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The Dish with Jess Harter ~ Pursuing food and fun across the East Valley

Archive for the 'The Mission' Tag

5 to try: Where to celebrate National Tequila Day

July 23rd, 2009, 10:41 pm by Jess Harter

Cien Agaves

Friday is National Tequila Day, an opportunity to celebrate the agave-based spirit first distilled by Spanish conquistadors nearly 500 years ago near the site of present-day Tequila, Mexico. Today, there are more than 900 registered brands of tequila.

If you don’t know the difference between tequila categories such as blanco, reposado and extra anejo, here are five East Valley restaurants that carry a great selection to, ahem, study:

Juan Jaime’s Tacos and Tequila: This friendly eatery (pictured below) near Chandler Fashion Center offers approximately 80 tequilas to wash down its street-style tacos and tequila. A daily happy hour (4 p.m. to 8 p.m.) features $2.50 margaritas. 2510 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, (480) 821-5826.

Juan Jaime'sMaria Maria: The back-wall bar at musician Carlos Santana’s stylish Tempe Marketplace restaurant offers 28 premium tequilas (all 100 percent weber blue agave), including a 2-ounce snifter of Gran Patron Burdeos for $65. 2000 E. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe, (480) 449-3663.

The Mission: This Old Town Scottsdale destination pairs modern Latin cuisine with more than 50 premium tequilas. For $100, you can enjoy a two-person margarita made with Don Julio 1942 anejo tequila and centennial-edition Grand Marnier. 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 636-5005.

Blanco Tacos + Tequila: Restaurateur Sam Fox’s Borgata newcomer (it opened in December) lists more than 60 tequilas on its menu, including a snifter of Herradura Suprema for $82. Margaritas range from pomegranate/grapefruit to peach/hibiscus. 6166 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, (480) 305-6692.

Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila: As its name suggests, this Old Town Scottsdale two-story venue (pictured at top) boasts more than 100 tequilas, and hawks  a $70 extra anejo flight (one-ounce pours) of Herradura Suprema, Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia and Partida Elegante. 7228 E. First Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 970-9002.

Posted in: Chandler • Scottsdale • Tempe • • • • • | 1 Comment »

5 to try: Hot dogs in the East Valley

July 2nd, 2009, 4:51 pm by Jess Harter

Pittsburgh Willy'sThe Food Writers Act of 1902 requires me, as well as every other food writer in America, to produce a story every Fourth of July about either hot dogs or apple pie. I flipped a coin, and this year it’s hot dogs:

Ted’s Hot Dogs: This longtime Tempe favorite is famous for its charcoal-broiled hot dogs, footlongs, cheese dogs and chili dogs, as well as delicious homemade onion rings. The lines can get long during peak hours, but they usually move quickly. 1755 E. Broadway Road, Tempe, (480) 968-6678.

Pittsburgh Willy’s: The Wild Willy (pictured) — an all-beef kosher dog topped with chipped ham sauteed in butter and then covered with cheddar cheese — is a bestseller at this small shop inside the Market Square antique mall. 1509 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, (480) 857-2860.

Al’s Chicago Style: The walls are covered with Windy City memorabilia, but it’s the Vienna Beef hot dogs, Gonnella rolls and Giardiniera peppers — not to mention the neon green relish — that establish the Chicago authenticity of this shop’s dogs. 53 N. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert, (480) 545-3267.

Giant Hamburgers: Its name references burgers, but this inexpensive strip-mall hangout also serves tasty hot dogs and chili dogs cooked on its flat-top grill. Be sure to include a side of some of the best French fries in the East Valley. 2753 E. Broadway Road, Mesa, (480) 733-6542.

The Mission: This Old Town Scottsdale restaurant’s Latin American food can get a bit pricey, but the lunch menu offers a fantastic Kobe beef dog wrapped in bacon and topped with green chile pintos, Cotija cheese and grilled onions. 3815 N. Brown Ave., Scottsdale, (480) 636-5005.

Posted in: Chandler • Gilbert • Mesa • Scottsdale • Tempe • • • • • • | 3 Comments »
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