Ceviche & Shrimp Salad, Restaurant Salvadoreño

BEST SALADS

Beef Yum Gai
Tottie’s Asian Fusion
7901 E. Thomas Road, Scottsdale
480-970-0633
tottiesasianfusion.com

This salad is hot and cool: Spicy grilled sirloin is accented by lettuce, cucumbers, mint, lime leaf and cilantro, and it gets added punch from crisp onion slices, garlic and fish sauce. It’s complex, fiery and beautiful, and it’s every foodie’s dream. $8.95

Ceviche & Shrimp Salad
Restaurant Salvadoreño
303 E. Southern Ave., Mesa
480-964-5577

Refreshing yet substantial, this salad will transport you to the beaches of Cabo before you can say, “Muchas gracias.” A bed of lettuce is topped with shrimp ceviche – diced shrimp “cooked” in a citrus marinade – and layered with tomato, onion, peppers and grilled whole shrimps. Slices of avocado, tomato and cucumber round out the platter. $11.50

BEST PIZZAS

Wiseguy
Pizzeria Bianco
623 E. Adams St., Phoenix
602-258-8300
pizzeriabianco.com

Well, this is a no-brainer. Check almost any “best of” list, from New York Times to Wine Spectator, and Chris Bianco’s place is on it. He’s been quoted as saying the Rosa (with pistachios) is his favorite, but I’m fond of the Wiseguy, thanks to the house-smoked mozzarella, wood-roasted onion and fennel sausage. $14

Portobello Arugula

Nello’s Pizza
4710 E. Warner Road, Phoenix
480-893-8930
nellospizza.com

This is the only Nello’s to serve this pizza, but hopefully the others will follow. Herbal arugula and garlic with meaty Portobello, cremini and white mushrooms is enhanced by creamy fontinella and mozzarella cheeses and slightly salty shaved Parmesan. Meat? We don’t need no stinkin’ meat. $15


BEST PORK

Carne Adovada
Carlsbad Tavern
3313 N. Hayden Road,
Scottsdale
480-970-8164

This slow-roasted pork simmered in red Anaheim chilies can pack a wallop, depending on whether the chilies are in season or not, but it’s worth it. The big choice here is whether to enjoy it in the interior, with its copper bar and bat theme, or on the gorgeous patio, with water features and fireplaces. $10.75

Kurobata Pork Three Ways
Kai
5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd.,
Gila River Indian Community
wildhorsepassresort.com

Your fork won’t know which way to turn: Start with pan-seared tenderloin rolled in fair-trade coffee and native seed chili dust. Or the silky, slowly braised pork belly lacquered with a sweet-hot mixture of Irish whisky mustard, apple cider and Happy Bear honey. Maybe the pulled pork with pomegranate and pudding-like roasted onion flan? It’s all exquisite. $37