Celebrate National Rice Month this September with these local dishes.
Chifa-Style Fried Rice
Chinese and Peruvian cuisines meld in the fried rice ($25) at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort’s Toro Latin Restaurant & Rum Bar. It’s chockablock with meat and veg. scottsdaleprincess.com/toro
Uzbek Plov
A mound of golden rice with carrots and peas is topped with succulent chunks of beef ($14) in this dish at Café Chenar in North Phoenix. cafechenar.com
Arancini
How to improve upon risotto? Roll it into balls, stuff them with cheese, fry until crisp and serve over pomodoro sauce ($11.50) like they do at Federal Pizza in Phoenix. federalpizza.com
Biryani
North Phoenix’s Hyderabad Rasoi specializes in biryani, a layered Indian rice dish you can order with proteins from paneer to mutton ($9.99-$14.99). hyderabadrasoi.com
Paella Valenciana
Share your socarrat (crispy rice on the bottom of the pan) or keep it to yourself with Prado at Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa’s take on this Spanish classic ($49), which serves one to two. omnihotels.com/hotels/scottsdale-montelucia
Vegetarian Bibimbap
House-made tofu and a colorful array of vegetables perch atop pristine rice in this veg dish ($13.95) at The Stone Tofu House in Mesa. thestonetofuaz.com
