Where to get chocolate in Phoenix
Chocolate, flowers and hearts are everywhere - that must mean it’s time for Valentine’s Day. Flowers and hearts are nice and all, but we think chocolate for Valentine’s Day is where it’s at. Here’s a list of where to get the best chocolate treats in Phoenix.
Christopher’s Chocolate Tower
A lacey chocolate column filled with milk-chocolate mousse, drizzled with espresso-scented crème anglaise and garnished with seasonal berries. Hello, lover. The waiters at Christopher’s see us coming a mile away – it’s impossible to resist a suggestion of the Chocolate Tower for dessert.
Chocolate Milkshake at 5 ‘n Diner
As self-proclaimed chocolate milkshake connoisseurs, we hereby name the chocolate shake at 5 ‘n Diner our favorite. Feel free to pair it with a side of French fries.
Locally owned but nationally known, we are known to get excited and scared whenever a delivery of Fairytale Brownies is delivered to the office. Excited, because these are the best brownies around, scared because we seriously lack self-control in their presence.
Find your “Wei” with Wei of Chocolate. Organic, vegan, fair-trade chocolate made with flower essences = guilt free indulgence. We find our “wei” at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market.
Our serendipitous discovery of Chocofin chocolates happened during a day trip to Cottonwood in the Pillsbury Wine Company Tasting Room. Our server recommended pairing a dark chocolate black currant marzipan chocolate with the red wine we were drinking. Wowza. We’re hooked. The flavor combination was like nothing we’ve had before. Simply amazing.
Cerreta’s has been a Phoenix staple for many generations. Located in downtown Glendale, you can take a tour of the factory to see how their candy is made. Even better, the tour is free and they often let you sample some product. Our personal favorites include the Arizona Camelback Bar and the French Mint Truffles.
Julia Baker Confections Chocolate Dessert Boutique
Located at the Montelucia Resort, Julia Baker Confections offers European style chocolates, confections that you can enjoy with some wine, champagne and espresso in the café.
Chocolate Bread Pudding from Cornish Pasty
It was love at first taste for us when we tried this sweet, gooey and delicious dessert at Cornish Pasty. Homemade bread, baked in rich chocolate brandy sauce and served with crème aglaise or ice cream, we now make a point to order dessert first at Cornish Pasty.
Where to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Phoenix
The Year of the Dragon will be rung in Monday, January 23rd for the Chinese New Year. Here’s how you can celebrate the Chinese New Year in Phoenix.
2012 Chinese New Year celebrations kick off on Monday, January 23rd finishing with a 3-day festival Friday, January 27th through Sunday, January 29th. There will be art contests, a banquet, children’s activities and more.
Chinese New Year Celebration at the Musical Instrument Museum
Special performances to celebrate the Year of the Dragon will take place on Saturday, January 8th. The day will feature traditional Chinese instruments, folk songs and dance, martial arts, original artwork on display, and a craft activity for all ages. A Chinese-inspired menu will also be available in the MIM Café.
Where to eat
The Super L Ranch Market will be preparing a variety of Chinese New Year specialty items such as; Doufuhua (sweet tofu dessert), Nian Gao (sticky cake), Zongzi (rice and meat steamed in a banana leaf), Gok Jau (dumplings) and more.
If you want to keep it simple we recommend these local Chinese restaurants:
Wahsun Chinese Restaurant (8056 N. 19th Avenue, Phoenix) Located in a non-descript strip mall, Wahsun serves your favorites in huge and affordable portions. Although the restaurant is nothing fancy, you’ll forget as soon as you take your first bite.
Asian Café Express ( 1911 W. Main Street, Mesa) Another affordable favorite, Asian Café Express has an impressive menu with something for everyone.
Nee House Chinese Restaurant (13843 N. Tatum Boulevard, Phoenix) Another great local choice with a traditional and more Americanized menu.
China Chili (302 E. Flower Street, Phoenix) A favorite among the downtown Phoenix crowd, China Chili is a great place to eat Chinese with your whole family.
Ling and Louie’s (9397 E. Shea Boulevard, Scottsdale) Ling and Louie’s will be ringing in The Year of the Dragon by decking out the restaurant with Chinese New Year staples and a healthy serving of the color red, which is traditional for the occasion.
Gung hay fat choy!
Beckett’s Table
Everyone has that “special occasion” restaurant - your go to place to celebrate promotions, new jobs, birthdays, homecomings etc. That restaurant for me is Beckett’s Table.
Located in Phoenix’s Arcadia neighborhood, Beckett’s Table has delicious, upscale comfort food at affordable prices. I’ve had the chance to taste almost every menu item at Beckett’s from the many celebrations with family and friends, and I've been consistently impressed with each bite. My favorite dish is the Pork Oso Bucco Confit - it’s close your eyes and savor each bite good. The pork literally melts in your mouth. Tip, save room for dessert or perhaps order it first. Beckett’s has fantastic desserts with my personal favorite being the death by chocolate, or maybe the nutella chocolate puddin’, or maybe the chocolate dipped bacon s’mores, oh my. Okay, so maybe just bring a whole group so you can “share” a few desserts.
Beckett's desserts from right (clockwise); nutella chocolate puddin', chocolate dipped bacon s'mores, fig and pecan pie.
A sampling of Beckett's delicious appetizers from top right (clockwise); super creamy grits and schreiner's sausage trio, noshing board, organic brussels sprouts, roasted red pepper and tomato soup with sweet corn cream.
Beckett's main courses from right (clockwise); beef strogonoff (not on the regular menu), fire roasted green chile pork stew, wood oven roasted mussels, steamed white bass.
Beckett’s Table also has a carefully crafted wine and beer list, with a great selection of local Arizona wine and beer. You also must check out their cocktails like the Pain Killer, the Palmaire or the Four Peaches Beer Cocktail (only available in the summer).
Beckett’s Table is located at 3717 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix
More photos from our visit to Beckett's Table can be found on Flickr.
Sierra Bonita Grill
I’ve lived down the street from Sierra Bonita Grill for four years and every time I drove by I would tell myself that I really needed to try that place. My fiancé and I finally stopped in last month. Now, it’s on our regular happy hour and dinner rotation. I should have stopped in earlier.
Located in Central Phoenix, Sierra Bonita Grill serves what can be described best as Southwestern cuisine. They take influences from many of the cultures of the Southwest and turn them into delectable dishes like the "Original" Cowboy Stew or fun happy hour snacks like the Sonoran hot dog. I’ve also heard that they have a fantastic brunch. I won’t be waiting four years to try it.
The “Orignal” Cowboy Stew made with braised beef, hominy, carrots, onions and chiles in a rich hearty broth. Garnsihed with crispy sweet potato strips and served with a warmed flour tortilla. Add a fried egg if you’re feeling like a real cowboy.
During happy hour you can snack on the Sonoran hot dog for $6. For those of you that don’t know, a Sonoran hot dog is a bacon wrapped hot dog topped with mayo, refried beans, cotija cheese, and Indian salsa served on a fresh bolillo roll.
Sierra Bonita has happy hour from 3-6pm (bar only) with $6 snack specials, $6 signature cocktails and $4 well drinks and draft beers.
Sierra Bonita is located at 6933 North 7th Street, in Phoenix.
Tutti Santi Italian Restaurant
Tutti Santi in Phoenix is a family favorite for Italian cuisine.
Italian cuisine and family just go together, which makes it no surprise to me that Tutti Santi is one my family’s favorites. I’ve been to two of the five Greater Phoenix locations, and have felt like a member of the Tutti Santi family at each one. You can taste the pride in the food and feel the pride in the service you get from their staff.
We recently celebrated my father’s birthday at the 16th Street Tutti Santi in Phoenix. Located near the Pointe at Squaw Peak, you could blink and miss Tutti Santi which is situated in the back corner of the strip mall facing 16th Street. This particular location has a great patio for a nice day and the inside of the restaurant is much bigger than you would expect from the outside. The décor is of your typical Italian restaurant with white tablecloths and wine and Italian themed imagery.
Whenever I visit Tutti Santi I have a hard time deciding on what to order. Everything on the menu sounds delicious and it is filled with seafood items along with more traditional Italian dishes like ravioli and lasagna.
We decided on two appetizers for the table after asking the waiter how fresh their mussels were. “Fresh!” He said, “We fly in our seafood three times a week.” The mussels are served in a white wine garlic sauce, and make sure to ask for extra bread to sop up the broth. We also ordered the calamari, which was perfectly crisp (not chewy!) and served with a spicy cocktail sauce.
The mussels appetizer at Tutti Santi.
Because the portions are huge at Tutti Santi, my fiancé and I split the Linguine del Marinaio that comes with fresh clams, mussels, calamari and shrimp sautéed in a light tomato sauce and served on a bed of linguine. Bravo! The seafood was fresh, perfectly cooked, and the sauce was delicious.
Linguine del Marinaio
My mother ordered her favorite, the Homemade Ravioli alla Nina. I have to tell you, this ravioli will change your life – it’s like perfect little pillows of pasta, Ricotta cheese with spinach and marinara. It’s just amazing. Try it and thank us later.
The best ravioli you will have outside of Italy.
My father ordered the lasagna and it was another hit. You just can’t lose when you order at Tutti Santi.
Tutti Santi has five locations in Greater Phoenix. The menu and happy hour specials vary on location, so check their website before you go.
More photos from our visit to Tutti Santi can be found on Flickr.
The Garage Wine and Tap
Our marketing intern extraordinaire, Michelle, is at it again. Here's her take on a recent visit to the Garage Wine and Tap.
What used to be an auto repair shop in North Central Phoenix, has now become home to the Garage Wine and Tap. The two car bays now hold tables and chairs rather than oil pits and parts, but the repair shop theme has been carried over to the restaurants décor. The brick walls hold vintage tires and a giant wooden propeller, while gas pumps can be found in the bathrooms. Concrete and dark woods make up the u-shaped bar.
But don’t let the name fool you, this hangout offers up gourmet bar items such as flatbreads, lamb chops, specialty salads, shrimp and burgers. You can also find over 20 wines and champagnes and 20 beers, including local microbrews.
For my lunchtime trip I settled in at the bar with the Caprese Salad and the flatbread simply named Meat. The salad consisted of a large slice of an heirloom tomato topped with a very thick and dense piece of buffalo mozzarella, then drizzled with an aged balsamic. Not quite a salad in the terms of a pile of leafy greens, but still delicious.
The Caprese Salad
I followed this up with the appropriately named Meat flatbread which was a thin crust pizza covered with fennel sausage, prosciutto, pepperoni and apple wood smoked bacon which had a great smoky flavor and a perfectly crisp crust.
The 'Meat' flatbread
This neighborhood pit-stop has live music every Tuesday night, weekend brunch, and weekday happy hour specials.
The Garage Wine and Tap is located at 1534 E. Bethany Home Road in Phoenix.
