Food and Restaurants

More akin to the stacked enchiladas hailing from New Mexico, this textural flavor bomb is “nacho” typical pile of chips and orange cheese. Stacks of large, round, crispy tortillas hide hunks of succulent roasted pork, black beans and three kinds of cheese. Add to that three contrastive sauces – roasted tomato, tangy tomatillo and rich, Colorado red chile – slivers of kicky serrano chile and a drizzle of Mexican crema, and you’ve got a whole lot of flavor in this gussied up nacho. It leaves us speechless – and certainly reaching for the Donkey’s thirst-quenching silver coin margarita. ($12.50 or $8.50 for the short stack.) 34505 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, 480-488-3358, spotteddonkeycantina.com

 

Picking just one favorite, lip-smacking jam from Ernestine Riley’s 20-plus repertoire is almost impossible. Take the gorgeous fig jam, for example, which Postino Winecafé smears on its prosciutto sandwich and apple-and-brie bruschetta. But in the end, it’s the strawberry rhubarb that captures our taste buds. Why? Because it actually tastes of rhubarb first then strawberries. Riley says that, unlike most recipes, she “jams” three times the amount of rhubarb into every jar as she does strawberries. All we really know is that it tastes just like summer – sweet and sassy. ($6 for 8 ounces.) 3801 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, 602-268-3181, cottoncountryjams.com

 

What do you get when you wrap roasted, sweet butternut squash cubes and charred corn kernels together in corn tortillas and douse them with tart tomatillo verde salsa, Sonoma Jack cheese and a smattering of candied pecans? Love at first bite – and a virtual Southwestern vegetarian nirvana. Heck, even die-hard carnivores can’t resist this party-on-the-tongue, 100-percent vegetarian signature dish, available during lunch and dinner at both Herb Box locations. ($15) 6990 E. Shea Blvd., 480-998-8355; 20707 N. Pima Road, Scottsdale, 480-289-6180, theherbbox.com

 

The good news is that we’ve found the absolute best fried chicken in town. The bad news is that it’s only available once a month during NOCA’s Simple Sunday Suppers. What’s all the fuss? Maybe it’s the 24-hour citrus-and-spice brine, or the “top secret” flour coating, or perhaps it’s Executive Chef Chris Curtiss’ deft hand at frying the chicken just to the point of serious crispness. This town has some mighty fine fried chicken platters (Stacy’s, Lo Lo’s, Tuck Shop, to name a few) so we don’t take bestowing this “best of” award on NOCA lightly. Check the Website for the next fried chicken appearance and see for yourself. ($35, prix fixe three-course dinner) 3118 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602-956-6622, restaurantnoca.com

 

Eggs for dinner? Why not? We seriously considered Humble Pie’s organic, sunny-side-up-egg-topped prosciutto pizza and The Mission’s black bean and fried egg arepa, but we ultimately concluded that nobody does more justice to the humble egg outside of breakfast than Chef Christopher Gross with his classic French bistro salad. Oh, sure, others offer a version of this salade Lyonnaise, but after tasting them all, we keep returning for the bacon fat and sherry vinegar-dressed frisée-only salad, and that warm poached egg peeking out beneath a lavish mound of chewy bacon shards at Christopher’s Restaurant. Apparently, Gross is the James Bond of the molten poached egg – nobody does it better. ($12) 2502 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602-522-2344, christophersaz.com

 

Noshers, nibblers, grazers unite – and head straight for Sens. There’s no better place to spend a couple of hours leisurely sampling your way through a menu of small, flavor-packed selections. Try the kicky soup gyoza, clams steamed with Thai basil and an exceptional duck salad. Prices are reasonable, and the day’s rough edges will be smoothed by a fresh fruit “martini.” 705 N. First St., Phoenix, Ste. 120, 602-340-9777, sensake.com

 

No rubbery, tasteless ringlets and tentacles at this house. Chef Eddie Matney cuts his calamari on the thick side, anoints it with extra virgin olive oil and gives it a few seconds on an ultra hot grill. Paired with smoky and complex Moroccan-spiced tomato coulis, it is mild and tender. And, minus the batter and frying process, it’s also low in fat and calories. 7042 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, 480-946-1622, eddieshousescottsdale.com

 

There may be Caesar salads in town that are gutsier, but certainly none that are as carefully and artfully constructed. Done tableside with a minimum of theatrics, J&G’s staff gently folds lemony dressing into teeny baby romaine leaves, tops it with petite croutons and whisper-thin slivers of real Parmigiano-Reggiano and tosses it together with a grinding of fresh pepper. 6000 E. Camelback Road (The Phoenician), Scottsdale, 480-214-8000,
jgsteakhousescottsdale.com

 

Bombay’s Americanized, healthier versions of Indian classics are simply delicious and made even more so by the prettily presented quartet of accompanying sauces. Lively mint and tangy cucumber-dotted yogurt are served along with assertive, complex hot sauce and, for sweet-and-sour lovers, musky tamarind. Dollop them on crisp chapatti bread or chubby little lamb chops and dig in. 10810 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 602-795-0020, bombayspice.com

 

Moules and frites are iconically Belgian, but they translate surprisingly well. Witness these plump, sweet bivalves piled high in lambent wine, butter, shallot and thyme broth. They’re served in the traditional cast-iron boat along with crisp, double-fried potato sticks in a paper cone with herbed aioli. Ask for crusty bread to sop up the last delicious drops of sauce. 7114 E. Stetson Drive, Ste. 105, Scottsdale, 480-994-3663, metrosouthbridge.com

 

The InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa is fit for a king (or a president: Obama stayed there in February), but the hoi polloi can bask in luxury at its Kasbah Pool Bar & Grill. After a grueling day at the spa or for a pre-dinner drink, lounge in the plush patio chairs and watch as daylight fades against Camelback Mountain. The bar usually closes an hour after sunset, except on Fridays beginning in September for live jazz. 4949 E. Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, 480-627-3200, icmontelucia.com

 

With apologies to the Drifters, when this old world starts getting you down, climb way up to the top of the stairs and have a cocktail – or wine and cheese – at Upstairs at the Estate House. It’s the antidote to the frenetic Scottsdale club scene, with a laidback, inviting atmosphere and mellow live music. For date night or a low-key get-together with friends, it’s peaceful as can be. 7134 E. Stetson Drive, Ste. 200, Scottsdale, 480-970-4099, estatehouseaz.com

 

Once you’ve tasted toothsome, eggy, silky strands of handmade pasta, those bags of water-based dried noodles literally pale in comparison. At PastaBar, chefs Wade Moises and Nick Gentry (pictured) make pasta the way Italian grandmas have been doing it for 800 years: from scratch and with Italian flour and farm fresh eggs. While they do use some machines, much of the process is traditional. To make their stringy chitarra and bavette pastas, they roll dough across a chitarra, a pasta-making tool shaped like a rectangular guitar whose design has been around for centuries. A wooden pasta comb puts grooves in the gnocchi, which are so light they could levitate, even when swaddled in a fennel sausage ragu. Just like in Italy, the pastas are often adorned with the simplest of sauces. “We try to impress people with simplicity,” Gentry says. With ingredients this fresh, the pastas speak for themselves. 705 N. First St., Phoenix, 602-687-8704, pastabaraz.com

 

City planners probably didn’t envision it this way, but the Central Avenue METRO Light Rail line is a direct route to a progressive happy hour. Suggestion: Start at Postino (postinowinecafe.com) for $5 wine by the glass until 5 p.m. Hit Fez (fezoncentral.com) for half-off drink specials until 6 p.m., stop at Cheuvront (cheuvronts.com) from 4 to 6 p.m. for drinks and $5 appetizers, and then walk south to Portland’s (portlandsphoenix.com), where specials run 5 to 7 p.m. (including their killer Parmesan fries for $5).

 

Whether it’s a Napa Cabernet or a French Pouilly-Fuisse you’ve been saving, pop the cork with confidence at Amuse Bouche, a tiny westside BYOB bistro with a big heart. Husband-and-wife chefs/owners Kiersten and Snir Mor met at cooking school in Paris and serve up some of the finest French/international cuisine in town, from decadent duck to stupendous scallops. Bring your own stemware, though; their glasses are basic. 17058 W. Bell Road, Ste. 104, Surprise, 623-322-8881, amusebouche.biz

 

Breakfast in the Valley is sizzling, thanks to a proliferation of Valley places dishing up eggs, French toast and more inventive morning fare. Nowhere is the quality and variety better than “Breakfast Row” in downtown Scottsdale, where diners can agonize over whether to get the huevos rancheros at The Breakfast Club (thebreakfastclub.us), the honey turkey sausage omelet at Daily Dose (480-994-3673), the croque madame at Metro Brasserie & Bar (metrosouthbridge.com) or the pancakes with a side of bacon from – guess where? – Bacon (480-947-3090).

 

The tag lines that show up when Googling Wei’s Website include these sexy thoughts: “daily love dark chocolate; sensual love dark chocolate; inner peace; inner clarity; hot chocolate; Himalayas; joy; awareness; natural; antioxidants; organic.” We couldn’t have said it better, because this Phoenix-based chocolatier crafts 100-percent organic dark chocolate vitalized with organic herbs, spices and Lotus Wei flower essences. That includes blissful blends like “Daily Gratitude” with chai spices, “Daily Love” with chili powder, and “Sensual Love” with five aphrodisiac herbs. It’s vegan, made with Fair Trade cocoa and, according to its Website, “mindfully prepared and infused with love, mantra and pure intention.” Well, we don’t know about mantra, but we do know that we love it, and we have the pure intention of eating as much of it as possible. You can purchase the addictive confection by calling 602-577-2338, by visiting weiofchocolate.com or by picking it up at several Valley locations, which are listed on its Website.

 

Need some authentic Eastern European ingredients? Take the carry-all bags and the cooler to Bista’s Deli and Market, the finest and fullest Polish grocery in the Valley. Guaranteed, you won’t be able to pronounce most of the stuff there unless you are seriously Polish, but don’t worry – it’s all good. From the jars of pickled beets and an array of sauerkraut brands to the house-made meats, it’s a cornucopia of fabulous flavors. If you’re a creamed herring fan, sit down: It’s made fresh in-house, too, not sold in a jar. Pâté and pigs’ knuckles, a slew of sausages, cheeses you probably never knew existed, cartons of soft, jelly-filled cookies and Polish wines are just some of the other traditional treats you can purchase. There’s also a restaurant and wine bar if you want to sample on site. 24825 N. 16th Ave., Ste. 100, Phoenix, 623-580-1591, bistasdeliandmarket.com

 

Almost everyone who enters Tuck Shop wants to move in. It makes sense, given that it’s a converted home. But unlike most converted-house restaurants, which consist of a warren of cramped rooms, Tuck Shop is a single, airy, living room-like space. Architect-turned-restaurateur DJ Fernandes’ deft design (think subtle modern art, cozy furniture and playful retro accessories) makes you feel as comfortable as if you were lounging at a friend’s house. Curl up on the couch in the “reading room” nook and peruse the tomes on the bookshelves. Bring the colored pencils to your paper-topped table and play games with your pals (remember MASH, ladies?). The mellow music and low overall decibels mean you can speak at normal volume, and the inventive comfort-food tapas are shareable conversation-starters. The best part about calling this hangout home? You don’t have to do the dishes. 2245 N. 12th St., Phoenix, 602-354-2980, tuckinphx.com

 

This cute Scottsdale Airpark bakery, which was selecting its new location at press time,  has a delicious way of doing business. When asked what flavors are offered, owner Kelly Garcia quips, “what do you want?” Our heart belongs to a most incredible chocolate cupcake slathered in brown-sugar buttercream frosting and wearing, get this, a crown of bacon toffee. Take a bite and it’s an explosion of salty and sweet, velvety and crunchy. A caveat to your craving, though: Call ahead. Pick-ups are by pre-order only, but there’s free delivery within Scottsdale, and for a small fee in metro Phoenix. Coming this fall, look for an actual storefront to open somewhere in Scottsdale. 480-363-2859,
butterandme.com

 

What chef-owner Joshua Hebert does with his modern American cooking is stand-up sensational. In a wild riff on interactive eating, this “improvisational cuisine” means there’s no menu per se: You choose the ingredients and the preparation, then sit back while the kitchen goes wild with recipes. Start with a list kind of like a sushi bar, and check off your choices in boxes titled simply  “smoked pork belly,” “rabbit,” “Mexican shrimp,” “Diver scallops,” “duck” and “such” (that “such” can be pretty outrageous, too, like alligator or kangaroo). Choose how many courses you want, and Hebert creates your custom meal, with stunning results ranging from bitter chocolate sprinkled on a salad of avocado, blood orange, grapefruit and watercress; to an uncommon “sandwich” of crispy-skin loup de mer (sea bass) tucked with peas and hedgehog mushrooms on cauliflower purée; to even popcorn soup. One of the best seats is at the counter, overlooking the theater in the exposition kitchen. 7167 E. Rancho Vista Drive, Ste. 111 (Optima Camelview Village), Scottsdale, 480-663-7674, poshscottsdale.com

 

Did chef Aaron May set out to create a restaurant that’s as popular with pooches as it is with two-legged patrons? Likely not, but as long as the furry clientele keep their well-behaved selves contained to the patio, it’s all good. This is where the fashionable types come for great people (and puppy) watching overlooking Market Street at DC Ranch in north Scottsdale, and to dive into delicious, rustic Italian fare through breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’ve been known to sneak our doggie a tiny bite from our morning meal of pancetta, provolone, tomato and fried egg panini, or perhaps a smidge of the marvelous meatballs that come with the lunchtime bucatini in garlic ragu. At dinner, though, it’s strictly paws off – there’s no way we’re sharing our braised veal with polenta and wild mushrooms – beseeching big brown eyes or not. 20825 N. Pima Road, Ste. 100, Scottsdale, 480-513-2886, eatatautostrada.com

 

We’re thrilled about the proliferation of farmers’ markets that have exploded across the Valley in the past year (go, local, seasonal products!). Yet how to choose the best one?  In the end, we had to give the highest props to Old Town Scottsdale’s Farmers’ Market for its flair and flat-out creativity. The Saturday open-air fest is smack dab in the middle of one of the Valley’s hottest restaurant ’hoods, so you’ll find great restaurant-style fare, such as the gorgeous artisan breads offered from Il Terrazzo master baker Ben Hershberger. Celebrity chef sightings are common, too, like Digestif’s Payton Curry, who loves to lead Slow Food cooking classes on shopping trips here. There are fun bonuses: Well-mannered pets are welcome, and if you bring your own shopping bags you’ll get a $1 coupon redeemable with any vendor. But the clincher is that the market figured out a way to remain open through the sizzling summer months – by moving into the City Mall’s mist-cooled, underground parking garage. First Street and Brown Avenue, Scottsdale, 480-312-7750, arizonafarmersmarkets.com

 

We admit it. We love a good corn dog, even if it’s not fashionable to say so. And unless the fair is in town or we’re desperate enough to nuke a frozen one, we don’t often get to indulge our passion. Thanks to Ahnala’s creative chefs, though, we can not only feed our fantasy, we can do it with style. The chef takes sweet lump crabmeat, peppers and onion and shapes it into sausage. The beauties are battered and deep-fried to properly greasy goodness, then served with red pepper sauce and, the pièce de résistance, truffle popcorn. Decadent dog! 10438 N. Fort McDowell Road, Scottsdale/Fountain Hills, 480-789-5300, radissonfortmcdowellresort.com

 

This world-bazaar of all things edible opened late last year from partners Luka Muslin, Slaven Grubisha and Steve Djekic. The idea? To showcase foods of their native Serbia alongside an array of French, Greek, Hungarian, Swiss, Italian, Bulgarian… essentially anything enjoyable from Europe. The results are deliriously good, from the marketplace selling hard-to-find smoked meats and sausages to the restaurant sending out high-end sandwiches, salads, crepes and entrées (breads, for example, are from Simply Bread; mozzarella is homemade). You can find exotic old homeland favorites like pierogi or cevapi (Slavic ground sirloin links). But even timid diners will appreciate delicious dishes like the hot pastrami sandwich or the chicken Cordon Bleu. 1935 S. Val Vista Dr., Mesa, 480-926-3354, pastisaz.com

 

Packed with more flavor than its bland cousin cabbage, and more nutritional value than just about every other food on the planet, kale is one leafy green we can’t get enough of. So why is it absent from so many Valley menus? Chakra to the rescue! This cute café with a holistic vibe serves up some of the best vegetarian food in town, but it’s the double dose of kale that calls to us. Choose from the Kaleidoscope salad ($14), which mixes lacinato kale with a bevy of nuts, veggies and herbs (is that fresh dill we detect?), or the Massage salad ($11), which earns its name from the zesty citrus-garlic marinade that gets “massaged” into the kale. We’ll take either version of this satisfying superfood any day – make that every day. 4773 N. 20th St., Phoenix (Town & Country Shopping Center), 602-283-1210, chakra4herbs.com

 

When the 3 p.m. blahs are getting the best of us, we can’t help but reach for a liquid pick-me-up (not one that comes in a martini glass, you lushes). Our afternoon distraction comes courtesy of Jolta Java, the best little coffee shop/lunch spot in north Scottsdale. One sip of the lavender mint iced tea – a refreshing blend of subtle lavender flowers and perky mint, brewed fresh daily – and our nerves are soothed and our minds refocused. There’s no caffeine in this chilly blend, so why are we so addicted? 14418 N. Scottsdale Road,
Ste. 185, Scottsdale, 480-607-7771, joltajava.com

 

As if serving the best food in the Valley weren’t enough, NOCA owner Eliot Wexler also has a knack for pleasing his patrons with the best tunes in town. Most restaurant music either fades into the background or shocks the soul with Muzak massacres of our favorite songs, but NOCA’s funky, diverse playlist simply plays into the memorable dining experience there. When asked who’s responsible for the eclectic set, which ranges from Nina Simone to the Gorillaz to Beck, Wexler flashes a proud smile and takes the credit. Seems he’s just as much a music buff as he is a foodie. “The style of cuisine of the restaurant is Modern American, and what is America? A melting pot, so I feel our music parallels the cuisine,” says Wexler, who lists The Sugarcubes, The Kills, The Charlatans, Moby, Peter Bjorn and Muddy Waters among his favorites. 3118 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, 602-956-6622, restaurantnoca.com

 

Every handmade truffle from this Paris-trained chocolate maven is worth savoring, but it’s Julia Baker’s decadent French caramel truffle that has us drooling at the thought of it. This perfect little orb of creamy chocolate (milk, dark or white) coats a gooey center of the most luscious caramel ever to coat our tongues. Add some crunch from a sweet toffee coating and we’re in a truffle trance. No wonder these sinful delights are Julia’s signature and have earned her the right to craft her sweets – which also include custom cakes – for celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Bono and Jennifer Aniston. 877-458-5422, juliabakerconfections.com

 

Backstreet lures us back time and time again for its quaint European atmosphere, superior selection of wine and delectable dishes. Easy to pass but not easy to forget, Backstreet is tucked away in Gaslight Square on 36th Street and Indian School Road, but you’ll never know you’re in central Phoenix once you take a seat at a white-linen-clothed table and order one of several wines by the glass or bottle. Feeling spontaneous? Order the “mystery special,” and owner Jack Wulffson will personally select a red or white wine for you (the oenophile selects every bottle for the menu, so you’re in good hands). Nosh on a sampler of manchego, aged gouda, stilton and smoked duck, take in the works of local artists that adorn the walls, and while away the rest of summer at this cool, cozy hideaway. 3603 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix, 602-550-7900, backstreetwine.com

 

It’s a typical story these days: A high-powered exec ditches the corporate world to pursue her true passion. In Sidney Miller’s case, the risk has paid off. Miller, 34, left her career as a corporate recruiter for firms like Google and Microsoft when she had her daughter, Annie Violet, a year ago. Her new gig? Baking the softest, gooiest, habit-inducing cookies in town. The Valley native is new to the biz – she only started selling her cookies in February – but her “viciously good cookies” already are selling in select AJ’s stores, or you can order batches directly from Sid herself. Our favorite? “With Love…Annie V,” a sweet, crunchy concoction of white chocolate and almonds (finally, an alternative to the macadamia nut version!), but we’ll take the other flavors any day: Peanut Buttahs, Chockie Bickie (a blend of two rich chocolates), and Scotchies (a classic butterscotch). Only her two Pomeranians know the secret ingredients of her super sweet, doughy confections, but she claims they’re “made the way cookies are supposed to be made – not fat free, not low glycemic, gluten free, sugar free... nothing free here.” We just have one word to say to that: sweet. 602-468-2974, sidsviciouslygoodcookies.com