Il Vinaio

Where:   Mesa, AZ
When:    January 24, 2010
Who:      Jilly and Mo
What:     Restaurant
Cost:      $13.00-$20.00 for dinner entrees
Rating:  4.0 stars (out of 5)

I heard about Il Vinaio through a magazine article in a Phoenix magazine and thought it looked interesting so I asked my friends if they wanted to check it out.  We were originally going to go on Saturday night but received a special and changed our plans.  When I was on the restaurant’s Web site, I signed up for their enewsletter specials and received an email with a 50% off special for Sunday – Thursday so we changed our plans and decided to take advantage of some free money and checked out the restaurant on a Sunday. 

Il Vinaio

Il Vinaio is in old town Mesa, which isn’t the greatest part of town and in all honesty, the exterior of the restaurant isn’t very desirable.  It’s next to a shady Best Western hotel and the restaurant itself looks like a “Village Inn” chain restaurant – not very desirable.  However, when you enter Il Vinaio, all thoughts of what you had on the exterior soon fade.  The interior is nicely decorated, homey, romantic and cozy.  When Jilly and I arrived a 6pm on Sunday, there were only three other tables taken and there is seating for probably 80 or so in the entire restaurant.  It’s always disappointing to see a quaint little restaurant with seemingly so much to offer, so void of clientele.  I’m sure the Olive Garden down the road had a wait to eat – what is wrong with people??

This 50% off special that Jilly and I took advantage of included a bottle of wine + two entrees for $40.  How can you go wrong?  Even if the food sucks ass, you have a nice bottle of wine to enjoy, right??  Well, the food didn’t suck ass and the wine was phenomenal! 

Inside of Il Vinaio

Jilly and I were seated by our wonderful waiter, Matthew and he quickly brought us our menus and some water.  Jilly and I were having trouble deciding on both what wine to choose (great wine list) and the entree we would order.  We decided on a bottle of Pinot which Matthew agreed was a great choice. 

I chose the  Braised Pork Shank, Buttered Spinach and Yukon Gold Potatoes Fresh Herbs which was $17.50 and Jilly chose the  Braised Lamb Ragu with Fettuccine Pasta and Shave Parmesan which was $15.00.  While we waited for the entree we enjoyed our bottle of Pinot and rolls Matthew brought to our table.  Our entrees came quickly and they were both phenomenal.  My pork shank fell off the bone and I couldn’t stop eating it – I didn’t leave anything to take home or for any dog to enjoy – I cleaned my plate.  Jilly thoroughly enjoyed her Lamb Ragu and had more self restraint than I and only finished half her entree and took the other half home so she could enjoy it again tomorrow. 

Pork Shank at Il Vinaio

Through the email club, we saved $36 on our bill which we were awesome.  How many places can you go and get a bottle of wine and two entrees for $40 and not only good entrees but great entrees?? 

We highly recommend this restaurant and hope they see more customers as it’s a gem in the east valley.  Don’t let the neighborhood or the exterior of the restaurant fool you, go in and enjoy it.   Always remember to enjoy the food but to also enjoy your friends.  Eat, drink and be merry!!

Hanny’s

Where:    Phoenix, AZ
When:     December 18, 2009
Who:       Leannada, Jilly and Mo
What:      Restaurant
Cost:       Pizza/Salads/Sanwiches – $10
Rating:    4 stars (out of 5)

Never hear of Hanny’s?  Join the club.  A couple of guys at my work were talking about it, and being the nosey person I am, I listened into their conversation.  They had both been there more than once and were talking about how cool the place was.  I figured this would be a great place for us to check out on our own, so us girls met downtown Friday after work for a drink and some dinner. 

Hanny's

The location of Hanny’s is great, centrally located on First St., in walking distance to just about anything downtown.  The building was built in 1947 and opened as Hanny’s Department Store.  If you want to know more about the history of Hanny’s, check out their website and read all about it, it’s pretty cool.  They opened up Hanny’s restaurant a little over a year ago and it still has a little of the “department store” feel to it, in a hip and trendy way.

Hanny's Christmas Tree

Leannada and I got there around 5pm and there were only a dozen or so people there; a couple at the bar and the rest seated at tables.  We decided to sit at the bar and wait for Jilly, and ended up eating at the bar too.  The guys at work said the bartenders make a mean drink, so we perused the drink menu and decided on an Appletini for Leannada and a Peartini for me.  A couple of guys at the bar a few seats down from us overheard us talking and said they their drinks are VERY STRONG and told us that there is a saying, “Gave you a Hanny” which loosely translated means, “Gave you a buzz” or loaded the drink with alcohol. They didn’t lie; those drinks were very strong; good but strong. 

Hanny's Peartini

Jilly arrived shortly after our drinks did and she ordered a Champagne cocktail and we then ordered dinner.  We all ordered a pizza; veggie for me, margherita for Leannada and Prosciutto de Palma for Jilly. 

While we waited for our dinners, we chatted with the bartender who was really nice and not bad looking:).  The place started to fill up a little bit and I decided to take a walk around the place.  There are two floors completed; the main level and then a mezzanine level where the bathrooms are located.  To get to the mezzzanine, you can either take the elevator that has a see through floor.  I was not brave enough to get in the elevator seeing the entire elevator shaft below me; but it was pretty cool to stand on.  I took the safe and secure stairs up to the mezzanine level and noticed there was another bar up there; small but cute.  The bathrooms are unisex and situated in a circular room/area. The doors blend into the walls, so you have to just push on what you think is a door to see if anyone is in there.  Good news/bad news on a unisex bathroom:  Good news = probably never have to wait.  Bad news = you run the risk of entering a bathroom with the seat up – ARG!!!

Hanny's Bathrooms

Our pizzas arrived and they were huge, which surprised me because someone told me their portions were small.  We only ate half of our pizzas and took the rest home.  The food was really good – but how badly can you screw up a pizza?? 

We definitely will be back to Hanny’s and hope you check it out as well.  The service is great, food is good, ambiance is fun and where else can you “Get a Hanny”?

LON’s at the Hermosa

Where:    Phoenix, AZ
When:     December 5, 2009
Who:       Leannada, Jilly, Mo, Jannette, Malcolm, Pepito and Theresa
What:      Restaurant
Cost:       A lot…$60+ per person with alcohol
Rating:    4 stars (out of 5)

If you are looking for a romantic dinner that is also an experience, Lon’s is your destination.  A couple of us have been to Lon’s before; for brunch and dinner and we loved it.  I don’t know if we loved it for the location and atmosphere or for the food, or both.  Regardless, Lon’s is definitely someplace every Phoenician should check out at some point. 

Lon's

If you are looking to dine on a budget, Lon’s isn’t the place for you.  You won’t get out of here cheap, but it’s worth it.  Skip out on a couple of meals at your favorite chain restaurant and experience a Phoenix classic, you won’t be disappointed.  We made reservations 3 weeks in advance and could only secure a 8:45 reservation, so plan ahead.  Also get good directions because this place is in a middle of a residential area of Paradise Valley and it’s easy to miss among the hundreds of mansions that litter the area.

The Crew at Lon's

We were seated promptly with great service as you would imagine from such an esteemed place.  We ordered some wine and quickly chose our entrees from the menu – we were all starved after visiting the Desert Botanical Garden and strolling the Las Noches de las Luminarias.   We ordered some wine and feasted on the bread baskets they brought out.  I think the cheapest bottle of wine they served was $40, so be prepared to splurge when you go.  They do have a phenomenal wine list and we all wished we had the bank accounts to enjoy some more expensive wines. 

We enjoyed many of their entrees including:
Roasted fulton valley free range chicken w/ garlic mashed potatoes, baby portobello mushrooms salsify and chicken jus – $25
Wood grilled beef tenderloin with portobello mushroom and goad chees pie, california red wine sauce, swiss chard and small carrots – $34
Peach and mild curry crusted rack of lamb braised fennel, roasted potatoes and queen creek olive jus – $34

Lons at the Hermosa

Everything was lovely; the atmosphere, the service, the food and of course the company.  Enjoy Phoenix and it’s treasures with your friends and loves ones!

Las Noches de las Luminarias

Where:   Phoenix, AZ
When:    December 5, 2009
Who:     Leannada, Jilly, Mo, Jannette, Malcolm, Pepito and Theresa
What:    Holiday Event
Cost:    $25.00 per person
Rating:  4.0 stars (out of 5)

For all you Phoenicians who think there is no culture in Arizona, you need to get out and explore.  There is so many wonderful things to do if you open up your mind and search a little on the Internet.  Las Noches de las Luminarias is one of my favorite holiday traditions in Arizona.  Each year at the Desert Botanical Garden, the garden is lined with hand-lit luminarias throughout the garden. 

Luminarias with a statue from Allen Houser

Big deal, right?  What’s a few thousand luminarias in the garden going to do for me?  Go and find out!  It’s not just about the luminarias, it’s about experiencing a southwest tradition that is amazing.  Get all bundled up, make a date with the one/s you love and head out to the garden and find out first hand what a great experience this is.  I suggest you get your tickets well in advance, as they sell out quickly.  The event runs for the entire month of December and has a little bit for everyone. 

Las Noches de las Luminarias

We got to the garden around 7pm on December 5th and it was pretty crowded as we imagined.  The garden opens at 5:30pm for this event and it runs through 9:30pm.  I’ve been at all different times and obviously the later you go, the less crowded it will be.  For all you boozers (we definitely fall into this category), there is many beverage choices to enjoy while you stroll the garden; wine, beer, hot totties:).  

Luminaries with an Allen Houser sculpture

A bonus this year was the splattering of Allen Houser sculptures around the garden.  I want to go back to the garden in the daytime to see them in a different light, but it brings an added bonus to the luminaries.   Along with the beauty of the peaceful luminaries, there is also a number of entertainers as you stroll through the garden.  Every couple of hundred yards there is a different “act” that you can stop and enjoy.  There are things from a barbershop quartet, to a flutist to a story-teller.  You can spend hours at the garden taking in all the sights, sounds and tastes (yummy beverages).

Jill & Leanne Take Manhattan

Where:  New York City
When: October 15 – 20, 2009
Who: Leanne and Jill
What: Everything
Cost: $$$
Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)

After being stuck in 100+ temperatures for the last three months we both were craving a fall experience. To some, fall is cold, dreary and means the dreaded winter weather is on its way. To me, it’s a season of change – orange, red and gold warm the crisp air and create a welcoming embrace. Our chosen destination…New York City!

Time Square

I had never been to NYC or the east coast. Jill, being a Maine native has visited the city a few times and knew here way around. Jill became the city navigator. Our journey started with the never ending cab ride. I had heard traffic is rough and the cab drivers are slightly crazy but never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined it would take 2.5 hours to get from JFK to our hotel in midtown. Honestly, it was a great way for me to get a glimpse of the city and driving etiquette or lack there of. I now understand why we have horns! There isn’t just one standard honk – it seemed as though there were at least five different types and I’m guessing they all have meanings…hmmm, perhaps I should design an iPhone app.! LOL

I won’t take you through our six day adventure but what I will tell you is NYC is alive with a culture like I have never seen before. We found people to be warm and kind, culinary delights in every direction and a city with an artistic heart beat. As you can tell from my bio and reading some of my other posts, I am an artist and really enjoy the scene. You can imagine my delight of being in a city with some that lives and breathes culture. Jill was incredibly patient with me as we meandered our way through the MoMA and the Guggenheim. While quiet in my approach, I was beaming with delight and had trouble at times containing my excitement. I swear I was weak at the knees when my eyes first focused on Salvador Dali’s surrealist sculpture “Retrospective Bust of a Woman”. My camera was overheating as I tried to capture it all…250 photo’s later!

Retrospective Bust of a Woman

We had come to NYC with a list of places to see, things to do and restaurants to try. Our explorations lead us through Midtown, Time Square, the Theatre District, Greenwich Village, SOHO, Chinatown, Little Italy, K-town, the East & West Villages and Brooklyn. I fell in love with the brownstones in Brooklyn, the vibe in Greenwich Village and welcoming feel of Central Park. The architecture and mood of each area was so very unique but the thing that stood out most was the people.

A stroll through the park

With the advice of our concierge we headed out to find the suggested Italian restaurant. I can’t recall the name of the restaurant and that might have been part of the initial problem. When I am overtired and hungry my memory seems to fail. As we walked through the streets, I looked at all the restaurant signs and thought I had found the concierge recommendation. I know we said Italian but somehow we ended up at a Estiatorio Milos, a Mediterranean restaurant! LOL I really can’t read when I’m hungry. After waiting a bit, we were seated. The atmosphere was a little stuff for us but we managed. The food ended up being really great and might I add – I think we both enjoyed dipping our bread in possibly the best olive oil ever! We started with Calamari, followed by Lamp chops and Raw Tuna. The tables were close together making it easy to make friends with your neighbor. To our right, sat two very witty stylish gentlemen whose laughter was rather contagious. They ended up dropping a few restaurant names to our list. Honestly, everywhere we went the locals shared their favorite watering holes. Our list grew long!!! We couldn’t possibly try all the places we had been given but were delighted at how friendly everyone seemed to be. Quit possibly our favorite spot, was a restaurant we found on Yelp. It was an Italian and located in the East Village – In Vino Winebar and Restaurant. The atmosphere was cozy, the service friendly and the food – fresh and flavorful. The girls at the table next to us shared a sort of food kinship and ended up chatting with us for awhile. They too added to our “must try list”. Our second pick is the bar inside Brooklyn’s River Cafe. The bartender’s sense of humor was ripe beyond belief and you couldn’t help but smile. Not only was he entertaining but I do believe he may have had a crush on Jill. What started out as one innocent Bellini turned into 3.5!! Larry was kind and full of wit – he entertained us and the other patrons for quite awhile and even when it got busy Larry was still “on”. He brought out complimentary assortment of sorbet in flavors of Vanilla Cream, Orange and Lemon – truly delicious. Between the breath taking views of Manhattan and Larry’s banter it was really tough to leave. If you ever have a chance – visit Larry!

In Vino Winebar & Restaurant

Jill and I couldn’t leave NYC without seeing a Broadway production. We got tickets to Wicked through our hotel. All I can say is…WOW! What an amazing production. Glenda’s character kept us laughing while Elphaba tugged at our heart strings. The creativity blew me away!

I love New York City

We’re back in the land of the sun with a satisfied stomach and a heart chocked full of inspiration…I heart NY!

Estate House

Where:    Estate House, Scottsdale AZ
When:     October 15, 2009
Who:       Mo and Cindy
What:      Lunch
Cost:       Salads from $10 – Sandwiches from $11
Rating:    4 stars (out of 5)

Estate House Entrance

I’ve heard about the Estate House from a few different people but for one reason or another never made it there.  Luckily, my work is scouting some restaurants in downtown Scottsdale for an event in December and I “had” to check it out:)  Cindy and I headed up there for lunch today to check out the place and man, were we surprised, pleasantly surprised. 

 

Cindy & Mo

It’s situated across the canal from Olive and Ivy and is directly across the street from Cowboy Ciao.  My friends and I have been to Olive and Ivy and we weren’t impressed.  Cowboy Ciao is another story – that place is almost an experience:)  It’s almost ironic that the Estate House is physically located in the middle of these two restaurants because I almost feel its ambiance and feel is in the middle of the two as well. 

 

Estate House Bathroom - don't ask!

The entrance is rustic and warm and I can only imagine what it’s like at night with all the candles lit.   Cindy and I graciously welcomed by every available waitress that was around and we were promptly seated.  We decided to sit outside and enjoy the wonderful 85 degree weather.  Their patio in the back is delightful and completely shaded with lots of greenery.  We were brought water with our choice of lime/lemon/cucumber, nice touch.  We decided to try an appetizer as well as an entre to get a feel for the food – we were here on “business” remember.  We ordered the Bruschetta Trio, which was $10.  It had 6 pieces of Bruschetta, three different varieties; mascarpone cheese with figs and prosciutto, traditional tomato and eggplant with parmesan cheese.  The presentation was great and so was the appetizer, especially the fig brushcetta – yum!!

 

Bruschetta Trio

The lunch menu isn’t very large, but what else do you need besides a couple of salads and sandwiches?  We both decided to go with their hamburger which is described as “Estate Burger, aged white cheddar, beer battered onion rings, brioche”.  Cindy and I would like to call it “Heaven”.  The presentation was great, but the food was unbelievable.  How good can a burger be?  Go to the Estate House and see for yourselves – it’s pretty damn good.  The french fries were all cozy in their little pail and they were crispy and wonderful. 

 

Heavenly Estate Burger

Typically, I don’t order dessert (or appetizers) for lunch but this was sent over free since they were courting us for our business.  It was their “Bourbon pecan bread pudding with malted rum gelato” and it was outstanding.  The ice cream was extra frozen so it didn’t melt all over the bread pudding and make it a soggy mess. 

 

Bread Pudding

The hostess was telling us that they have wine tastings on Wednesday nights and Jazz on Thursdays upstairs in their lounge.  The place is hard to describe because it’s so many different things, depending on where you sit and why you are there.  Our outdoor casual lunch was perfect.  I can imagine it being very romantic at night, sitting outside at the right table tucked in the corner.  Then, I can imagine the upstairs lounge being a completely different vibe on Thursdays when they are playing live jazz.  I am looking forward to checking it out again!

Upstairs Lounge

Cibo

Where:    Cibo, Phoenix AZ
When:     October 8, 2009
Who:       Mo and Phil
What:      Dinner
Cost:       Pizzas are $10
Rating:    4.5 stars (out of 5)

I have to say that I am embarrassed.  I don’t know how long Cibo has been open but I know it’s longer than two years and I can’t believe I have never been.  I have definitely been missing out, and so have you if you haven’t stumbled across this little gem in downtown Phoenix.   It is simply amazing!

October is the time of year in which we Phoenicians can really enjoy the desert.  We suffer through those brutal 110 days that seem to never end to get to this wonderful time of year.  Patio dining in the fall and Phoenix go hand in hand and why people would choose to dine inside and miss out on a lovely cool evening under the stars escapes me.

Cibo

I went to Cibo with Phil.  Phil is a friend of a friend who is in town for a conference.  We had never met, but our mutual friend thought we would have a great time together (go figure, two extroverts!), so we decided to meet up for a drink.  I picked up Phil at his hotel at 7:45 and we headed over to Cibo, which is on 5th Ave & Filmore.  As much as Phoenix is a mecca of chain stores and restaurants, we do have some gems, and Cibo is definitely one of those.  Phil described Cibo to a tea, “I feel like I am at a friend’s party”.  The restaurant is an old bungalow from 1913, so you really do feel like you are at someone’s home.  Most of the seating is outside, among trees lit with lights – it is festive and warm. 

We had to wait for a couple of minutes for our seats, but it was worth it.  I don’t think Cibo takes reservations, so I would be prepared to wait, especially if you are going on the weekend.  We were seated and I let Phil pick the wine, which was Volpolicella Ripasso.  It was a bottle of heaven, although isn’t all wine?  We also ordered the Antipasto Speciale, “a mixed dish with prosciutto crudo, bresaola with arugula and parmigiano, roasted red peppers with black olives and capers, Cipolle di Rosa, fresh mozzarella and grape tomatoes served with a fantasy of olives”.  We enjoyed our wine and appetizer in this amazing ambiance.  There was a jazz trio playing on the far side of the yard, so we could hear enough to enjoy it, but it wasn’t close enough to be distracting.  The great thing about the outdoor dining at Cibo is that the tables are situated so that you feel like you have your own little space in the yard.  Phil and I were tucked in this little nook and although there were 50+ people also dining, we felt like we were dining privately. 

Cibo Dining

After feasting on the Antipasto, we ordered our Pizzas. Phil had the Quattro Formaggi – fontina, parmigiano, pecorino, gorganzola and mozzarella.  I had the Vegetariana – tomato sauce, mozzarella, mushrooms, artichokes, zucchini and roasted red peppers.  Both pizzas were spectacular!

After reading this, I hope you head to Cibos immediately.  It is unassuming, charming, quaint and inviting.  The service was great, the atmosphere is intoxicating and the food was incredible.

Freemark Abbey Wine Dinner at Lisa G’s

Where:    Lisa G’s Wine Bar – Phoenix, AZ
When:     September 10, 2009
Who:       Leannada, Jilly, Mo, Malcolm and Pepito
What:      Wine Dinner
Cost:       $35 per person
Rating:    4.5 stars (out of 5)

I heard about this wine dinner at Lisa G’s through AZ Wine Co.  I am on their enewsletter distribution which sends updates on various wine tastings and dinners weekly.  When the email came through about this wine dinner at Lisa G’s featuring Freemark Abbey wines, we all jumped on it.  A couple of us had been to Lisa G’s in the past and we love it so we were excited to go back and do something a little different with the wine dinner.  We are not a difficult bunch to please; wine and food pretty much seals the deal for us and we’re there. 

Lisa G Cafe

We arrived at Lisa G’s right at 7pm to find out we were the last people to arrive (this is not unusual).  Since Lisa G’s is small and intimate, this dinner was family style, which actually enhanced the evening.  Instead of the five of us sitting alone together, we had the pleasure of sitting with other people and sharing a great night together.  The timing was perfect, we sat down and made our introductions to the rest of the table and the wine began to pour:)  It makes me happy just to think about it.

The host of the evening, we’ll call him Drip (will explain later) since I can’t remember his name, started off the evening by asking the ladies to raise our glasses for a toast.  He told us that The history of Freemark Abbey began in 1886, when Josephine Marlin Tychson became the first woman to build and operate a winery in California.  I’ll toast to that, although if you haven’t already figured this out, I’ll toast to anything. 

Malcolm enjoying his wine!

They started us off with the Freemark Abbey Chardonnay paired with warm brie on rustic italian loaf topped with carmelized apples and cranberries.  This was a great opening wine and it was paired perfectly, we rated this a 4. Everyone at the table enjoyed this wine, even Ann who isn’t a Chardonnay fan. Although, the more we got to know Ann, the more we determined that she liked just about everything.  Ann is one of those genuinely upbeat and just happy to be alive people.  Ann and Tony were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary and were the sweetest couple.  Have you ever seen a couple in their 70’s showing a little PDA at a wine dinner – it was priceless.  I kind of fell in love with Ann and now consider her my adopted Mom; she doesn’t know this.

"Here's to Balls"

Next up was the Freemark Abbey Merlot paired with Lisa’s signature meatballs made from a family recipe of beef, pork, veal, eggs, Italian parsley and other family secrets.  As Drip was coming around to pour the wines, he somehow managed to drip some merlot on my head which then also dripped down onto my shirt leaving me with a couple nice “mementos” of the evening on my shirt.  He later asked if he spilled some wine on me and I said “Yes” and he said, “Good thing you’re not wearing white”.  This guy was a bit of a tool.  Drip had all the men in the room raise their glasses for a toast and what came out of that man’s mouth was the last thing I ever expected to hear.  He said, “Here’s to balls”.  Of course he was referring to the meatballs, but who says that to a room full of strangers at a classy wine dinner. This pairing was interesting because we all enjoyed the merlot with the meatballs, which were fabulous.  But, once we were finished with the food and just drank the wine, it took on a different taste and it wasn’t very pleasant.  The merlot became very peppery and had a bad finish.  We wished we had more ‘balls and gave this wine a 2.5.

At this point, our table was warming up to each other and we were all having a great time, learning a little about each other, more than we wanted to know sometimes.  It was nice because it was a table of real people.  We weren’t a bunch of wine snobs or just snobs in general which you can very easily find at an event such as this.  We had Ann (my new mother) and Tony who were as down to earth and pleasant as you can imagine.  I asked Ann what the secret to a successful marriage is and she told me “sex”.  Penny and Chris were so fun and light hearted, and had been married for two years.  Robbie and Tim were an engaged couple and they rode their bikes since they lived so close.  We couldn’t have asked to meet nicer people. 

Steak Skewers

Back to the wine…  The third tasting was Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon & Freemark Abbey Bosche Cabernet Sauvignon paired with steak skewers served with “spicy chipotle” and “cool cucumber mint creme fraiche” dipping sauces.  We took a sip of the first Cabernet, which they poured first and it was heavenly.  We all looked at each other and our eyes lit up, it was a really nice wine, or was it??  We wondered if because the merlot ended up tasting like ass, that made the Cab taste that much better?  The quote of the night came from Leannada, who is known for her quick wit and sarcasm.  She said, “You have to eat a ball so it doesn’t taste like ass” which is as honest and descriptive as the second pairing was.  The second cab was also very nice but it had a price tag of $75.99 a bottle and we didn’t think it was THAT nice, 4 rating for the first cab and 3.5 for the second. 

 

Pepito

Lastly we had the Freemark Abbey Riesling paired with fallen chocolate souffle cake topped with a scoop of vanilla gelato.  This cake was to die for and was paired nicely with the riesling, but the riesling was very sweet and syrupy – almost like a port.  The riesling was too sweet for most of us, so we concentrated on devouring the cake.

Riesling and dessert - yum!

As I’ve said before, so much goes into making an evening enjoyable; people, place, food, atmosphere, service, etc.  This wine dinner had it all and fed all our senses.  We drank, we ate, we learned and most importantly, we laughed…a lot! Keep your eyes and ears open for events such as this – they are enjoyable and memorable. 

Enjoy the wine, but more importantly, enjoy your friends!

Mo, Leannada and Jilly

Barrio Cafe

Where:    Phoenix, AZ
When:     August 29, 2009
Who:       Leannada, Jilly, Mo, Jannette, Malcolm and Pepito
What:      Restaurant
Cost:       $11.00-$29.50 for dinner entrees
Rating:    4.5 stars (out of 5)

I’ve been procrastinating to write this post because I’m stuck.  I can’t think of a sarcastic tone to put with the Barrio Cafe.  After visiting countless establishments over the years, I don’t think we’ve ever had such an uneventful, but wonderful dining experience.  I guess with awards like “Arizona Highways Best Restaurant -2009″ and Zagat’s “America’s Top Restaurant – 2009 Guide”, you really can’t go wrong. 

Barrio Cafe

We were celebrating Jilly’s birthday Saturday night and she picked The Barrio Cafe, after hearing such wonderful things about it over the years.  The Barrio Cafe is definitely in the “barrio”, on 16th Street just south of Thomas.  If you are not looking for the restaurant, you’ll drive by it (like we did) because there isn’t much around and it’s sort of hidden.   They don’t take reservations, but we were in no rush and heard it was worth the wait.  We got there around 8:15pm and were told there was a 40 minute wait for the six of us.  We ordered a drink at the quaint small bar area while waiting for our table.  The wait went surprisingly fast and we were seated within 15 minutes.  The restaurant has a great ambiance and vibe.  It’s quaint, yet stylish and hip.  It’s very small and they definitely pack people in.  If you are looking for a quiet, romantic dinner, this isn’t the place; at least not on a Saturday night. 

Jilly and Pepito

We were seated and started looking over the menu which was unlike any Mexican restaurant menu I had seen.  Have you ever seen duck on Mexican restaurant menu?  The waiter ordered our drinks while we were making our culinary decisions.  We decided to order the Quesadilla de Langosta Borracha, garlic & tequila lobster served on a corn tortilla with melted Oaxacan cheese and queso de cabra-16, based on the recommendation from our waiter.  They were wonderful, a perfect appetizer. 

Lobster & Tequila Quesadilla

Our drinks came, and we ordered dinner.  I read online that they carry over 250 tequilas in the restaurant and they surely didn’t skimp on the amount they put in the margaritas – talk about strong. 

Malcolm, Pepito and I ordered the Cochinita Pipil, their famous 12 hour slow roasted pork with achiote rojo & sour orange with salsa Yucateca-$19.  Jilly and Leannada ordered the Enchiladas Suizas, Mexico City style enchiladas stuffed with chicken with a delicate tomatillo cream sauce-$17.  Jannette ordered the Pescado del MAr, Pan seared halibut filet topped with shrimp, scallops, crab and lobster all with a white wine-shallot cream sauce, chorizo and poblano peppers-$23. 

Enchiladas Suizas

While we waited for our food, we enjoyed watching Jilly open her presents, while sipping our margaritas and listening to the wonderful live music.  The place was crowded and lively, but it wasn’t too loud that we couldn’t hear each other at our table.  It was cramped, so if you are looking for elbow room, you’ll be sorely disappointed. 

Cochinita Pibil

Our food arrived, and I don’t even remember the next 15 minutes because I was so invested in my dinner, it was fabulous.  The pork was tender and full of flavor, just perfect.  Leannada said  the “Enchilada was so delicious and different from any enchilada I’ve had ever tasted; Perhaps the difference between cuisines from the southern parts of Mexico.  It had the perfect amount of cheese and chicken with a flavorful subtlety sweet tomatillo cream sauce”.  (For the record, she sent me this copy to put in the blog and put a question mark next to one of the words for spelling.  Putting faith in my spelling is a huge leap – thanks Leannada:)). 

Birthday Flan

The portions of the entrees were perfect, just enough food.  We all didn’t have any problems clearing our plate and left room for dessert.  Our waiter was nice enough to cut the cake we had brought for Jilly’s birthday from Tammie Coe Cakes. 

Malcolm, Leannada, Birthday Jilly, Pepito, Jannette and Mo

All in all, we can’t think of anything to sway someone from going to The Barrio Cafe.  The atmosphere, the food and the service was excellent.  I can’t wait to go back and try some of the other dishes. 

Happy dining!!

Cafe ZuZu

Where:   Scottsdale, AZ
When:    August 8, 2009
Who:      Leannada, Jilly, Mo, Jannette, Malcolm and Pepito
What:     Restaurant
Cost:      $12.00-$29.50 for dinner entrees
Rating:   4 stars (out of 5)

Cafe ZuZu was Leannada’s pick for dinner Saturday night.  We were celebrating her thirty-something birthday and it was a perfect choice.  Cafe ZuZu is located in the trendy Hotel Valley Ho in downtown Scottsdale.  Many adjectives come to mind when describing both Cafe ZuZu and Hotel Valley Ho; trendy, groovy, cool, hip and cozy.  It’s in Scottsdale and definitely fits there, but it doesn’t have the complete snobbery of many Scottsdale eateries.  Cafe ZuZu was a lot smaller and intimate than I had envisioned, however I wouldn’t call it romantic, per se. 

Our reservations were for 8:45pm, which was the only slot available around 9pm when I made the reservations, so we thought the place was going to be packed.  To our surprise, the restaurant was half full at best and most of it was occupied by a large party of about 20 people.  The entire restaurant only holds maybe 75-80 people at most.  The hostess was very nice and hospitable and seated us right away, not that this was a difficult task – the place was pretty empty. We brought in a cake for Leannada’s birthday and she took it and kept it refrigerated for us while we ate.  

Cheap Entertainment!

We were seated and started looking over the menu, which is pretty simple.  Café ZuZu describes itself as “Flavorful American comfort food.  Familiar favorites with a contemporary twist”.  This is a perfect explanation since they have things like meatloaf, liver and onions (I’m not joking) and beef stroganoff.  They also have things that I wouldn’t have expected, like Filet Mignon and Parmesan Crusted Salmon.   Personally, I don’t think of Filet when I think of comfort food.  My idea of comfort food is something your Mom would make for you as a kid and it makes you feel good to just think of the meal.  I don’t know where you grew up, but Parmesan Crusted Salmon wasn’t served in my house. 

Flank Steak - Blue Plate Special

Our waitress was not what we expected.  She was nice enough, but she didn’t seem to fit with Café ZuZu.  I would like to tell you here name, but we couldn’t hear a thing she said so we’ll call her “Flo” for the sake of this blog.   She was older, probably in her 50’s, and was a little rough around the edges.  In a place that is meticulously decorated and so trendy with ambiance that is so cozy and hip, Flo didn’t exude any of these things. 

The birthday girl, Malcolm and Jilly had the Blue Plate Special.   Since Flo was such a low talker, the only thing I can tell you about the special was that it was “flank steak”.  Everyone said it was really good.  Pepito had “J’s Meatloaf, moist and flavorful” and I think he was more excited about the description of the dish than actually eating it.  Jeannette had the Garden Vegetable Linguine and I had the Beef Stroganoff.   As expected, the presentation of our entrees was spectacular and everything tasted wonderfully. 

Beef Stroganoff

Flo brought out Leannada’s birthday cake after we finished with dinner.  They did not charge us a cake cutting fee, but they did say that they usually charge for that so you may want to call to double check if you are bringing your own dessert.  Leannada requested we get her a carrot cake, so I ordered one from Barb’s Bakery in Phoenix.  We were all digging into the heavenly cake when we realize there are walnuts in the cake.  Not a big deal to most people, however Leannada has a fatal allergy to walnuts and had to quickly excuse herself from the table so she could escape to the ladies room and stab herself with a shot of Epinephrine.  That pretty much put a damper on the rest of the evening; nearly killing your friend can do that.  I am glad to say that the birthday girl survived the cake of death and the rest of the evening at Cafe ZuZu. 

The Carrot Cake of Death

All in all, it was a great night.  Was the beef stroganoff worth $17.00?  If I’m speaking for the food itself, the answer is “No”.  Come on, how good can beef stroganoff be???  However, there are so many other things that come into play when you are going out to dinner; atmosphere, location, wine list, reviews, etc.  So, when you take into account the Scottsdale location, the funky atmosphere and the unique Flo, it was worth it.   Cafe ZuZu is also open for breakfast and lunch and you can check out their menus online. 

The Crew at Cafe ZuZu