Timo Wine Bar
Our marketing intern extraordinaire, Michelle, seems to have caught the blogging bug. Here's her second contribution to The Hot Sheet.
Adding to the list of great restaurants along Central Avenue is the latest addition, Timo. This wood fire oven restaurant and wine bar opened by the talent behind Brick Urban Kitchen, features a full menu with tapas, pizzas, bruschetta and sandwiches during weekday lunch and dinner, and a brunch menu on the weekends.
I dropped in during their Sunday brunch, and found the patio already packed - I could see why. Their patio, much larger than other wine bars, was very inviting with a center placed fire pit surrounded by leather couches and tables.
Being too hungry to wait, I chose to be seated inside where I had a great spot right in front of the custom built wood fire oven.
After a recommendation by the waiter, I tried their bruschetta. With choices of smoked salmon, apple and brie, and my favorite the roasted eggplant and goat cheese, I was not disappointed! The flavors were well paired and had a great smoky flavor brought out by the wood oven. I paired this with the mimosa flight, which is three glasses of champagne with fresh squeezed grapefruit, cranberry and orange juices.
When I was looking over the menu I had noticed they had foie gras with fig jam, and feeling a little adventurous, I decided to give it a try. For those not familiar with foie gras, it’s a pate like substance made from duck liver. I tried it and as instructed, treated the items as if they were butter and jam by spreading it on the provided crostini. Well, I can say this may not be my new favorite meal, but it was interesting to say the least, with a very rich, bitter like taste.
If you miss their weekend brunch, you can stop in on Mondays they offer flatbread and a bottle of wine for only $19 from 5:30-9:30pm.
Timo is located at 8801 N. Central Ave.
The Mint
The Mint was formerly a bank, remodeled into a restaurant/lounge/club. Photo credit: Dean Studios
Formerly a bank, The Mint (Get it? Bank, money, mint…) is part restaurant, part lounge. We were recently invited to visit The Mint to try some of the menu items and to check out the newly remodeled location.
If you’ve driven down Camelback just east of Scottsdale Road, you’ve probably noticed The Mint’s huge patio. What you can’t see from the road is how cool The Mint looks inside. Colorful lights, lounge seating and an eclectic mix of house music help The Mint straddle the divide between restaurant and lounge. One of the first things that I noticed when we were seated was that the music was at the perfect level to be enjoyed, and I could still carry a conversation with my fiancé during dinner.
Colorful lighting in The Mint. Photo credit: Dean Studios
Since we were invited guests, I let the waitress make recommendations for what we should drink and eat. I started with the Life Savings martini made with Ultimat Vodka, St. Germain, basil, fresh strawberries, lemon and ginger soda. Perfectly sweet, and I could tell that fresh strawberries were used by how fragrant the drink was.
The Life Savings martini. Photo credit: Dean Studios
While waiting for our food to come out, we were mesmerized by a fiber optics light show going on over the main bar. 3D images of fish swimming, people dancing and a globe spinning to the music was pretty entertaining. I also noticed a huge table in the middle of the restaurant that would be perfect for a group celebration.
We were mesmerized by the fiber optic display above the bar. Photo credit: Dean Studios
The menu at The Mint is crafted by Executive Chef Johnny Chu and consists of pan-Asian cuisine, presented on small plates as tapas. The menu items that we tried were the Soup Gyoza, House Dynamite Chicken, Sugar Cane Pork and Hong Kong Flat Rice. Soup Gyoza has always been one of my favorites so I was excited to try it at The Mint. The pork dumplings were just as delicious as I expected them to be with a hint of ginger. The House Dynamite Chicken made with bell peppers, pineapple, carrot and mushrooms in a sweet spicy sauce was large enough to be a meal. It was a little spicy for my fiancé, but perfect for me (I love spicy food). The Hong Kong Flat Rice is one of the vegetarian items on The Mint’s menu and was very fragrant with flat rice noodles in a brown garlic sauce with vegetables. I had never seen flat rice noodles before. They were like little quarters of pasta, on purpose perhaps (quarters, money, The Mint…)? The last item was probably our favorite. The Sugar Cane Pork is made with ground, seasoned pork, formed around a sugar cane stick then rolled in panko crumbs, baked, then flash fried. These sticks of porky goodness are served with a pineapple ginger sauce. Yum.
Hong Kong Flat Rice. Photo credit: Dean Studios
The Mint is the perfect place to go for a celebration dinner with friends, a pre-evening out dinner or if you’re in the mood for a dinner with someone special. We’ll be going back soon for that Sugar Cane Pork!
See you soon, Sugar Cane Pork! Photo credit: Dean Studios
The Mint is located at 7373 East Camelback Road in Scottsdale. See more photos from our dinner at The Mint on Flickr.
Rum Bar at The Breadfruit
After my last trip to The Breadfruit , I knew I needed to head back asap to try their Rum Bar. This past week I finally made it. With a collection of over 108 rums from around the world, you are sure to find your rum at Rum Bar.
I’ve always loved the vibe at The Breadfruit, friendly and welcoming. I've always felt at home and relaxed. That’s how I felt at Rum Bar, almost like I was over at a friend’s house, hanging out and having a good time. I started out with a Dark and Stormy at the bartender’s recommendation. Spicy and bold, not to mention a generous pour, was just what the doctor ordered.
Dark and Stormy
The full Breadfruit menu is available at Rum Bar, but I was looking for something light so I ordered the featured appetizer of the day, Mediterranean mussels smoked over pimento wood and drizzled with a sweet, spicy mango and Appleton V/X rum reduction, yum. I also decided to order the Rum Glazed Shrimp and Roti Flatbread. The shrimp was very spicy, but delicious. I went with a second traditional rum cocktail, a mojito, to cool down the burn.
Mmm, mussels...
Rum Bar will be hosting a series of rum tasting events soon. We don’t have the dates yet, but you can follow Visit Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter and we’ll be sure to share the dates when we know.
Rum Bar is located at 108 E. Pierce Street in Phoenix. See more photos from our visit to Rum Bar on Flickr.
What to do for First Friday – August
First Friday is here again! The heat won't stop us from enjoying all of the fun that First Friday has to offer. Here's a quick roundup of what's going on this Friday night.
“Luck Nothing” by Jeff Falk and Annie Lopez Opening Reception at Willow North Gallery 2811 N. 7th Avenue, 6-10pm, Free
Local artist Jeff Falk’s collage works are featured, as well as the photography of Annie Lopez.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Chase Field 401 E. Jefferson Street, 6:40pm, $12 and up
This season has been an exciting one for our home team. Make sure to stay after the game for a fireworks display.
Buy tickets for the Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers game.
“In Your Head and Under Your Bed” Opening Reception at Modified Arts 407 E. Roosevelt Street, 6-9pm, Free
Ten artists are featured in this exhibit at Modified Arts inspired by the subconscious and dreams. Pieces range from paintings to sculptures to fabric designs.
Kendal Hathaway Artist Reception at Sutra Midtown Yoga 2317 N. 7th Street, 7-9pm, Free
Yoga studio turned art exhibit, Sutra Midtown always puts on a great show for First Friday. During the opening reception, Sutra will be collecting art supplies (Items Needed: acrylic paint sets, watercolor sets, oil pastel sets, packages of paintbrushes, canvases, watercolor paper, charcoal sets, packages of clay, glue/hot glue, beads, feathers, etc. ) for the Bergamot Institute and will be serving seasonal sangria.
First Friday at the Phoenix Art Museum 1625 N. Central Avenue, 6-10pm, Free
Enjoy free Museum admission every First Friday! Experience great art from around the world, delight in a drink from ARTenders and enjoy a variety of entertainment on the First Friday of every month.
For August, giddy up to a mix of bluegrass, Old-Time, cowboy/country, folk and originals performed by the Back Porch Bandits. Banjo player Josh Tharp, mandolin monster Billy Parker, bass boy Joel Dowling and guitarist/ringleader Ken Clemmer will have you dancing in no time. So dust off those boots and come boogie with the bandits!
Adults Night Out at Arizona Science Center 600 East Washington Street, 5:30 - 9pm, Free
Explore the Center's exhibit galleries on the First Friday of each month from 5:30 to 9pm. Free for everyone. Please leave children at home. Additional evening options include: A lecture presentation at 7 p.m. (free); and an IMAX film or planetarium presentation at 8:15 p.m. (Regular admission fees apply for film and planetarium presentations.) Additional fees apply for entrance to featured exhibitions.
Betsy Ganz at Practical Art, 5070 North Central Avenue, 7-9pm, Free
Snacks and drinks will be served. Make sure to browse around the store to find that perfect gift for that upcoming birthday, anniversary, etc.
First Friday Mobile Food Court, 408 E. Roosevelt Road, 7pm
Try the delicious mobile cuisine of Riteway Catering Company, Sunshine and Spice, Short Leash Hot Dogs, Sweet Republic, Jamburritos Cajun Grille – Express, and Frufrupops.
The Breadfruit
We recently heard a rumor that spicy food can help cool you down on a hot day (scientific proof here) – so as temperatures started to climb, a co-worker and I headed to The Breadfruit in downtown Phoenix for some spicy Jamaican food.
The Breadfruit is located on Pierce between 1st and 2nd streets on the North side. It’s a blink and you’ll miss it type of place so keep an eye out for the door with 108 over it and their logo painted on the glass. Inside, the restaurant is painted bright green and you can see the chef cooking behind the ¾ wall. If you walk to the back of the restaurant you’ll see The Breadfruit’s new Rum Bar that features over 100 types of rum from around the world. You can also bring your own cigar to smoke outside on their new patio, perfect for a summer evening.
The Breadfruit is easy to miss. Keep an eye out for this door on the North side of Pierce.
Now, back to the spice! My co-worker and I walked over to the The Breadfruit from our office so by the time we arrived we were both very thirsty. I ordered my favorite mango mint lemonade (pureed ripe mango, juiced lemon, organic mint and local raw honey) and my co-worker got the Sorrel (house brewed hibiscus tea infused with ginger and pimento berries).
The Breadfruit's Mango Mint Lemonade is very refreshing on a hot day.
We decided to start with the Appleton Rum Sea Scallops, delicious! The diver scallops are coated with Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum and house hot and spicy jerk rub, then seared in a cast iron skillet. They were perfectly done with just enough spice, but not too overpowering. Next time I go back I will be getting the full order for dinner, of which I may or may not share!
Appleton Rum Sea Scallops appetizer
For lunch I decided on the Jerk Chicken off the Grill, chicken breast marinated in house hot and spicy jerk rub and grilled over pimento wood with house mango chutney on top served with fresh baked festival (a corn bread like breadstick), ital coleslaw, roasted corn on the cob and roasted pineapple. Wow, this was a lot of food and I probably could have saved half for dinner later, but it was so good that I couldn't stop eating. The jerk chicken is definitely for those who like their food spicy – it was a slow burn that built up as I ate, but the mango chutney and my mango mint lemonade kept the fire in check.
Jerk Chicken off the Grill
My co-worker ordered the Jerk Prawns off the Grill, and when it came out we were impressed with not only the presentation but how large the prawns were! Like the jerk chicken, the prawns were seasoned with the house hot and spicy jerk rub then grilled over pimento wood and served with fresh baked festival, ital coleslaw, roasted corn on the cob and roasted pineapple. Again, this dish is for those who like their food spicy and it probably could have been shared between two people if you got an appetizer and another side such as the oven roasted plantains.
Jerk Prawns off the Grill
At the end of the meal we were both stuffed and I would say cooled off. When the waitress asked if we wanted dessert we had to pass although she tempted us by describing the Sweet Potato Pudd’n – next time.
The Breadfruit is one of those unique local restaurants that you don’t find anywhere else. They use fresh ingredients in all of their meals and drinks and you can taste the difference. I’ll be heading back soon to pretend I am on a tropical vacation and to cool off with this delicious island fare.
The Breadfruit is located at 108 E. Pierce Street, Phoenix. See more photos on Flickr.
Broadway at Gammage
The Phoenix area is lucky to have Gammage Auditorium (pronounced GAM-idge, if you're not from the area), which is known for both for its architecture as well as the shows it hosts, largely musicals straight from New York. Tickets start at about $23, and they are still available for an amazing lineup of Broadway musicals:
9 to 5 The Musical
February 22 - February 27
Fiddler on the Roof
March 29 - April 3
Billy Elliot The Musical
April 27 - May 8
Mamma Mia
May 17 - May 22
Gammage also hosts its "Gammage Beyond" series which includes dande performances from dance companies from around the country, plays and musical performances. To see the upcoming engagements, check out the schedule.
While you're there, make sure to take a close look at the architecture of Gammage Auditorium, which is a Frank Lloyd Wright design and was built in 1964. So many shows tour here because it is designed to be as acoustically perfect as possible. (It's named after former ASU president Dr. Grady Gammage, who campaigned to turn Arizona State College into Arizona State University in 1958.)
ASU Gammage
1200 South Forest Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85281
(480) 965-5062
