Date Night at Trattoria del Piero
The patio at Trattoria del Piero at UNION.
After a long week my husband and I decided that we needed a date night. We headed over to Trattoria del Piero at the Biltmore Fashion Park to enjoy some refreshing drinks and appetizers on the patio. Later that evening on the main lawn of the Biltmore Fashion Park one of my husband’s favorite movies, Caddyshack, was being shown as part of the Movies in the Park series. A perfect date night.
Trattoria del Piero is the second location of the Queen Creek Olive Mill’s Tuscan themed restaurants and is a part of the new UNION shops at the Biltmore Fashion Park. The menu consists of appetizers, bruschetta, soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts made from local and organic ingredients. You can sit inside or outside on the patio. Or, if you prefer, you can belly up to the bar. Since it was such a lovely spring evening, my husband and I opted to sit on the patio. (Tip: If you want to sit on the patio to eat, let someone inside know first so they’ll come out to take your order. The patio is shared with other businesses in UNION so they may not know you are waiting for service.)
You can find Lisa G.'s famous meatballs at Trattoria del Piero
A little known fact is that Trattoria del Piero serves the famous meatballs made by Lisa G. All of those that mourned Lisa G.’s closing can now enjoy her famous meatballs anytime at Trattoria del Piero. Upon the confirmation of this rumor, my husband promptly ordered a bowl. I decided on the bruschetta board and a hot pink Prickly Pear lemonade.
Prickly Pear lemonade
Now, I’m going to be honest with you, while perusing the menu I noticed the cupcake sampler right away. I wanted to order it as an appetizer but held off until the end of our meal. The wait was well worth it. The cupcakes are made with olive oil from the Queen Creek Olive Mill and are delicious. My personal favorite was the Mexican chocolate cupcake. I had to stop myself from going inside and buying a full sized Mexican chocolate cupcake to go.
The cupcake sampler
Trattoria del Piero is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (I’m ready to go back soon for their famous Vanilla Bean Olive Oil waffles). Take note that the dinner portions are more like appetizer portions. Trattoria del Piero also serves wine and beer.
If you want to make a date night out of it like my husband and I did, check out the Movies in the Park spring schedule.
Trattoria del Piero is located at the Biltmore Fashion Park at 2502 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix.
Del Frisco’s Grille Sunday Brunch
Enjoying brunch with friends on an outdoor patio is favorite pastime of Phoenicians. Now, there’s a new place to enjoy our warm sunny weather on a Sunday afternoon at Del Frisco’s Grille, which recently started serving a delicious brunch menu.
Located in the Biltmore area, Del Frisco’s Grille has an amazing rooftop patio with views of Piestewa Peak, but the view isn't the only impressive thing about brunch here – the food is fantastic. The menu puts a twist on classic brunch items taking regular Eggs Benedict and turning them into a delicious grille version or a crab cake version. They also take the traditional Belgian Waffle and up-the-ante by making a Red Velvet Belgian Waffle, yum. Even the classic Bloody Mary gets a grille twist at Del Frisco’s. It was served with a plate of condiments from pickles to hot sauce and even a slice of bacon.
The view
I tried the Grille Benedict that comes with two beautifully poached eggs, ham (I had them leave off the ham for me), mouthwatering scallion and white cheddar biscuits and chipotle hollandaise. My dining partner had the Chicken-Fried Steak and Eggs that came with jumbo biscuits and chorizo gravy. The meal was large enough that she took some of the chicken-fried steak home to have later.
Eggs Benedict
Chicken Fried Steak
The food, the view and the patio at Del Frisco’s Grill are the perfect ingredients to a fabulous Sunday Brunch. See you again soon, Del Frisco’s.
Del Frisco’s Grill is located at 2425 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix. Check out the full brunch menu.
Union at Biltmore Fashion Park
Finding local treasures can often be like a scavenger hunt. Local favorites are often tucked away in little corners and alleys only known by uber-hip residents who whisper their secrets to those deemed worthy. But now with the opening of Union at Biltmore Fashion Park you don't have to search or wait for a tip from those holding the secrets of Phoenix’s local treasures .
Union is a new concept that houses an eclectic mix of 18 small, distinct boutiques – many of which already have a loyal following of those in-the-know Phoenicians. There’s also a casual eatery, Trattoria del Piero brought to Central Phoenix by the Queen Creek Olive Mill that operates the same concept at in Queen Creek.
Right now at Union you’ll find:
Bonafide Goods brought to Union by the folks behind The Clotherie. Bonafide Goods offers a modern interpretation of classic American men’s clothing, hats and accessories, and will also house Phoenix’s first micro-haberdashery.
Citrine Natural Beauty Bar offers discerning beauty and makeup buffs all-natural, organic skincare, beauty products and custom fragrances for those who love to pamper their skin naturally without harsh chemicals or parabens.
Customatic.com brings together years of experience designing and building great architecture, furniture and interior items to create custom pieces for the modern home.
Oils and Olives by Queen Creek Olive Mill is the Central Phoenix outlet of its popular branded products. Customers can explore the vast selection of signature extra virgin olive oils, balsamic vinegars, stuffed olives, and tapenades along with bath and body products made with extra virgin olive oil, daily fresh baked breads and a unique selection of other local treasures.
For the People is a modern gift and home accessories store with a focus on functional design. Featuring brands such as Alessi, the store gives customers access to great lifestyle design products and gives talented local designers an exciting venue to show and sell their work.
Frances, owned by local entrepreneur Georganne Bryant, is the second location of the popular boutique that carries women’s clothing, shoes, accessories, books, paper goods, novelty items and art.
Frances & Charlie Newsstand has hand-selected gifts including jewelry, candles, paper goods and books, as well as a variety of magazines, newspapers and specialty publications featuring fashion, design, art, living and global news.
Lilly is a vintage-inspired women's boutique offering the latest fashion apparel, celebrity jewelry lines, chic and unique housewares, distinctive gifts, handbags, accessories and much more.
British Bicycle Company carries a wide assortment beautiful, unique high-quality bicycles and accessories from England.
Me Myself & Eye, a sunglass boutique pushes the boundaries of expectation, self expression and individuality by offering the highest quality of fashion-forward sunglasses, readers and accessories. Operated by the owners of Sassy Glasses Optical Boutique, Me Myself & Eye offers the same superior customer service as its parent store with a focus on unique sunglasses and readers.
Paris Envy relocated their 7th Avenue shop to Union at the Biltmore. They offer a collection of handcrafted vintage-inspired home furnishings and home decor along with jewelry, candles, gifts and exclusive lines for baby and child. French industrial chic may best describe pieces such as zinc-topped dining tables and hand-strung crystal chandeliers.
R & R Surplus carries women's active wear that can be worn on the street or in the studio. These relaxed yet fashionable clothes are from the creators of Fitigues.
Royal Coffee opened their second location at Union at the Biltmore, brewing their popular roasts alongside a selection of fresh pastries.
Smeeks relocated to Union and brought along their assortment of sweet treats and toys, offering the best old-time favorites – from handcrafted lollipops, toffee, caramels and marshmallows to yo-yos and shrinky-dinks.
Trattoria del Piero brings the dedication and passion for good food found at del Piero at the Mill in Queen Creek. Featuring all new simple and delicious sandwiches and salads, the menu will include the famous Kalamata sandwich as well as signature cocktails. Using family recipes, handcrafted extra virgin olive oils and the best local and seasonal ingredients, del Piero has garnered both local and national acclaim and was featured on the Food Network’s “Best Thing I Ever Ate” in 2010. The menu exemplifies a dedication to delicious, healthy and uncomplicated food. Trattoria del Piero serves breakfast, lunch and has a full service restaurant for the evenings complimented by a full bar.
White House Flowers is an appealing, one-of-a-kind florist offering home accessories, gifts and repurposed and renewed treasures with a casual urban look, as well as traditional European-style furnishings.
Whoopie Baking Company brings their signature whoopie pies in assorted flavors such as Spicy Pumpkin, Mimosa, Sweet & Salty and Peanut Butter Cup to Union, as well as sell the specialty ingredients related to the sweet treats including salted caramel and marshmallow fluff. Dog lovers can pick up a special treat – woofie pies for their beloved canine companions.
The Willows Home and Garden offers simple yet sophisticated home décor items along with apparel and in-home design services. They carry antique objects and a beautiful selection of exclusive lines including: Bella Notte Linens, Italian Vietri table top dishes, Michael Stars t-shirts, CP Shade apparel and a variety of unusual jewelry.
Union is located at the Arizona Biltmore Fashion Park at 2502 E. Camelback Road in Phoenix.
Morning Glory Café at The Farm at South Mountain
When I first heard about The Farm at South Mountain, I thought, “I want to go to there.” A place where you can sit outside and enjoy the glorious mornings and evenings of fall (and let’s be honest here, winter too), a place where you can eat meals made from farm fresh food, a place where I can bring my best four-legged friend. The Farm at South Mountain is a farm-oasis in the middle of the urban city.
The Farm at South Mountain has three amazing restaurants; Morning Glory Café (breakfast and brunch), The Farm Kitchen (lunch), Quiessence (dinner), and a working farm (Maya’s).
I recently had breakfast with some friends at Morning Glory Café. A casual place to have breakfast and brunch, you’ll find all your brunch staples from mimosas and bloody mary’s to self-serve coffee, tea and lemonade. All of the dishes at Morning Glory Café are made from locally grown ingredients and the menu changes seasonally.
The Patio at Morning Glory Café
I ordered the Challah Bread French Toast with organic banana, raisin bourbon syrup, and whipped mascarpone cheese. Delicious and filling. My dining partners were fighting over the last few bites that I couldn’t finish.
Challah Bread French Toast
My husband and one of our friends ordered the Huevos Rancheros made with Arizona tepary beans, corn tortillas, grated cheese, ranchero sauce, fresh avocado and eggs. Our friend cleaned his dish, resisting the urge to lick the plate and promptly asked my husband if he was going to finish his order.
Huevos Rancheros
Our other friend ordered the Cowboy “Breakfast” Chili and Eggs made with ground beef, Arizona tepary beans, cheddar cheese, eggs, sour cream, cilantro and grilled bread. She also declared that her meal was delicious.
Cowboy “Breakfast” Chili and Eggs
After breakfast we strolled by Maya’s Farm and back out to our car, forgetting that we were in the middle of Phoenix and only a few minutes from downtown. Later in the day, when we were back to the hustle and bustle of weekend errands and chores, I smiled when I looked down on my shoes and saw them still covered with dirt from walking around The Farm.
The Farm at South Mountain is located at 6106 South 32nd Street in Phoenix.
The Uprooted Kitchen Food Truck
The Uprooted Kitchen serves vegetarian and vegan food from their 1968 vintage Avion trailer.
While many of the food trucks in Phoenix have some sort of vegetarian option on their menus, food trucks dedicated solely to vegetarians (and vegans) are few and far between. Enter, The Uprooted Kitchen. The truck is run by Chad and Erin Romanoff who wanted to bring healthy food options to their community.
The Uprooted Kitchen's menu changes weekly, however they always have two salad choices, a quesadilla and an un-bun veggie burger. All of The Uprooted Kitchen’s dishes are freshly prepared with local ingredients. I recently tried Uprooted Kitchen at Food Truck Friday and was immediately addicted. I promptly visited them the very next week to get my fix.
The Uprooted Kitchen menu changes weekly, but they always have two salad options, an un-bun veggie burger and a cheese crisp.
The first salad bowl I tried was the soba noodle tofu bowl which came with kale, red cabbage, sesame soba noodles, marinated tofu, carrots, pickled cucumbers, corn, snap peas, and mushrooms served with a spicy lime peanut dressing and a house-made gluten free seeded cracker.
Soba Noodle Tofu Bowl
This noodle bowl was hearty and kept me full for the rest of the work day. You could tell how fresh everything in the bowl was, and as you can see by the photo below I finished every single last bit. Yum.
It's okay to lick the bowl, right?
Now, I was hooked. I went back to Food Truck Friday the next week to visit the Uprooted Kitchen food truck and this time I tried the quinoa kale salad bowl made with tofu, beets, mushrooms, snap peas, avocado, purslane and sunflower seeds with a sesame soy dressing and their signature house-made gluten free seeded cracker. Another win. I look forward to going back and trying one of the un-bun veggie burgers and quesadillas.
Kale Quinoa Salad
You can find The Uprooted Kitchen consistently at Food Truck Friday at the Phoenix Public Market every Friday from 11am – 1:30pm, then at JAM in Old Town Scottsdale from 6-8pm and at the Gilbert Farmers Market every Saturday from 7am – 11am… Make sure to follow The Uprooted Kitchen on Facebook and Twitter to find additional locations and times.
The food truck craze has exploded in Phoenix with many opportunities to eat from these rolling gourmet “restaurants." We’ve eaten from many of the food trucks throughout Phoenix and wanted to highlight them individually for you. You can find the food trucks on a regular basis at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market on Wednesday evenings from 4-8pm, Fridays from 11am – 1:30pm and on Saturdays from 8am – 1pm. At the North Central Farmers’ Market on Saturdays from 9am – 2pm, the Third Thursday of the Month at the Whole Foods Raintree location from 11:30am – 1pm. There are always many more opportunities that you can find by following your favorite truck individually or by following the Phoenix Street Coalition. Bon Appétit!
Breakfast at Gallo Blanco
Vegetable Chilaquiles Verdes
Chilaquiles is a magical breakfast dish. Part breakfast, part lunch and part dinner, you (ok, I) could eat Chilaquiles any time of the day. Chilaquiles is a traditional Mexican dish typically made with fried corn tortillas, vegetables or chicken, eggs, cheese and then smothered with rich salsa. Luckily, I live and work near Gallo Blanco, a restaurant that arguably has one of the best Chilaquiles dishes in Phoenix.
Located inside The Clarendon Hotel, Gallo Blanco is a modern, Mexican food restaurant that has adopted the farm-to-table philosophy. Dishes are made from seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms. In fact, when you visit Gallo Blanco the specials and seasonal items are written on a blackboard, with exactly which farms provided the ingredients. Pretty cool (and makes for delicious food and drinks).
Gallo Blanco serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. In fact, they have an all-day breakfast menu, which includes my beloved Chilaquiles, so I can literally have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Gallo Blanco is located at 401 W. Clarendon Avenue in Phoenix.
