, pictured above) try to save their struggling Italian restaurant on the Jersey shore in the 1950s by creating a magnificent feast for legendary band leader Louis Prima. The cast of this 1996 dramedy also includes Isabella Rossellini, Allison Janney, Minnie Driver and Ian Holm.
 Eat Drink Man Woman: A widowed Chinese master chef (Sihung Lung) struggles to maintain complex relationships with his three adult daughters — an old maid teacher, a commitment-phobic business executive and a free-spirited college student — in modern-day Taiwan in this 1994 drama from Oscar-winning director Ang Lee.
 Tortilla Soup: Tamales are substituted for dumplings in this 2001 remake of “Eat Drink Man Woman” set in Southern California’s Mexican-American culture. The veteran Los Angeles chef is played by Hector Elizondo, and the ensemble cast also includes Racquel Welch, Paul Rodriquez, Jacqueline Obradors and Tamara Mello.
 Tampopo: A truck driver (Japanese Academy Award winner Tsutomu Yamakazi) helps a widow turn her run-down noodles restaurant into one of the finest in Japan in this offbeat 1986 comedy often described as a “noodle western.” A young Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai,” “Letters from Iwo Jima”) plays Yamakazi’s sidekick.
 Bottle Shock: This 2008 film recounts the true-life story of the famous 1976 Paris wine tasting that revolutionized the industry and established California’s Napa Valley as one of the world’s great wine-producing regions. Bill Pullman plays acclaimed winemaker Jim Barrett, and Alan Rickman is tasting organizer Steven Spurrier.
Do you have a favorite food or drink movie that’s not on this list? Let me know so I can check it out.
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Valleywide • Movies | Post a Comment »
April 2nd, 2009, 5:29 pm by Jess Harter
Looking for an Easter brunch with fabulous food in a breathtaking setting? Here are five of the most popular in the Valley. A word of warning: Make your reservations soon because these always fill up quickly.
Ko’sin at Wild Horse Pass: Chef Michael O’Dowd’s menu includes grilled vegetables, smoked seafood platters with chipotle remoulade, veal shank with natural sustainable juices, exotic fruits and imported cheeses, an iced raw bar, pan-seared native wild salmon, a carving station, gourmet omelet station and TOCA squash cobbler. 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $65 adult, $58 seniors, $32 children 5-12. 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, (602) 385-5726.
The Phoenician: The granddaddy of Valley resort brunches is rolling out the works in its Grand Ballroom: seafood, caviar and sushi; a carving station with lamb, prime rib and glazed ham; pastas and paninis; an omelet station; French toast and pancakes; charcuterie and antipasti; salads; cheese; and pastries and desserts. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $89 adults, $44.50 children 12 and under. 6000 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale, (480) 423-2530.
Lon’s at the Hermosa: Chef Michael Rusconi’s starts with smoked salmon, berry and cheese blintz, goat cheese salad and Dungeness crab cake. The feast continues with roasted chicken and vegetable quiche, steak and eggs, pecan-grilled lamb and a duet of grilled beef tenderloin and gulf prawns. Field-picked berries with a Grand Marnier gateau and double chocolate pot au crème are among desserts. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. $65 adults, $15 children 5-12. 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley, (602) 955-7878.
Vincent on Camelback (pictured above): James Beard Award-winning chef Vincent Guerithault only does brunch on Easter and Mother’s Day. Entrees include grilled filet of beef with scrambled eggs and caramelized red onions, salmon baked in puff pastry with dill beurre blanc and roasted rack of lamb with Anasazi beans and rosemary. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $49 adults, $10 children 10 and under. 3930 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, (602) 224-0225.
Ritz-Carlton: Menu highlights include charcuterie, artisan cheeses, seafoods, live omelet station, freshly carved prime rib au jus and smoked ham, eggs Benedict, ,seared halibut, honey-roasted chicken, cakes, mousse and an ice cream and toppings bar. Children’s activities include an Easter egg hunt and petting zoo. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $64 adult, $32 children 2-12. 2401 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, (602) 468-0700.
Posted in: Chandler • Paradise Valley • Phoenix • Scottsdale • Ko'sin • Lon's • Ritz-Carlton • The Phoenician • Vincent on Camelback | Post a Comment »
March 4th, 2009, 2:52 pm by Jess Harter
 West of Western, one of the Valley’s premier culinary festivals, takes place next weekend. Fifty of the state’s top chefs will gather on the grounds of the Heard Museum in Phoenix to prepare signature entrees and answer questions about recipes and techniques. Here are five of my favorite participating chefs (for the full list, as well as a schedule of festival activities, go to westofwestern.com):
Brian Peterson, Cork: Formerly chef de cuisine at Lon’s and The Boulders, Peterson has established the year-old, small-plates restaurant as one of the Valley’s best. His New American menu ranges from foie gras BLTs to prosciutto-wrapped elk. 4991 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, (480) 883-3773.
Michael O’Dowd, Kai: As executive chef at Wild Horse Pass, O’Dowd oversees all the resort’s restaurants, including its centerpiece, Kai, whose globally inspired American Indian cuisine earned five stars from the Mobil Travel Guide. 5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Boulevard, Chandler, (602) 385-5726.
Payton Curry, Digestif: Since Peter Kasperski’s hip hangout opened at SouthBridge just over a year ago, Curry (pictured) has dazzled diners with his “Cal-Ital” dishes made with house-made pastas, hand-cut meats, fresh-pulled mozzarella and seasonal ingredients. 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Scottsdale, (480) 425-9463.
Aaron May, Sol y Sombra: The busy May opened breakfast spot Over Easy in 2008 and Italian eatery Autostrada in January (and is working on a Basque restaurant, Leche), but remains best-known for his stylish, Barcelona-inspired tapas nightspot at DC Ranch. 20707 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, (480) 443-5399.
Claudio Urciuoli, Prado: After launching Taggia at Scottsdale’s FireSky Resort, the Italian-born Urciuoli was hired to apply his “slow food” mastery to Prado, the fabulous Spanish restaurant at the just-opened Montelucia Resort & Spa. 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, (480) 627-3004.
Posted in: Chandler • Paradise Valley • Scottsdale • 5 to Try • Culinary Festivals • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
February 13th, 2009, 6:07 pm by Jess Harter
 Cave Creek chef Kevin Binkley, Paradise Valley chef Beau MacMillan, Phoenix chef Vincent Guerithault and Scottsdale restaurateur Sam Fox (pictured) are among the semifinalists for the 2009 James Beard Awards, the “Oscars of Food.”
In addition, Phoenix’s Noca is in the running for Best New Restaurant, and Scottsdale’s Kazimierz World Wine Bar is up for Outstanding Wine Service.
Binkley (Binkley’s Restaurant) and MacMillan (Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa) are among 20 semifinalists for Best Chef – Southwest. Binkley also was a semifinalist last year.
Guerithault (Vincent on Camelback) is a semifinalist for Outstanding Chef, where his competition includes such notable names as José Andrés, Tom Colicchio and Michael Mina.
Fox, whose Fox Restaurant Concepts include Sauce, Olive & Ivy, True Food Kitchen, Blanco, Greene House and other brands, is again up for Outstanding Restaurateur.
Each category will be cut to five finalists on March 23. Winners will be announced May 4.
See the full list of semifinalists (pdf file).
Posted in: Cave Creek • Paradise Valley • Phoenix • Scottsdale • James Beard Awards • Restaurants | Post a Comment »
February 3rd, 2009, 6:19 pm by Jess Harter
Don’t count Stephen King among “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer’s millions of fans.
In an interview with USA Weekend, King, who’s sold around 350 million books, compared the Paradise Valley author to “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling:
“Both Rowling and Meyer, they’re speaking directly to young people. … The real difference is that Jo Rowling is a terrific writer and Stephenie Meyer can’t write worth a darn. She’s not very good.”
Of course, Meyer’s fans might point out that King hasn’t produced a novel with the cult-like appeal of the “Twilight” series in … well, most of their lifetimes.
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Books | Post a Comment »
December 2nd, 2008, 4:43 pm by Jess Harter
In a year when several East Valley luxury resorts are replacing their signature restaurants with celebrity-chef-driven steakhouses — such as Bourbon Steak (Fairmont), BLT Steak (Camelback Inn) and J&G Steakhouse (The Phoenician) — at least one resort is catering to a different palate.
The new InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa, built on the grounds of the razed La Posada in Paradise Valley, has unveiled Prado, a Spanish-influenced restaurant that takes its name from the famous Madrid museum.
It’s an entirely appropriate moniker: Chef Claudio Urciuoli’s dishes — surprisingly affordable, at least by resort standards — deserve to be on display.
Although Spain is the world’s leader in avant garde cooking, the country’s cuisine is firmly rooted in the simple life of centuries past, whether it be a huge bowl of lentil soup ($7), dark and earthy, or a plate of roasted beets sweetened with a touch of honey ($9).
• Check out the dinner menu for Prado (pdf)
• Check out the tapas menu for Mbar (pdf)
• Related: Spanish cuisine is red-hot in the East Valley (Nov. 20, 2008)
• Related: Small tapas play big role in Spanish cuisine (Nov. 20, 2008)
• Related: Prado opens at new East Valley resort (Nov. 4, 2008)
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Paradise Valley | Post a Comment »
November 4th, 2008, 3:35 pm by Jess Harter
 Prado, the signature restaurant at the new InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley, opened today.
Named for the world-famous Madrid museum, Prado features a Spanish-themed menu of meats and seafood grilled over a wood-burning fire. Nightly specials highlight suckling pig (Mondays), lamb (Tuesdays), chicken (Wednesdays) and duck (Thursdays).
Chef Claudio Urciuoli (pictured at left) opened Italian restaurant Taggia at Scottsdale’s FireSky Resort & Spa in 2006 before a brief stint earlier this year at Different Pointe of View at the Pointe Tapatio Resort in Phoenix.
Adjoining lounge Mbar offers premium tequilas, specialty cocktails and more than a dozen tapas.
Prado, 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Info: (480) 627-3004 or icmontelucia.com.
• Click to see the lunch menu for Prado (pdf)
• Click to see the dinner menu for Prado (pdf)
• Click to see the menu for Mbar (pdf)
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Paradise Valley | Post a Comment »
August 23rd, 2008, 8:28 pm by Jess Harter
 The soon-to-open InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa has announced a few details about its restaurants. The main eatery will be called Prado and feature “wood-fired grilling with a Spanish accent.” Chef Claudio Urciuoli (left), formerly of Taggia, will focus on traditional Andalusian cuisine. Look for an opening in November.
Located at the front entrance to Prado will be M Bar, a Moroccan-inspired tequila and tapas bar. Other dining at the Paradise Valley resort: Crave Cafe, a cafe and gourmet market; Kasbah, a casual restaurant and bar serving the pool; and Joya Spa Terrace & Juice Bar.
Info: (480) 627-3200 or montelucia.com.
Posted in: Paradise Valley | Post a Comment »
August 15th, 2008, 3:16 pm by Jess Harter
 Patti Hannon, the actress who stars in the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts long-running improvisational comedy “Late Night Catechism,” will be the featured guest for an artist-in-residence dinner Sept. 19 at Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley.
Hannon, who portrays a strict nun simply known as “Sister,” will mingle with guests at a wine reception, followed by a four-course dinner.
Executive chef Michael Rusconi’s menu will consist of an amuse bouche, seared sea scallops with wild boar bacon, grilled beef tenderloin with Queen Creek olive gratin and lemon génoise. Wines will be selected by sommelier Robert Ofstedahl.
After dinner, Hannon will discuss her life and career, and treat guests to an interactive comedy performance.
Cost is $125 per person, which includes food, wine, tax and gratuity. Reservations: (602) 955-7878. Info: lons.com.
Posted in: Paradise Valley | 1 Comment »
May 27th, 2008, 2:29 pm by Jess Harter
The InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley isn’t scheduled to open until August, but it’s hired a chef to head its yet-to-be-named signature restaurant. Their choice is Claudio Urciuoli, who spent less than a year heading Taggia at Scottsdale’s FireSky Resort & Spa, then spent an ill-fated two months at Different Pointe of View at the Pointe at Tapatio Cliffs in Phoenix.
Posted in: Paradise Valley | Post a Comment »
February 26th, 2008, 9:01 pm by Jess Harter
Clearing out recent press releases from my e-mail in-box (viewable as PDFs):
• More than 50 beers will be on tap at the World of Beers Friday and Saturday at Phoenix’s Margaret T. Hance Park.
• The popular annual Taste 2008 will take place April 6 at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale.
• Ristorante Tuscany, the fancy restaurant at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, is now offering wine tastings and private dining rooms. It’s also released its Easter brunch menu.
• The Desert Botanical Garden’s annual Agave on the Rocks, which includes tequila, food and Latin music, will be March 28.
• Scottsdale-based El Paso Grill & Bar-B-Que, which has nine restaurants in Arizona, has started a reverse happy hour with special $4 appetizers.
• Morton’s The Steakhouse is offering some limited-time deals to highlight their seafood offering.
• Chef/owner Bryan Elliott has taken over sole ownership of The Painted Horse in Scottsdale and named Todd Pearson as the new executive chef.
• Lon’s at The Hermosa Inn in Paradise Valley has been named best Southwest/eclectic in Arizona for the third year in a row by “Ranking Arizona: The Best in Arizona Business.”
Posted in: Paradise Valley • Phoenix • Scottsdale | Post a Comment »
February 20th, 2008, 12:42 pm by Jess Harter
Actress Diane Ladd — who will premiere her new film, Jake’s Corner, at the Sedona Film Festival — will be the featured guest at a March 2 artist-in-residence dinner at Lon’s at The Hermosa in Paradise Valley.
 The evening will begin with a 5:30 p.m. wine reception where Ladd will mingle with guests, followed by a four-course dinner by chef Michael Rusconi.
The menu will include foraged mushroom bisque with white truffle crema, fresh shrimp with baby field greens citrus fruits and elderberry vinaigrette, Maine lobster and grilled beef tenderloin with cilantro espuma and triple chocolate napoleon with raspberry and lemon compote.
Wines will be personally selected for the event by sommelier Robert Ofstedahl.
After dinner, Ladd will do a question-and-answer session and sign her book, “Spiraling Through the School of Life.”
Cost is $125 per person, including tax and gratuity. Reservations: (602) 955-7878.
Lon’s at The Hermosa is located at 5532 N. Palo Cristi Road, Paradise Valley.
Posted in: Paradise Valley | Post a Comment »
January 30th, 2008, 6:23 pm by Jess Harter
Sprouts, the spa restaurant at the Marriott Camelback Inn in Paradise Valley, has introduced a new lunch and dinner menu and expanded its hours.
 The focus is still on organic, natural fare. Appetizers include chilled heirloom gazpacho with dungeness crab ($7), butternut squash chowder ($6), ahi tuna tartare ($10) and five kinds of bruschetta.
Sandwiches include a BLT panini ($12) with trout, smoked bacon, baby romaine, roma tomatoes, mango aioli and kalamata olive loaf and Black Angus sliders ($12) on potato buns with cheddar and Might Moe relish spread.
A rosemary chicken breast ($9), Black Angus filet skewer ($14) and jumbo Mexican shrimp ($12) are among the entrees.
Sprouts is offering $3 off wine by the glass from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
>> Sprouts, 5402 E. Lincoln Drive, Paradise Valley, is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. (480) 596-7000.
Posted in: Paradise Valley | Post a Comment »
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