DeFalco’s = DeLicious

With Julie being from Pennsylvania, and me being a New Yorker, it’s pretty rare that we walk into a place out here that reminds us of being back home on the east coast. That’s especially true if that place is an italian deli and market, something there’s plenty of back in Philly and NY but not so much out here in the desert of AZ. DeFalco’s Italian Deli & Grocery is something of a rarity out here, and a hidden gem. Although maybe it’s not so hidden considering every time i’ve been in there, whether it be lunch time or dinner time, there’s always a line. I guess you just gotta be in the know. Luckily for me, a friend of mine took me there for lunch a few years back, thus showing me the way. It’s a no frills place, half italian deli, half italian market. That’s part of the charm though, this place has character unlike so many places out here. The already small space is made to seem even smaller with metal shelving all over the place stacked from floor to ceiling with italian foods and groceries, produce and over 100 different bottles of wine to choose from. Wherever there was enough open space, they threw in a table and some chairs for those choosing to dine in. It’s like a maze in there, one maze i wouldn’t mind getting lost in. Between all the delicious sights and savory scents, it’s an all out attack on all your senses as soon as you walk in the door. On the right wall is the deli counter, where you can pick up all your sliced meats and cheeses, sausages etc. The counter on the far back wall is where people line up to order sandwiches, pasta, pizza and one of who knows how many different hot and cold salads in the glass case. Everything looks so fresh, authentic & delicious. Whether you’re in the mood for a hot or cold italian hero, pizza or pasta….or if you’d rather go buy all the things you need to cook up an italian feast for yourself at home DeFalco’s is the place to go. The DeFalco family originally came over to North America from Italy in the early 1900’s. After successful deli/grocery stores up in Toronto and Michigan they moved down here to Phoenix retire, but just couldn’t give up what they loved doing. They opened up the Phoenix deli in 1972 and 38 years later people are still lining up for their home made pasta dishes, sauces, sausages and other italian foods.

So this post is actually a combination of 2 separate trips to DeFalco’s. We love food, but if you see the photos below there’s NO way just Julie and I could even come close to putting down 2 heros AND a large cheese pie in one sitting. The first time we went there we were craving a good, big sandwich. The guys sitting next to us had ordered a pizza which looked and smelled absolutely freaking mouthwatering delicious. Before we even left DeFalco’s we had already planned our next trip back and we knew exactly what we were getting next time. This was our first time though, and we were in the mood for sandwiches. Turkey and provolone with lots of green leafy lettuce for the lady, i went for the italian combo hero. Ham, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, provolone, lettuce & mustard on a 10” sub roll. Both sandwiches were fresh-cut, stacked high and delicious. I’d say they were the best $5 footlongs i’ve ever had, but they weren’t $5 and they were only 10” long. Nonetheless, very good sandwiches. As i mentioned earlier, the entire time we were enjoying our sandwiches, i was eyeing the pizza on the table next to us. It looked so warm, saucy, bubbly and cheesy. Not exactly as pretty as the pizza looked at DiFarra, but mouthwatering nonetheless. The next time we went back to DeFalco’s we obviously had no choice but to try the pizza. A BIT of a letdown if i’m being honest. Not that it was a bad pizza by any means, but i just had such high hopes for their pizza. I though maybe i had finally FINALLY found real east coast NY style pizza. It certainly looked the part, but something was missing flavor-wise or maybe texture-wise. I think possibly the crust was a little too thick and doughy. The sauce was good. My biggest complain however was how greasy it was. This pizza was absolutely covered in grease. Obviously when eating pizza i expect SOME grease but this was a little excessive. So once i drained the pizza of the pool of grease sitting on top of it, it turned out to be a decent pizza…still definitely not NY pizza though!

Would i go back? Kinda stupid question considering we already have been back. That being said, i’d go back a 3rd time and probably 4th and 5th time. Good sandwiches, decent pizza…i’m curious to try the pasta and an entree or two next. I hear they also serve a decent cheese steak which i can never say no to…

Italian combo hero

Turkey & provolone hero

Pizza Pie

DeFalco’s Inside

DeFalco’s Exterior

Taylor’s Took Me Down…Twice

Man, i’m getting full again just from looking at these photos. The photos look innocent enough. The place itself looked innocent enough. Taylor’s Cafe is a charming, cozy little cafe tucked away in a shopping center in the beautiful eastern phoenix neighborhood of arcadia at the base of camelback mountain. its a bright, cheery & colorful neighborhood eatery serving a lot of the wealthy and well-to-do a wide variety or breakfasts and lunches. Little did i know it would be the scene of a culinary ass-whooping bestowed upon myself. i severely underestimated what taylor’s cafe was capable of serving up. Not the easiest place to find. like i mentioned its tucked away in a decent sized shopping center, set back off the street and with not so great signage leading the way. it’s worth seeking out though if you’re very hungry and have a few bucks to drop on a good, solid breakfast. Taylor’s cafe certainly wasn’t the cheapest breakfast i’ve had, but given the neighborhood it’s in and the clientele they pull in, i guess that’s somewhat expected. If it makes you feel any better though, it was one of the largest breakfasts, and easily the largest bloody mary, i’ve ever had…so while the prices are a bit high i felt as though i was getting what i paid for both in quantity and in quality.  The service was a bit shaky, especially considering how slow and quiet of a morning it appeared to be in the cafe. Upon walking in and going to the hostess stand, we stood for a bit before finally getting seated. Then, once we were seated, it seemed as though the wait staff were confused as to whom was supposed to be working our table. It all got figured out after a little time, but they need either some more motivated waiters or a better system of the existing ones.

My weekend breakfast drink of choice obviously is a bloody mary, so that decision took zero time to decide. The food however was a tougher choice given the size of the menu and how many of those things sounded delicious. The lunch menu consisting of salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps & flatbread pizzas seemed never ending! i made the first, and possibly most important, decision of the day and decided to stick with breakfast. the bloody mary was decent. had good flavor, though i wish it was a bit thicker and a bit spicier. like i said though, it was BIG, coming in one of those huge glasses normally reserved for a tall cold draft beer. for the first time in my life, i could not finish my bloody mary! i felt so….low, so defeated. though if you could see the enormity of the VERY filling and NOT light breakfast in front of me at the time you’d understand why i never did get to finish my XXXL bloody mary. i’m pretty sure an entire family of pigs must have lost their lives to create my breakfast, the western crepe. start out with 2 crepes absolutely stuffed with crispy bacon, ham and sausage, top those 2 crepes with 2 fried eggs which are then topped with hollandaise sauce and sliced avocado. i have never seen so much pig stuffed into a crepe in my life. the potatoes were somewhat underwhelming, but the rest of the meal was absolutely delicious. Rich, hearty, filling and extremely unhealthy….but delicious nonetheless. Much like the family size bloody mary, i don’t think i came close to finishing all the food on my plate. i LOVE bacon, but even this was bordering on ridiculous. Julie and i could have easily shared just what i ordered and both have been satisfied.I walked out of Taylors Cafe hurting, and spent half of the day feeling absolutely stuffed and regretting how much i ate. When there’s that much bacon and deliciousness in front of me though i just cannot resist!!

Would i go back? Yes, i definitely think we’ll be back. Julie, while she enjoyed her eggs florentine omelette, didn’t seemed blown away by what she ordered so i’m guessing she’d choose something different next time around. The menu was rather large with lots of salads and sandwiches that all sounded, and looked good judging by quick peeks at our surrounding tables. I on the other hand loved my breakfast, there just happened to be an ungodly amount of it. I’d have trouble ordering something different if we went back. Either way, looking forward to trip #2 to Taylor’s Cafe. Note to self…do not go to Taylor’s Cafe unless i’m REALLY hungry.

Taylor’s Cafe Interior

Eggs Florentine Omelette - spinach, fat free ricotta cheese and diced chicken breast

Western Crepe - 2 crepes stuffed with bacon, ham and sausage topped with 2 fried eggs which is topped with hollandaise sauce and sliced avocado, served with potatoes

Bloody Mary

I <3 BACON

Not only is that a 100% accurate fact about myself, but it is also the name of my favorite new ice cream from Scottsdale’s own Sweet Republic Artisan Ice Cream. Seems as though lately there’ s some sort of bacon craze sweeping the culinary world, and i for one could not be happier about it! Julie and i recently went over to the Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market, like we’ve done so many other saturday mornings. After a walk through the market, and sampling some delicious local foods i decided to stop by the rather old school looking, bright orange Sweet Republic ice cream truck to grab a pint of heaven before the quick walk home. After perusing the list of flavors, there was no question in my mind which flavor was the way to go…my eyes immediately zeroed in on ‘I <3 BACON’. I had to ask the girl running the truck if my eyes were deceiving me. She assured me i wasn’t seeing things. I know what you’re thinking. I was rather skeptical myself, but i cannot tell you how pleasantly surprised i was. I know i’m probably bias due to my extreme love of the smoked pork arts, but this was freakin good! It’s sweet and smoky flavored bacon ice cream, with small bits of crispy bacon and crunchy bacon brittle pieces that give it the greatest contrast of textures. The first bite was definitely a bit odd, it messes with your head a bit. Your brain is programed to think that ice cream is sweet. When it hits your tongue for the very first time, not only do you get the sweetness, but also the salty and savory flavor of the bacon. Once the first was down though, there was not enough bacon ice cream west of the mississippi to to calm my craving. If anyone is aware of any bacon ice cream EAST of the mississippi please let me know…

Four Peaks…Five Stars!

So we here at Bumbs & Crumbs are very happy to finally be able to blog about one of our absolute favorite places around, the always solid Four Peaks Brewery. Four Peaks happens to be my favorite bar in AZ, just behind the legendary incomparable Casey Moore’s. I know in previous posts i’ve made quick mention of some of Four Peaks delicious brews, most notably the seasonal, high demand & short supply Pumpkin Porter. Similar to the restaurant in my last post, the upsetting Los Olivos, i’ve been a patron for quite some time now, since the late 90’s when i was a student at ASU. All similarities end there though. Whereas Los Olivos has apparently gone steadily downhill over the past couple decades, Four Peaks has remained consistently as good as it was back then if not actually improved through the years. Four Peaks is a little local neighborhood brewery down in Tempe tucked away down 8th street just off the campus of ASU. Because of its proximity to the school, its obviously going to attract the college crowd, but it also attracts the artsy crowd, young professionals, hip older folk and all sorts of other people. The crowd at Four Peaks, and there always is a crowd, is usually rather diverse. While it’s always pretty busy, and an open table is hard to come by, the vibe is pretty relaxed and laid back. Add in some good music and some rather attractive and friendly bartenders and servers and you’ve got the makings of a great evening. Not only do they brew some of the best beers around, but they serve up some of the best pub/comfort food that pairs perfectly with their home made brews. I’ve had some great, memorable nights sitting out front of Four Peaks on their large, yet cozy patio pictured below. Unfortunately, Pumpkin Porter is only available a couple months out of the year. Luckily, a couple pints of the always delicious and always on tap Kilt Lifter is a great way to start off any night. Four Peaks also has a second location just off the 101 in North Scottsdale in a large & somewhat upscale shopping area. While the food and beer is just as good as the original Tempe location, the vibe & atmosphere just isn’t the same.

So as i mentioned. i’ve had some greats nights at Four Peaks, but how would our first Sunday brunch go?? The patio was equally as busy, the vibe was equally as cool and laid back. The food, while different then the lunch/dinner menu we’re used, was also equally as delicious. Substitute some decent bloody marys instead of the pints of beer and we’re good to go! The wings, burgers a fish & chips was replaced by some traditional breakfast and brunch favorites, along with some non-traditional  and downright indulgent options that all sounded delicious. As usual with Four Peaks, no matter what meal you’re enjoying, portion size certainly is not an issue. Neither is the taste, as everything is delicious. Neither is the service. LIke i said, it can get pretty hectic in there sometimes, but the all female (generally all attractive female) servers bust their butts to keep up. I’ll be honest, i was a bit skeptical about what i had ordered. I was second guessing my order just up until we got served and i took my first bite. The light, fluffy, doughy, warm wrap quickly made me realize all my worrying was for naught. From that point on i wish that wrap would never end it was so delicious. That breakfast flatbread wrap and their bloody mary definitely qualify as being craveable. Julies breakfast proved that, while simple as far content goes, good fresh ingredients make for an amazing meal.

Would i go back? Definitely. Already been who knows how many times, and i plan on going back at least that many more times if not more. Like i said, Four Peaks has always been a favorite not only of mine, but pretty much everyone whos ever been there. The beer, the food, the surroundings, the atmosphere…when put together it makes Four Peaks a special place. I’ve got some family and friends coming into town over the next couple months, this may be one of the spots i’m sure to take out of towners to for a good meal and a good time.

Four Peaks Neon Sign

Four Peaks front patio during the day

Four Peaks front patio at night

Bloody Mary with accoutrements

2 scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, fruit & toast.

Breakfast beer bread wrap - eggs, cheese, sausage, potatoes, bell peppers wrapped in beer flatbread. Side of fruit.

Shoulda Stuck With The Memories…

This one kinda hurts to write. We hear at Bumbs & Crumbs though take our jobs very seriously, and have an OBLIGATION to go out, eat, and then report back to our small army of loyal readers with our 100% honest, non sugar coated opinion of said meal and dining experience. It’s what we (don’t) get paid to do. Los Olivos is a place that for so many years was very near and dear to me and to my family. My love affair with Phoenix and the southwest began at a very young age. Throughout grade school and beyond, my family would take numerous trips out to New Mexico, Arizona, California & Colorado. Arizona clearly became our favorite spot though, spending most of our time in Tempe and Old Town Scottsdale. Both areas offer an extremely pedestrian friendly walking district, jam packed with shops, cafes, bars, art galleries, restaurants, boutiques and more. Los Olivos, smack-dab in the middle of Old Town Scottsdale, quickly became my family’s go to mexican restaurant whenever we were in town. On a side note, what the hell does smack-dab mean?  My family always loved good spicy mexican food, something there wasn’t MUCH of on long island back in the 80’s when i grew up. Many memories of my family trips out to arizona while growing up, even some memories of my freshman year at ASU back in 1996,  usually involve a damn good mexican meal at Los Olivos. I had nothing but good memories when i think back to all those meals. Well, either time has not been kind to the kitchen at Los Olivos, my culinary tastes have become more refined over the years, or my memories were just severely incorrect. Or maybe all of the above. Los Olivos is literally in our backyard, just a 5-10 minute walk from our front door, but it took me a while to finally decide to give it a shot again after all these years. Julie and i went, with some wonderful company in the form of Brian and Kari, and like the title of this post suggests maybe i should have just been content with the wonderful memories i have of my family meals at Los Oilvos and left it at that…

First thing the 4 of us noticed when we got in was how freakin hot the place was! It was the dead of winter and we were sweating, especially brian and i who can easily sweat through 3 or more shirts a day out here. we had to be asked to be reseated at a table in a cooler wing of the restaurant, which helped a little bit. i have a VERY hard time enjoying a meal if i’m hot, sweating and uncomfortable. My appetite goes out the window. The restaurant has some interesting character. Low ceilings, mexican folk art all over, various different rooms with different colors and themes. Id say its rather eclectic, bordering on eccentric even? The place looked rather dirty, sloppy, dated, and on the verge of falling apart in my opinion, inside and out. It’s like they stopped and and all upkeep of the restaurant since i was last there well over a decade ago. Los Olivos has been in that same location for decades, an institution if you will. I hope they don’t plan on just surviving off their reputation from decades ago, cause that ain’t gonna sustain them much longer if things stay as they are the night we went. The sloppiness carried over into the service which was slow and rather inefficient. Even the food seemed sloppy to me if that’s even possible. while the portions were definitely on the large side, everything was greasy, heavy and on the bland side as far as taste goes. Luckily there were margaritas there, which always helps take the edge off things and distract you from a subpar meal that you’re overpaying for. This is definitely a case of quantity over quality. The foods not that great, but there sure is a lot of it. Los Olivos bills itself as authentic sonoran style mexican food, yet to me it was one or two steps above the fine food at Taco Bell. All those good memories i had of Los Olivos, down the toilet. Upsetting.

Would i go back? Definitely not. The best thing about this meal was leaving. I think Los Olivos survives solely on tourists alone. Luckily for Los Olivos they are right in the middle of a heavy heavy tourist area, and there’s certainly no shortage of tourists out here. They come out here, probably get word of or read about this interesting, ‘authentic’ mexican food restaurant that’s been around and survived for decades. On paper it works, sounds great. All the tourists probably don’t know any better, they fall for it and they wind up wasting their money. If they think that’s best the mexican food we got to offer out here, they are sadly mistaken. It hurts Los Olivos doesn’t it….feel the wrath of Bumbs & Crumbs!!!

Pollo a la Queso Crema - a flour tortilla stuffed with chicken breast, deep fried and topped with seasoned creamed cheese and melted cheeses, served with beans & rice.

Mexican Pizza - Cheese crisp with green chili strips, shredded chicken, onions, spices, tomatoes & black olives.

Fish Tacos - three corn tortillas stuffed with sauteed white fish, served with cabbage, pico de gallo, beans and rice

Downtown Disappointment

This just in…phoenix has no soul. I’m hesitant to even call it ‘downtown’ phoenix. we rarely venture downtown because, well,  there’s really not much there for us. people live in the suburbs, drive downtown to work, then drive back home to suburbia. some restaurants and shops downtown aren’t even open nights and weekends because of a lack of customers walking through the doors. sounds pretty exciting huh? we grew up on the east coast near some of the greatest cities in the world (nyc and philly), so maybe we shouldn’t be comparing phoenix to what we consider a downtown, because most places in the world can’t compare to what we’re used to. that being said, phoenix certainly has grown considerably since i first came out here over a decade ago, but that’s still not saying much. hopefully we’re on the right track though. downtown phoenix lacks culture, nightlife, entertainment, shopping, restaurants and most importantly people and the electric atmosphere a thriving downtown of a major city should have. have i bashed phoenix enough yet? it’s not ALL bad though, there are SOME great things to see and do, and SOME places to grab a decent meal or adult beverage. the sun shines on a dog’s ass every now and then as the saying goes. when we heard about Carlys Bistro through friends, i got pretty excited. It sounded like a diamond in the rough, our kinda place. Artsy, eclectic, laid back, good food, good music, local art, a bar and a decent bloody mary. Nothing fancy, just a cool, hip place to grab a nice lunch and a beer or cocktail if you so desire. With a description like that, i had high hopes. Especially knowing Carly’s was downtown, where i feel like places like are exactly what’s lacking. Places like this should bring people and keep people. Young, creative people who could potentially make downtown a more interesting, lively and diverse place. The fact that it’s right off the lightrail is nice too…well it WOULD be nice if the lightrail actually came anywhere near central and north scottsdale. 

So it was a lovely & sunny saturday morning. julie and i had to run downtown to take care of some errands so we decided to give Carly’s Bistro a try. On the weekends my body automatically goes into bloody mary mode. i heard Carly’s makes a decent bloody mary so i was excited. Artsy and eclectic it certainly was. It appeared to be a little dirty, not to say it actually was, it just had that look. I’m ok with that though, as long as the food is good and safe to eat. The place has character. As for being laid back, any restaurant with more employees than customers will tend to be laid back. As you can see in the photo, the place was dead. When we first walked in, i wasn’t even sure if they were open, and this was just before noon on a beautiful saturday. If you ask me, thats a bad sign. I wouldn’t say there was a bad vibe in there, there was just no vibe, at all. I almost felt the need to whisper in there because it was so quiet. Whatever though, a good bloody mary makes up for a lot of shortcomings, including a server who certainly wasn’t the friendliest but man was she artsy. The bloody mary was good, highlight of the meal for myself. The rim of the glass had some sorta spice/celery salt mix on it which was a nice touch. Added a little bit of spice and a lot of flavor. We both went for the half sandwich and bowl of soup combo. Considering there was only 1 soup, that decision was made for us, roasted red bell pepper bisque. They do have a large selection of sandwiches to choose from, many of which sounded good making it a rather tough decision. Julie went for the grilled caprese sandwich while i chose the grilled cuban sandwich. cuban sandwiches happen to be a favorite of mine. The bread choices are ciabatta, lavash, focaccia, or napolitano, all which happen to be vegan, organic and locally baked. i’m all for organic, local ingredients, locally made things and all that great stuff so i was happy to see that. Unfortunately though, none of those heart-warming things mean a thing when the final product served to you is bland, boring and uninspired. i was rather underwhelmed with both the soup which should have been hotter and the soggy sandwich. And like i said, the place was empty, yet we still had to wait a decent amount of time to get our meal, a lot longer than it should have taken especially considering it wasn’t even cooked properly. Upsetting.

Would i go back? I hear this place gets pretty packed on first fridays, which might be fun. I’d consider going back for a drink but i definitely do not foresee myself going to downtown to eat at Carly’s Bistro again. As i mentioned, downtown phoenix is lacking cute little bistros and cafes, so i was pretty excited to give Carly’s a shot. I had high hopes that it could become a good go to place for lunch or a quick dinner downtown. Unfortunately, i think Carly’s turned out to be big on style, little on substance.

Bloody Mary

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Bisque & Grilled Caprese Sandwich - Tomatoes, fresh mozzarella & pesto on ciabatta

Roasted Red Bell Pepper Bisque & Grilled Cuban Sandwich - Thinly sliced ham, turkey & swiss with whole grain mustard & pickles on ciabatta

Carlys interior

Craving For Curry (Pt.2)

Last time i tried blogging about an indian restaurant it didn’t go so well. I uploaded all the pretty photos, but for some reason never actually wrote anything (sorry about that jewel of the crown). So lets try this again! Although this time it ain’t jewel of the crown, it’s scottsdale’s Tandoori Times. We love good indian food. Obviously it’s not something we eat every day, nor every week. I think one good indian meal a month and i’m good to go. Though i will say, when i want indian food, i absolutely CRAVE it. we were searching for one good, solid, local, go-to indian restaurant and i’m pretty sure we found it in Tandoori Times.

As with many restaurants out here, there’s a nice size, inviting outdoor seating patio. Unfortunately the couple times we’ve been, it’s been a bit too chilly to sit outside but spring is a comin’ so i’m sure soon enough. Inside is pretty nice. Rather oddly shaped space, but they did a nice job putting it together. Tastefully decorated, with a pretty cool, modern vibe. It’s also a pretty good size. Both times we’ve been there it started out pretty empty, just a table or two taken. By the time we’re done and on our way out its considerably more busy, yet i still found myself wishing it was a little more lively in there. We got sat almost immediately, yet i would say if i had one issue with Tandoori Times it would be the service. That’s only if i’m being very picky though. I’ve had MUCH worse service at other places. Thing is, i know the girl was really trying to keep up so i couldn’t get mad at her. I think they might benefit from another server or two when things start to pick up. This poor girl was running all over the place to keep all her tables happy and glasses full.

We started out with an order of vegetable samosas. Crispy, warm and very flavorful with an almost creamy texture inside. Throw a bit of the spicy chutney on there and i was very happy. Delicious and fresh tasting thanks to the chutney. Gotta be careful though, not too spicy at first but it adds up. By the time i was done with my samosa my mouth was on fire. Totally worth it though. Up next it was curry time. We went with 2 pretty standard indian dishes…chicken korma and lamb tikka masala. Lamb isnt something we order terribly frequently, but we decided to mix things up a bit and were pretty happy we did. The lamb itself had a great flavor. Cover that with an extremely flavorful, creamy, rich tikka masala sauce with just the right amount of spice and we were loving it. Glad we went with lamb for a change. Chicken korma was just as delicious. Korma happens to be my favorite curry and they do it well at Tandoori Times. The chicken appeared to be all white meat, clean and tasty. Of course the best part of a good indian meal is the bread. Taking the fresh, warm, soft yet crispy and doughy naan, scooping up just the right amount of rice, curry and meat and shoving it all in your mouth in one large, heavenly bite busting with flavor. The naan was amazing. Garlic-y and tasty. Warm and bubbly from the tandoor oven which gives the bread an almost smoky flavor. An amazing texture, and a perfect vessel to soak up every last drop of the delicious curries. Everything was spiced just right, for my tastes at least. I’ve had some indian food experiences where i could not taste a damn thing due to an insane amount of spice, and i like some heat in my food. And if you like some sexy as you eat, belly dancing on the weekends as you eat! 

Would i go back? Yeah, already have. Been twice before i finally got the chance to blog about it. Indian food, obviously, is all about spices and they do it very well at Tandoori Times. Everything was fresh and absolutely bursting with flavor. People were friendly. Decent location. I’m sure our third trip isn’t too far away…

Samosas - Two crusty pastries stuffed with green peas and potatoes served with garbanzo masala and assorted chutneys

Chicken Korma - Boneless dark meat cooked in a medium yogurt base curry sauce with cashew nuts and touch of cream

Lamb Tikka Masala - Tandoori baked lamb cubes cooked in a smooth curry sauce with a touch of light cream, herbs and special spices

Seasoned Rice - Indian basmati rice flavored with saffron

Garlic Naan - White flour bread garnished with freshly chopped garlic baked in a tandoor

Inside Tandoori Times

Due For Some ‘Que

It’s about that time! You know we couldn’t go TOO long without trying a new BBQ place. What, has it been about 2 or 3 posts, give or take a few, since we blogged about BBQ? For those of you sick of reading about my extreme, insatiable love and passion of all things smoked low ‘n slow, you’ll be happy to know that we’re coming dangerously close to exhausting all of our BBQ options within reasonable driving distance. Once that happens we’ll do what any normal people would do in such a situation…pick up and move somewhere new obviously. Bobby-Q isn’t the closest restaurant to us, it’s northwest of us in a part of Phoenix we rarely frequent, if ever, and it kinda went under our radar for some time. Once we found about it though, it was only a matter of time, a very small period of time, before we made our way out there…but was it worth the drive??????

Normally i like my BBQ in small, questionable, hole-in-the-wall joints with grit and character. Upon pulling up to Bobby-Q it was immediately apparent this was no small hole-in-the-wall. It’s pretty large as far BBQ places go. It’s kinda got the look of a roadhouse shack you’d find along some highway somewhere in the south. Handpainted weathered wooden signs, classic cars and trucks parked outside the entrance, rustic wood siding and floors, corrugated steel, lots of vegetation growing over mismatched kinda dilapidated looking brick walls…you get the point.  Once inside it was clear this definitely not like any other BBQ places we’ve been to. Bobby-Q looks like some hip, sleek lounge that just happens to serve BBQ. Beautiful wood, big oversized booths and chairs, tall ceilings with exposed duct work, dim ambient lighting. Looks like they sunk a few bucks into the place, and we were rather impressed. Apparently it does turn into some sorta club on certain evenings with live music and dancing, VIP rooms with bottle service. In a BBQ restaurant? Really? We really liked the interior, cool vibe. So that was rather unexpected. The service was great, but seeing as the place was almost empty the afternoon we went there it better be good. No complaints there. My sweet tea was topped off often enough to keep me happy. Being the health conscious, figure watching lady that she is, julie went with the avocado club salad. We go to a BBQ place, and she orders a salad. At least she ordered a salad with meat on it. It comes with your choice of bbq brisket, fried or grilled BBQ chicken. i will say, it looked like a good salad, and it was certainly large enough to fill up anyone with a normal appetite. She enjoyed it. I, of course, ordered a brisket sandwich with a side of mac and cheese. The bun wasn’t may favorite, wish it was a little more substantial, but the meat itself was rather good. I like my brisket sandwiches chopped, with a decent amount of sauce which is exactly how this was served. There wasn’t TOO much sauce though to overpower the actual taste of the meat which was tender and smoky. The mac and cheese was no joke, thick, rich and creamy. Baking it in the oven created a nice slightly burnt crust over the top which was delicious. We were stuffed, as we normally are after any good BBQ meal so we passed on any dessert. Along with the check though, they bring you a brown bag with a couple freshly baked, warm, moist, sugar covered mini donuts sweet enough to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth, but small enough that you’re sure to find juuuuust enough room to fit one.

Would i go back? The simple answer is yes. We definitely enjoyed the restaurant itself and the upscale feel. Service was good. The food was great. The negatives though, it’s rather out of the way for us, like i said in an area we never go to. We’re never going to just happen to be in that neighborhood unless we specifically decide to go out there to eat at Bobby-Q. Also, like i said, they spent some money putting this place together, so someone’s gotta pay for that. Therefore it’s not the cheapest as far as BBQ places go. It’s certainly not going to break the bank, but i’ve had just as good, and better BBQ, for less money. Otherwise, no complaints…

Exterior Shot of Bobby-Q

Interior Shot

Avocado Club Salad - Grilled BBQ chicken topped with tomatoes, cheese, onions & croutons.

BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwich - 18 hour smoked brisket on a bun with BBQ sauce

Donuts (mmmm greasy)

A Nice Light Dinner…

It’s an all too common problem. Julie and i will be trying to decide where to go to dinner, a daily event. As always, she wants texan food while i prefer local arizonian cuisine. Well, no longer is it a problem now that we found TEXAZ Grill! Finally all of our food problems have been solved. Now whether or not Texaz Grill really does serve a fusion of texan & arizonian food is questionable at best, however they do serve massive, ungodly portions of chicken fried steak so that’s reason enough for me to check the place out! This place is short on space, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for it in grit and character. This is the place Guy Fieri and Triple-D forgot to stop at last time they were out here. It seems as though every inch of the walls and ceilings are covered with STUFF. random photos, neon beer signs, western memorabilia, old advertisements, past diners business cards, baseball caps, and who knows what else. You could easily spend ALL night attempting to take a mental inventory of the, shall we say, decorations. It’s certainly not the prettiest, but it gives the place a certain fun, neighborhood-like and authentic feel. It’s grungy, it’s tacky, it’s rustic, but that’s part of the whole Texaz Grill experience and appeal. Food like this wasn’t mean to be eaten in some sleek, ultra modern, dimly lit space. Don’t wear your good clothes if you choose to go dine here. First of all, you’ll probably get a weird look if you walk in wearing anything fancy. More importantly though, this is food you really gotta hunker down and roll up your sleeves to properly get into it. Wear something loose too, you’ll need the extra space by the time you’re done eating. If you couldn’t have already guessed by now… it’s simple, southern, heavy, artery clogging, rib sticking, gut busting comfort food. Before you go make sure of a few things….1. make sure you are VERY hungry, 2. make sure you are a BIG fan of the fried culinary art, 3. make sure you’ve got MORE than a few points on your cholesterol test to spare.

Julie went with the fried catfish, chicken fried steak for me, and we started out by splitting a cup of their award winning chili. Of course, before our entrees came out we each got served a small salad to start us off. Really?? What’s the point of this salad? i guarantee you NO ONE came here to eat salad or anything of any nutritional value. was the salad supposed to make us feel a little bit better about the massive fried chunk of flesh about to come our way? whatever the reasoning, they could probably save a few bucks per year by doing away with the salad included with every meal…unless they create a way to batter and deep fry a salad. then i’m all for it! Cup of chili was up first. If i had any idea the amount of fried meat about to be put in front of my face i would have known this cup of chili was completely unnecessary, but alas, i ordered it and it happened to be the highlight of the meal for me. i love some good, spicy, hearty, beefy chili and could see why this was, supposedly, award winning. Up next were our entrees. Whoever is in the back cooking has NO idea what the term portion control means. as julie said ‘god damn thats a lot of fish!’ in the photo of my chicken fried steak you really cannot tell just how big that plate is, and notice how the steak is hanging off both sides of the plate! not only that, but you’re only seeing one piece of steak. there’s an equally big piece of steak hiding just beneath the piece that’s visible. the steak was good, not great. the meat was tender, the crust was light and crispy. even if i loved it, even if it was the most amazing thing i’d ever eaten before in my life there was NO way i could even eat half of what was on my plate. especially when you throw in the small mountain of mashed potatoes and gravy which all that steak was resting on. julie’s fish was ‘ok’. she would have rather ordered it with fries instead of the mashed potatoes which she wasn’t crazy about. i ate as much as i could, yet still left with enough leftovers for 2 small meals. Service was above average. The manager was roaming around checking on everyone, chatting it up, which i like to see. One thing that did stand out to me was the amount of condiments offered to everyone. On the end of each table was a wide array of spices and sauces. every condiment i could even think to ask for, and then some, was right there and considering i put hot sauce on everything, i was happy about that. it’s funny, no matter how much food you eat and how stuffed you feel, you can always find juuuuuust enough room for desert. and of course, when ever bread pudding is on the menu, we order it. i hear the pecan pie at Texaz Grill is really good, but we went for bread pudding and did not regret our decision whatsoever.

Obviously, i knew going into this that this wouldn’t be the healthiest, nor lightest of meals. Everything was as greasy as i had expected it to be. They’ve served over 734,155 chicken fried steaks to date, so obviously they’re doing something right. That didn’t stop me from feeling like death on the way out to the car, in the very small and hard to maneuver parking lot. Between the ungodly amount of food i just devoured, and all the fried grease i just did not feel well after this meal. i felt heavy, slow and sluggish…like a wet sponge. which leads us to the final question…

Would i go back? unfortunately, probably not. everything was GOOD, not great. chicken fried steak is the specialty there, and i’m not the hugest fan of chicken fried steak to be honest. once, maybe twice a year and i’m good to go. considering how small and streamlined the menu is, there’s really not much else there i’d want to order. and like i said, the way i felt post-meal…i’d be happy if i didn’t have to experience that again. too bad, i really wanted to like this place a lot.

Apparently this is something called a ‘salad’.  Might be better if it was fried…

Texaz Red - Award winning homemade chili

Fried catfish - Two river cat fillets breaded in buttermilk crumbs, fried ‘til golden with a side of house made tartar sauce and lemon

Two fork tender pieces of beef lightly battered, fried and topped with our homemade gravy.

Bread pudding with whiskey sauce - French bread in an egg custard with toasted pecans and raisins, topped with a sour mash bourbon hard sauce.

Food Fidel Would Approve Of…

In a town that’s saturated with mexican food and taco shops, it was a welcome departure to enjoy some latin food but from a different part of the world. Havana Cafe has been serving up traditional cuban dishes since 1989, so obviously they must be doing something right to have stuck around for all these years. That’s not to say they haven’t been effected by the state of the economy the past year and a half or so, having to close down one of their 3 locations. They made the decision to close down the newest location over in Ahwatukee, sticking with the original restaurant on Camelback and the North Scottsdale location on Bell. After racking up numerous awards & very favorable reviews consistently throughout the years, and our love of cuban food we knew we had to give it a try. We hadn’t eaten cuban since the last time we ate at Cuba Libre back when Julie lived in Philadelphia, so we were long overdue.

Although Havana Cafe had small but cute outdoor dining area, despite space heaters we decided it was still a bit too chilly and made our way inside. The interior isn’t much larger than the outdoor area. ok that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it certainly is on the small and cozy size. because of how small the restaurant is there’s no waiting area, as soon as you step foot through the door you’re right in the middle of the restaurant which is slightly awkward. especially when there’s a guy sitting right next to you strumming his guitar and singing traditional cuban songs. luckily we got sat rather promptly ending the awkwardness. the decor, while a bit dated in my opinion, is bright, colorful and very lively. Our waiter came over pretty quickly to take our drink order, sangria being the obvious beverage of choice for the meal. red sangria for myself, white sangria for julie. the sangria was good, i just wish there was more, if any cut up pieces of fruit in it. part of the fun in drinking sangria is making your way to the bottom of the glass knowing alcohol soaked apples and other fruit are waiting for you to munch on. back to our waiter real quick though, if i have any real complaint with our dining experience at Havana Cafe that night, it was our waiter. Not that he wasn’t attentive and quick, but he was very awkward. I’m not looking to become best friends with every waiter i have, but i do enjoy SOME dialogue. I tried a little banter with him and he either just didn’t get it, or was not interested in talking to us whatsoever beyond taking our order. I am far from a cuban food authority, same applies to julie, so naturally we had many questions when it came to the menu and certain terms, foods, etc. He answered any questions we asked, kind of…? At the same time though he seemed somewhat annoyed that we didn’t walk in already knowing everything there is to know about cuban food. Like i said, that was the one real negative. After ordering was behind us we were good to go and ready to chow down.

So many things on the menu looked and sounded good to us. we decided to order a bunch of tapas instead of big entrees, which gave us the opportunity to try a lot of things which i always enjoy doing whenever possible. so we both perused the menu and each chose a few things that caught our eyes. For the most part everything was delicious and bursting with flavor, as i have come to expect from good cuban food. the standouts to me were the black bean fritters and potato croquettes. empanditas and chorizo just behind. the avocado dip and creamy lime cilantro sauces were amazing. put either of those sauces next to a plate full of runner pieces and i’d gladly eat it. the mofongo was kinda the wildcard choice of the meal. crushed plantains and pork pieces rolled into a ball topped with mojo, a light olive oil based sauce with garlic lemon/lime juice and other spices, sounded like it could have been a winner. It was just ok to me, interesting texture though which i enjoyed. Chorizo i pretty much have to order anytime i see it on a menu. The light saute gave the sausage a nice little crunch to the edges and was great with the peppers, though a little greasy. Just the right amount of spice and heat too. As for dessert, much like chorizo anytime i see bread pudding on the menu i have to order it. i could be wrong but i don’t exactly think bread pudding is a tradiitonal cuban dessert, but apparently as long as you type the name out in spanish it becomes cuban. good enough for me! not the BEST bread pudding i’ve had, wish it was warmer, but even bad bread pudding is good bread pudding in my book.

Would i go back? Definitely going back, wouldn’t mind a different waiter though next time. I’d like to go back for lunch and try a cuban sandwich or two which i’m a big fan of. I’d also like to go back for another dinner. We got to try and bunch of stuff but there were still so many things on the menu that sounded good to me. Julie wants to go back and order an entree, but i may have to stick with a table overflowing with tapas again…

Emapanditas - Three mini pies filled with sweet peppers, onions and chicken. Served with salsa cubana.

Frituras de Frijoles Negros - Black bean fritters served with calypso avocado dip.

Chorizo - authentic spanish cured sausage lightly sauteed with tri-colored peppers.

Papa Rellena - two potato croquettes filled with beef picadillo, accented with a creamy lime cilantro sauce.

Mofongo - crushed plantains and pork cracklings rolled together and served with mojo.

Red & White Sangria

Pudin de Pan con Chocolate - Warm chocolate bread pudding studded with Ghirardelli chocoloate chips served with a rum fudge sauce and whipped cream

We’re On A Roll…..er, Bun.

Seems like burgers have taken over for BBQ lately on B&C, so i’ll go ahead and continue that trend with Chicago Hamburger Company. I promise though, after this no more burgers for a while. Not that we won’t be eating them, we just won’t be writing about them. Chicago Hamburger Co in the desert of Phoenix? Makes no sense you say, yet it’s been a fixture in Phoenix since 1975. In Phoenix terms, that’s bordering on ancient. One look at the building, and it’s immediately obvious it probably hasn’t changed much since it opened up over 3 decades ago. Wood paneling. Horrible lighting. The flat screens on the wall tuned to nothing but sports were the only clue as to what decade we’re currently living in. The place definitely has some character. The walls are covered with sports memorabilia and everything Chicago. Then all that stuff is covered with a 35 year old layer of grease. I’m kidding, it’s not THAT bad. The place is however a little rough around the edges to say the least. It’s down and dirty. The menu is as expected, dogs, sandwiches, charbroiled burgers and all the usual accompaniments. Just as the decor hasn’t changed much since 1975, the prices haven’t changed much either staying on the low side making Chicago Hamburger Co recession-friendly.

We started with a cup of chili which was just ok. Decent taste, decent thickness. Too much onion for my tastes though. There’s only so much raw onion i can take before that’s the ONLY thing i can taste. The burgers were better than the chili, though not the easiest things to eat. Cooking them over an open flame gave the burgers those signature grill marks while also giving them a nice smokey flavor. The burgers were good, not great. Same applies to the fries. Good, not great pretty much sums up the entire experience at Chicago Hamburger Co. Maybe i should have tried one of the Chicago hot dogs.

Would i go back? Don’t think so. I think Chicago Hamburger Co is a one-and-done place. Tried it, wasn’t very memorable. If you’ve been reading B&C you know there’s many other GOOD burger places in town worth going to.

Cup o’ chili

Charbroiled burger

Charbroiled burger with all sorts of toppings and condiments

Fries

A Modern Love Story…

Mmmmmm, i sure am loving this recent burger/slider trend going on. My arteries, not so much….but i’m loving it. And no that’s not a nod to mcdonald’s and their current advertising slogan. those are some burgers i could definitely do without as long as places like Modern Burger exist. Modern Burger is the not quite as smart, not quite as hip, younger brother of Modern Steak, Fox Restaurant Concepts ultra sleek and ultra sexy steak house in the new wing of Fashion Square mall. Just to the left of the main entrance to the very spacious and equally as beautiful Modern Steak, is Modern Burger. It’s a very small, unassuming little walk up burger stand. Blink and you’ll miss it. There’s no tables, just a couple small counters to rest your food on as you quickly eat and move on to continue your high end shopping experience. I hear, usually, all the counter space is normally taken due to the popularity of Modern Burger. Luckily for me, the day i went i was the only person there, so finding some space to enjoy my quick lunch wasn’t a problem. Where as the menu at Modern Steak is filled with numerous steaks, seafood and various other meats and sides, the menu at Modern Burger is much smaller. To say the menu is streamlined would be an understatement. Here’s your options….twin sliders, a chopped turkey salad, fries, and an ice cream sandwich. There’s not much to choose from, but what they offer they do REALLY well. Back in december while doing some holiday shopping at the mall, after reading some VERY favorable reviews, i decided i had to give it a try. i walked up to the counter just big enough to fit a couple employees behind it, and I got an order of 2 sliders, fries and a soda all for just under $10. $10 at Modern Steak might get you a glass of tap water, maybe. The sliders are constructed using fresh ground beef, house made buns, american cheese, grilled chopped onions, 1000 island dressing and chopped iceberg lettuce. Served in a cute little cardboard box, they are little enough to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, fun to eat and absolutely bursting with flavor. These little sliders are filled with more flavor and more juice than most large burgers i’ve eaten. The bun, which isn’t exactly foccacia but similar, was warm, soft and moist…the perfect vessel to soak up all the juices of the burger that escape as you bite into it. The onions grilled perfectly to start the caramelization process, and the cheese melted just right. The yukon gold fries were hot, crispy golden and delicious, dusted with kosher salt. Everything was fresh, flavorful and prepared right on the spot.

Would i go back? Oh yes. The sliders at Modern Burger have a high crave factor. Unfortunately, they’re only open from 12-4pm on a daily basis, so for those people with an actual 9-5 job, unless you work close to the mall you might have to wait patiently for the weekend to roll around . Lucky for me, i live just down the street from fashion square, but even if i didn’t i’d happily go out of my way for those tasty little sliders. I will be back, and i will be back soon.

Twin Sliders

Fries

Rosenberg Reveals Revo

The shopping plaza at the northwest corner of camelback and 32ndt steert is slowly becoming a somewhat of a gourmet food court , thanks in large part to restaurateur Lenny Rosenberg. Late last year he opened his 3rd restaurant in the shopping plaza, Revo Burrito. The all-natural, casual, counter-service mexican restaurant in sandwiched in between lenny’s other 2 culinary ventures, the gourmet burger stand Delux, and his upscale sushi place Zen32. The same parking lot is also home to the gelato serving g-spot, keegans pub and grill and local foodie favorite noca. With all those choices there is certainly something for every taste, and if not just go to the safeway and make something to go cook at home and stop being so picky. Not being a big fan of sushi i’ve never tried zen32, but delux’s burgers and sweet potato fries i am a big fan of. Considering a guy named Lenny Rosenberg was opening up a chipotle-style burrito place, i was somewhat skeptical…but given the success of his other restaurants i was somewhat hopeful Revo Burrito could become another go-to burrito spot on that side of town. I was hoping Lenny Rosenberg brought in a guy with the name Carlos Hernandez, or maybe even a guy with the last name Filiberto to consult with him on how to properly cook and create an authentic burro. In an area thats so saturated with mexican food and burrito stands, how would Revo Burrito stand out and how would it survive?

The interior of Revo certainly doesn’t scream authentic mexican. It is however an attractive looking space. The decor is modern, funky and VERY vibrant. The use of various colors, shapes and textures create a fun and eclectic area for you to enjoy your mexican dining experience. The helpful staff were eager to take your order and answer any questions along the way. After ordering you’re given a number which you then take to display on the table of your choice. When your order is ready, it’s delivered to your table and time to enjoy. As usual, whenever possible, we chose a table outside. Unlike other places where we’ve enjoyed an outdoor meal, i’m hesitant to call this a beautiful and expansive outdoor dining patio. It’s really just a few table on the sidewalk between the door and the parking lot. Nonetheless, still nice to have to the option to eat al fresco. As for the food, it was just ok. Maybe one step above ok. Everything was fresh, and all-natural as advertised. It gave the feeling as though what i was eating was somehow healthier than a burrito from other places. Whether or not that statement is correct, i don’t know. This wasn’t the messy, cheesy, smothered in sauce, overflowing burrito i’ve come to know and love. Still, it had some decent flavor and the carne asada had a nice texture to it. the highlight of the meal for me was the creamy white rice with corn, red peppers and sauteed onions. I’m not sure how the rice was prepared, but it almost took on the texture of a creamy risotto. It was definitely different than any other rice i’ve had before, a nice departure from the usual. The black beans i found to be rather bland and tasteless. 

Would i go back? I’m going to say yes, but with an asterisk. I’d find it hard to actually go out of my way to go back to Revo Burrito. As i’ve said before, there’s just too many better places to get a solid burrito. If i find myself in that area and i’m craving a burrito, Revo definitely would be an option. While i enjoyed my meal, there was nothing ‘crave-able’ that would force me to go back over and over again.

Chicken machaca burrito combo - natural chicken breast, slow cooked and shredded, seasoned with tomatoes, onions, peppers & mexican spices. Includes pico de gallo, custom cheese blend & iceberg/romaine mix. Served with tri-colored corn chips, organic black beans & creamy white rice with corn, red peppers & sauteed onions.

Carne asada burrito combo - natural steak, includes pico de gallo, custom cheese blend, grilled onions, sour cream and fresh guacamole. Served with tri-colored corn chips, organic black beans & creamy white rice with corn, red peppers & sauteed onions.

Trick or Treat?

The Parlor quickly became a dining hotspot shortly after opening early last year. a short drive from phoenix favorite pizzeria bianco, the parlor might be stealing some of bianco’s customers serving up wood-fired pizzas, homemade pastas and rustic italian entrees minus the 5+ hour wait. nothing on the menu os over $20. julie, kari and i finally got there, after a couple failed attempts due to long waits, on halloween. Servers, and numerous diners were in all sorts of elaborate costumes which made for rather interesting people watching. The building, located just outside downtown phoenix at 20th & camelback, used to be the home to Salon de Venus. the transition from beauty parlor to pizza parlor must have made choosing the clever name rather easy. as a nod to the building’s salon past, vintage artwork, beauty chairs and hair dryers still exist and were somehow seamlessly incorporated into the parlor’s ultra modern and retro-hip, yet warm and cozy interior. the design and feel of the parlor was very reminiscent of the vig. The super sexiness also oozes outside onto the large semi enclosed patio dining area. while the parlor is located just off the street (camelback ave), large concrete walls and good design help make sure noise and unpleasant views aren’t a problem at all. we sat outside on the patio, and if i didn’t know i never would have guessed there was a major road just steps away. although we were dining outside on a fall night, between the large fireplace and all the heaters overhead, we were actually too hot and had to change tables to get a little further away from the heat. after a table change, and a pint of what i like to call heaven in a glass, we were cooled off and ready to enjoy our dining experience. any place that serves 4 peaks pumpkin porter on tap immediately earns points with me. unfortunately, i only got 1 pint of the very popular, and very limited seasonal brew of my favorite local brewery and that would be it for me before everyone in town quickly ran out of it. seriously, next fall, run to 4 peaks or where ever pumpkin porter is being served and load up on it. i recall the 3 of us being absolutely starving that night, so an appetizer was definitely in order. we chose the roasted cauliflower with aged cheddar and breadcrumbs. i’d say we chose well. warm, comforting and oozing with melted cheese. The roasted cauliflower became very tender when baked and crumbled in your mouth amongst the cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs. between the appetizer and 3 pizzas for the 3 of us, we may have over ordered a bit despite our extreme hunger. i think we had enough slices left over in the end to make a whole pie, but pizza leftovers are always good. I mentioned pizzeria bianco earlier, and i’m going to again saying that these pies, in my opinion, were just as good if not better than the pizza we ate at bianco during our recent visit. the ingredients were all fresh and delicious, local when possible. the crust, though a bit thicker than bianco’s, was still thin, bubbly, warm and cripsy. the wood-fired oven gave the pizzas a hint of a smoky flavor. i enjoyed all 3 pizzas, with the smokey probably being my least favorite. i loved the saltiness of the smoked prosciutto and olive tapenade, and the creaminess of the ricotta cheese…but i’ve decided pizzas covered in lettuce or other leafy greens just isn’t for me. anything that gets in the way of me and warm, bubbly melted cheese, especially when it’s a raw vegetable is just a bad bad idea.

would i go back? yes. seeing as i think it was way overhyped and fell short of our expectations, i hate to use pizzeria bianco as the benchmark for local pizza…but i would choose this place over bianco any day. between the food, the setting and the company, the parlor certainly was a halloween treat.

4 Peaks Pumpkin Porter

Cauliflower Gratinata - Roasted cauliflower with aged white cheddar & breadcrumbs

Funghi - wild mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle oil & chives

Smokey - speck (smoked prosciutto), olive tapenade, ricotta & fresh arugula

Darin Hates the French

What Darin hates much less - dining out. If he’s not on his office computer catching up on the week’s Chowbella posts, he’s downloading the newest foodie app on his Iphone. The boy is seriously into food (and certainly has ignited my own foodstuff flame). Our weekend plans are centered around what breakfast, lunch and dinner we’ll have and where. Now while I only kid about Darin hating the French, it is not a cuisine we choose often. But alas, up pops a new restaurant and Darin’s the first to know. Once a restaurant comes into Darin’s radar it lingers there sending out the “bleep bleep bleep” every so often as a reminder. Though knowing Darin, I have to wonder if the occasional bleep is much more like an ear piercing alarm not silenced until a trip is taken.

Well, getting to the point. Petite Maison came into Darin’s radar a few months ago and as soon as it did, we just had to make a visit. Since opening (mid year 2009) Petite Maison has often been described as a hidden gem in Old Town, Scottsdale. What impressed me most about this tiny tucked away French eatery was the atmosphere. Just down the road from our apartment, we were able to come to Petite Maison after only a short walk. Greeted by a romantic patio dressed with oversized umbrellas and warm lighting, we then crossed the threshold into a pocket sized dining room with breath taking wood floors, walls and ceiling. It was like being in the belly of a well crafted boat. This is the place to go when you’re looking to take your time and digest large glasses of vino and sophisticated food.

Petite Maison has a ever changing menu. Though I would hope they keep this French onion soup on the menu at all times. While I’ve tasted French onion soup previously, I never ordered it myself. Thankfully this was a generous size and Darin and I didn’t have to fight over it too much. The cheese was thick and stringy, not making it the easiest thing to gobble down though that didn’t stop us at all. This would be heaven on a cold day.

Our second appetizer, contrasting from the steamy crock of soup, was a serving of chilled steak tartar. It surprises me that Darin squirms at raw fish but he can down a scoop of uncooked beef. I’ve had steak tartar one or two other places and unfortunately, have to say that I liked Petite Maison’s the least. I prefer it thick and chunky over finely chopped and topped with a fried egg. But that’s just my own personal preference.

You wouldn’t be able to tell by this poor quality photo but this is Darin’s bacon-wrapped (SURPRISE SURPRISE) pork medallions with white asparagus & brussel sprouts. There wasn’t much in the way of the bacon but the pork medallions more than made up for this. I don’t remember taking a piece to try though I did fork up a couple of the brussel sprouts - yum!

Again, another lovely picture. Smoked chicken stuffed with goat cheese on a bed of scallion mashed potatoes. The first bite was delicious - we even commented to the waiter about the intense smokey flavor. Two bites after the compliment, the intensity got a bit too much. I’m ok with an added smoke flavor, but when it feels like I’ve bit into a chicken with black lung, I’ve gotta put the fork down.

Always my favorite part of the meal! Our creme brulee. Simple, delicate and hits the spot each and every time.