The Hot Sheet | The blog about what to do and where to go in Phoenix, AZ » Melissa

Queen Creek Olive Mill

visitphoenix — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:52:58 +0000

I really love discovering local treasures. I'm just sorry it took me so long to make it out to the Queen Creek Olive Mill. Since I'm such a sucker for breakfast, we opted to try theirs out. I had to go for the vanilla bean olive oil waffle with bananas and pecans (hint: waffles are served all day). And, as luck would have it, we arrived before 10:30 and got a discount on breakfast by checking in via FourSquare. To describe the waffle as delicious would be an understatement. Other waffle options include the Classic and Berries & Cream. The rest of the menu looked equally fantastic, but I'd be hard pressed not to get the waffle again.

Vanilla Bean Olive Oil Waffle with Bananas, Pecans & Fresh Made Whipped Cream

After eating, we wandered through the retail area (and made purchases, of course) and then took the tour. The retail store includes more olive oil options than I ever thought possible, a variety of tapenades, an olive bar, cupcakes, lotions, etc. If you can put olives or olive oil in it, I think they have it. They also offer a nice selection of wines including many from local wineries. And be sure to take advantage the olive oil and tapenades samplings.

I highly recommend making the tour part of your visit to QCOM. It's only $5 per person, and you really get the low down on how they produce their extra virgin olive oil using sustainable farming practices.

The olive oil magic happens here

Outdoor picnic tables for enjoying our warm, sunny weather

Oh, don't forget to grab some gelato on your way out. I can vouch for the chocolate olive oil flavor (yum), and a little QCOM birdie told us that the raspberry gelato drizzled with chocolate olive oil is a must. They do mix it up with their gelato flavors so who knows what they might have when you visit.

To see more photos of my visit to Queen Creek Olive Mill, check out our Flickr stream.

Queen Creek Olive Mill
25062 S. Meridian Road
Queen Creek, AZ 85242
queencreekolivemill.com

Windsor & Churn

visitphoenix — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:01:07 +0000

It's so exciting to have new local spots open up, and thanks to the owner of Postino Wine Cafe, Central Phoenix has a new restaurant and a new ice cream and sweets shop - Windsor and Churn, respectively. The two share space on Central Ave., just north of Camelback, appropriately in the Windsor Historic District. They've only been open for two weeks, and I've already been twice! Windsor is a casual, comfortable neighborhood hangout where you instantly feel at home and Churn is reminiscent of an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.

Windsor Patio and Bar

I can officially announce that Windsor serves my new favorite salad, the Kale Caesar. It's a fun (and delicious) twist on a traditional Caesar with shredded romaine & kale, cheddar biscuit croutons, avocado, celery & crispy capers. The cheddar biscuit croutons are a little touch of genius, at least in my humble opinion. They also serve one of my Southern favorites, fried okra. Definitely not something you see on many menus in Phoenix. Other menu items include Corn Dog Poppers, Country Vegetable Chop, Backyard Burger Windsor Style (sharp cheddar, shredded iceberg, garlic aioli, tomato, carmelized onion), Crab Cake BLT, Brown Bag Chicken Sandwich and much more.

Kale Caesar

Fried Okra

And that just covers lunch and dinner. For dessert, you must mosey on over to Churn for some homemade ice cream (I can tell you that the Butter Pecan is deelish) and other yummy, sugary treats. Just follow the trail of cassette tapes from Windsor over to Churn. I'm not exaggerating too much - the wall of the little hallway that leads from one to the other is literally papered with cassette tapes. How fun is that?

Windsor and Churn are located at 5223 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix. See more photos on Flickr.

Churn

Awww, we love being here!

Pizzeria Bianco

visitphoenix — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 17:03:53 +0000

Downtown Phoenix has lots of little gems when it comes to restaurants, but perhaps none is more nationally acclaimed than Pizzeria Bianco. This little slice of pizza heaven (although don't expect to order pizza by the slice here) is the creation of Chef Chris Bianco. This James Beard award winner believes in sourcing local foods first. I love chefs like Chris. He wants to know everything about the food he prepares and serves - who grows the vegetables and how, what are the chickens and cattle fed and how are they treated. This understanding and passion for food is the basis for a great restaurant and, in this case, great pizza.

That's Chris working on a pizza in the oven!

For those of us who work and/or live in Downtown Phoenix, the announcement that Pizzeria Bianco will now be open for lunch was music to our ears. For years, dinner has been the only option and that often meant a long wait, even if you arrived at 5pm. You see, it's a tiny restaurant which, of course, creates a cozy, welcoming atmosphere and adds to its appeal, but doesn't leave a lot of room for seating.

I practically raced over to Bianco's once it was open for lunch and dug into the Rosa - a delightful white pizza with Red Onion, Parmigiano Reggiano, Rosemary and AZ Pistachios. One word - YUM. My dining companions had the Margherita and added Fennel Sausage from Schreiner's Phoenix. They both "cleaned their plates" so I take it they were pleased with the choice. In the spirit of keeping things simple, the menu offers two Small Plate options, three Salads and six Pizzas, plus House Made Country Bread with a side of Olive Oil for dipping.

The Rosa

The Margherita with Sausage

Pizzeria Bianco has been lauded by publications such as The New York Times and Everyday with Rachel Ray. Check it out for yourself and see if you agree. I have a feeling you will. Be sure to also check out Chris's other restaurant: Pane Bianco (also featured on this blog).

Pizzeria Bianco
623 E. Adams Street, Downtown Phoenix
(602) 258-8300

New Orangutan Habitat Opens at Phoenix Zoo

visitphoenix — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:42:19 +0000

The new and improved Orangutan Habitat at the Phoenix Zoo opens to the public on Monday, April 11. I had the privilege of a sneak peek this morning and had a blast watching them play. Four Orangutans call the Phoenix Zoo home: Duchess (she's 51!), Bess, Michael and Kasih, the baby of the group at just 5 years old.

Kasih is hiding behind a piece of lettuce.

Lots of green grass and fun stuff to play with.

For more information and to learn about conservation efforts to save these amazing animals, check out the Zoo's website.

To see more Phoenix Zoo Orangutan photos, visit our Flickr page.

Food Truck Friday

visitphoenix — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:07:41 +0000

I made the best discovery recently: Food Trucks. And, no, they're not the "roach coaches" you used to see pulling up to a construction site. In Phoenix, these trucks are part of the Phoenix Street Food Coaltion. They set up a mobile food court Fridays from 11am to 1pm right next to the Public Market in downtown Phoenix. Their mantra: "Bringing delicious local food to the streets of Phoenix." Amen to that!

I'll admit, I was a little skeptical at first. I assumed, erroneously so, that food truck food = meat. Well, not so. As a vegetarian, there were plenty of options for me. I went for a good ol' grilled cheese sandwich and also partook of some yummy tater tots (seasoned with rosemary) and fried pickles. Next time, I'll be sure to hit the creme brulee truck, appropriately named the Torched Goodness.

It's definitely worth a visit. The food is fresh, local and delish. They even have picnic tables set up adding to the sense of community which, after all, is really the whole point of street food.

The mobile food court is set up at at the corner of Central and Pierce. You can follow them on Twitter @PHXStreet Food

Check out Flickr for more photos.

Arrogant Butcher

visitphoenix — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:50:58 +0000

A much needed restaurant has arrived on the scene in downtown Phoenix - The Arrogant Butcher (thanks, Sam Fox). This new (and fabulous) eatery is located at CityScape, a dining, retail and entertainment complex located between Washington and Jefferson Streets and 1st Street and 1st Avenue.

House Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue

Don't be fooled by the name. This place has a cool, laid back vibe, and the decor is, simply put, loads of fun! The menu is pretty great, too. I'd go back again and again just to have the House Soft Pretzels & Provolone Fondue - hello, yumminess. Although I could most definitely sustain on pretzels and cheese, I felt it best to also have an entree. I had the Sweet Potato Tortelli with Mushrooms, Brussels and Hazelnuts and l-o-v-e-d it. As a vegetarian, my options at a restaurant with the word "butcher" in its name is a little limited, but I was 110% pleased with my choice. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention dessert (yes, I had dessert, too!). I wasn't about to pass up anything called a Warm Peanut Butter Cup with Chocolate Gelato. You shouldn't either. Give this place a try. I think you'll enjoy it.

Sweet Potato Tortelli with Mushrooms, Brussels, Hazelnuts

Warm Peanut Butter Cup with Chocolate Gelato & Apple Fritter with Brown Sugar Ice Cream

See more photos in our Flickr stream.

The Arrogant Butcher
Cityscape Downtown Phoenix
2 E. Jefferson #150
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-324-8502
website

Zinburger

visitphoenix — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:44:41 +0000

I was so happy to finally check out Zinburger at Biltmore Fashion Park. My husband had a friend visiting from out of town, so we used that as an excuse (not that we really needed one) to give it a try. Anything that's called a "Wine & Burger Bar" is off to a good start in my book. The interior is cool and comtemporary and there's a great outdoor dining area. It's not a big restaurant, so we did have a bit of a wait, but it was totally worth it.

Zinburger with Manchego Cheese and Zinfandel Braised Onions

As I've confessed here before, I'm a vegetarian, so it may seem a little weird that I was eager to try out a buger joint. The thing is, I love a good veggie burger and a gourmet burger spot is the best place to try one. I don't always love 'em, but this one was really, really good. They call it Clint's "Amost Famous" Vegetable Burger and serve it with Smoked Mozzarella and Tomato Marmalade. My husband had the Zinburger (pictured above) which he loved. To be honest, though, our favorites of the evening were the Zucchini Fries and the S'more Shake (that night's special). In a word, they were DEE-licious!

Zucchini Fries

S'more Shake (the half version)

For more photos, visit our Flickr stream.

Zinburger
2502 E Camelback Rd. #127
Phoenix, AZ 85016
602-424-9500
website

CityScape – Downtown Phoenix

visitphoenix — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 23:30:57 +0000

The much anticipated CityScape in Downtown Phoenix is celebrating its Grand Opening. This shopping, dining and entertainment district fills a void in the downtown landscape and is accessible via METRO light rail. Many of the businesses are already up and running with more scheduled to open over the next few months. Here's an update on what's there now and what's coming soon.

Designer District
Premium Brand apparel for men and women

West of Soho
Modern Bohemiam fashion at reasonable prices

Par Exsalonce
Full-service salon and day spa

Five Guys Burgers
Casual dining

Urban Outfitters
Clothing, accessories adn housewares for the urban lifestyle.

Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge
Hip bowling lounge with a chance to "eat, drink, and knock down some pins"

Gold's Gym Elite
State-of-the-art co-ed fitness center

CVS
Pharmacy and general needs store

Coming Soon:

The Breakfast Club - Fall 2011

Charming Charlie - OPEN

Chipotle - Fall 2011

Jimmy John's Sandwich Shop - OPEN

Oakville Grocery - OPEN

Rasputin Vodka Bar - Summer 2011

Republic of Couture - OPEN

Sam Fox's The Arrogant Butcher - OPEN

Silk Sushi - October 2011

Stand Up Live - OPEN

Strand Italian - Fall 2011

Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery - OPEN

Vitamin T - OPEN

Yogurtini - Fall 2011

www.cityscapephx.com
Central and Washington in Downtown Phoenix

Los Reyes de la Torta

visitphoenix — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 18:35:34 +0000

I'm happy to report that I now have another restaurant to add to my list of Phoenix Faves. We are just now discovering Los Reyes de la Torta although we have lived only 5 miles from it for 11 years. I guess you could say we were a little slow to the punch on this one. But that's all water under the bridge now. It's officially moved to the top of our list for Mexican food.

And I have Facebook to thank. A fan of VisitPhoenix's page recommended this place when we posed the question: "What's your favorite Mexican restuarant in the Phoenix area?" Her answer: "Okay, if you want REAL Mexican food, not "Mexican-American", you gotta try "Los Reyes de la Torta". Authentic Mexico city style food.

Well, she wasn't kidding. You won't find burritos or enchiladas or even tortilla chips at this joint. What you will find is the real deal: quesadillas, tacos and Mexican sandwiches called tortas (big doesn't even begin to describe them). They even serve up breakfast. The portions are huge, as you can see from the picure below, and the prices are small. What a great combo! Our bill totaled $15 before tip, and we left with lunch for the next day. Now that's a deal.

9230 N. 7th Street, Phoenix
602-870-2967

The Living Room (now Humble Pie)

visitphoenix — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:44:29 +0000

NOW HUMBLE PIE (same ownership)

The latest place on the Central Phoenix local dining/bar scene is The Living Room Wine Cafe & Lounge. And what a welcome addition! It's a cozy, comfortable little spot that's open for lunch and happy hour. It's actually the second location in Greater Phoenix. The original is in Chandler, and the owners are also responsible for Humble Pie and 5th and Wine.

Well, ever since the "Now Open" sign popped up, I've been dying to check it out and today was the day. I grabbed a co-worker, and we took the quick trip up 7th Street from our downtown Phoenix office. We arrived a bit early, but the place did start to fill up.

True to its name, The Living Room offers an array of home-inspired lounging options which is perfect if you're in the mood to just chill with friends, drink wine and nosh on bruschetta, a cheese plate or some hummus (personally, I consider this a full-blown meal).

But alas, this particular visit to the The Living Room was strictly about lunch so we opted for a table, and I ordered the tuna melt with a side salad. Fries are also an option but in the spirit of trying to eat better, I went for the salad which was simple and fresh. The tuna melt, served on perfectly toasted sourdough bread, was delicious!

I can't wait to head back for happy hour - soon, I hope.

The Living Room
2333 N. 7th Street, Phoenix
www.livingroomwinebar.com