I'm always happy when someone from the office is so excited about a place that they want to share it on our blog. Kim is our Marketing Programs Manager, and here's her take on the Viet Kitchen Restaurant:

I was excited when I found out my favorite Vietnamese restaurant from North Phoenix opened up a second location in Downtown Phoenix (UPDATE: The downtown location has closed). Growing up, my mom cooked pretty much everything Viet Kitchen has on their menu, so I have a tough time deciding what to get every time I am there.

PHÒ TÁI

I usually end up leaving completely stuffed because I feel the need to order a couple of items just to get my fill until the next visit. A must have each time is the Vietnamese soup Pho, and my favorite is the Prime Pho (PHÒ TÁI).  On this visit, I decided to get the Vietnamese pancake called Danang Sunrise (BÁNH XÉO) for an appetizer. My friend decided to venture away from the soup and tried their Viet Style Filet.  Next time I think I will get the Spring Rolls and a Banh Mi sandwich.

Vietnames Pancake-BÁNH XÉO

See more photos on Flickr.

Viet Kitchen

Downtown Phoenix - CLOSED
114 W. Adams St. (NW corner of 1st Ave. and Adams)
602-262-5535

North Phoenix
20235 N. Cave Creek Rd., #108 (NE corner of N. Cave Creek & E. Beardsley Rd.)
602-788-5535

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

If there's one thing I love to do, it's S-H-O-P! And Kierland Commons happens to be one of the places I enjoy the most. I love it's selection of stores along with its openess and beautiful setting. It really sets the mood for a great day of shopping. They also have an amazing selection of restaurants, so there's always a place to rest your feet and refuel between stores (never underestimate the need to refuel during a shopping excursion - energy is crucial).

My most recent visit to Kierland Commons was for Fashion's Night Out. I needed a little retail therapy after a long week and this was the perfect solution. Kierland is fun any time of day, but evening is especially "magical" with all of the white lights, people strolling around and patios full of happy hour aficionados. Thanks to the celebratory nature of Fashion's Night Out, there was music playing, drinks flowing, deals to be had and a slew of live models showing off the latest must-haves for Fall. The stores really got into the spirit of the evening (Note: although tempting, I steered clear of drinking and shopping - it's hazardous to my wallet!).

Kierland truly has a little bit of everything. Some of my favorite stores include Anthropologie, The French Bee, Michael Kors and Charles David. Of course, they also have the good ol' stand bys like Crate & Barrel, Restoration Hardware, J. Crew, LOFT, Banana Republic and Tommy Bahama (which includes the Cafe). Basically, I can meet all of my shopping needs in one place.

As mentioned, the restaurant selection is stellar as well. Some of my personal favs are The Greene House, Zinc Bistro and Ocean Club (the pretzel bread is to die for.)

But don't just take it from, be sure to check it out for yourself. To see all of their stores and restaurants, go to www.kierlandcommons.com.

Kierland Commons
Greenway Pkwy. and Scottsdale Rd.

Calling all Foodies: Labor Day Weekend is upon us, so that means it's time for Phoenix Cooks! This annual event has a new home this year at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. If you attend, get ready to indulge yourself. There will be specialties from more than 50 restaurants and resorts along with the opportunity to sample wine, beer and spirits. And, if that's not enough, there will be cooking demonstrations, shopping and "foodie" raffle prizes with 100% benefitting Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Be on the lookout for these chefs: Beau MacMillan (elements at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain), Lee Hillson (T. Cooks at The Royal Palms), Matt Carter (Zinc Bistro & The Mission), Anthony DeMuro (Different Pointe of View and many, many more!

Tickets are $75/pp in advance and $90/pp at the door. Class tickets are additional. Check out www.phoenixcooks.com for all of the details.

Happy Eating!

Every year this is the must-do week of culinary exploration, and water coolers are filled with chatter about "What did you try?" Each year we get asked for our top picks, and withholding judgment until the full list is out, here are some big highlights:

Culinary Dropout
J&G Steakhouse
Lon's at the Hermosa Inn
True Food Kitchen
Tuscany

A more comprehensive (and ever-growing) list can be accessed here. Some of the Phoenix area's top chefs are already on the list and given previous years' participation, we're expecting a lot more to join soon.

One notable highlight this year -  restaurants will have the option to offer gluten-fee dishes, which will be noted on the Arizona Restaurant Week web site, so if gluten is not your friend, make sure to check the options first.

Oh, and feel free to log your anticipation of the event on twitter, with the hashtag #ARW2010.

The McDowell Mountain Music Festival begins today in North Scottsdale, gates open at 4pm (which is perfect, because Happy Hour is from 4-6pm at the MMMF). Tomorrow and Sunday they open at 11am, and the schedule is crammed with local bands, including Ryan Shaw, Easton Ashe, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue and the Sugar Thieves.  Assembly of Dust and Steve Kimock Crazy Engine perform at the After Hours events on Friday and Saturday night, respectively, and require a separate ticket. Those shows run from 11pm - 2am.

Single Day adult tickets are $35 on Friday and Sunday each; $45 on Saturday. But save yourself some cash and pay $100 for all three days and make a weekend out of it.

The event is put on by the same crew that owns The Compound Bar & Grill (next door to the MMMF this year), which always has live music and has become a major hot spot in northern Scottsdale/Phoenix.

Read more about the festival, including the full lineups and ticket information on their website.

Location: NE corner of 68th St. and Mayo Boulevard, just SW of the Scottsdale Rd/Loop 101 exit.

Live Music

Ahhh, this is the life

When our food arrived, I was so anxious to dive in that I forgot to snap pictures first. In the photos below, you'll see that we had already indulged - I promise, there's more food than you see here. I had the Coconut Shrimp (dee-licious) and Fish Tacos (also yummy), and my husband snacked on the Quesadilla and Sliders. He loved both, especially the cheeseburger slider.

Coconut Shrimp

Quesadilla

So, the next time you're in the mood for a little Island Time, head over to Tommy Bahama Cafe and get your happy hour on. Great prices, great food and great atmosphere. What's not to love?

Tommy Bahama Cafe
Kierland Commons
15205 N. Kierland Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ
www.tommybahama.com

]]> http://www.thehotsheetblog.com/2010/04/01/happy-hour-at-tommy-bahama-cafe/feed/ 2 http://www.thehotsheetblog.com/2010/02/26/after-the-open-what-to-do/ http://www.thehotsheetblog.com/2010/02/26/after-the-open-what-to-do/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:54:12 +0000 visitphoenix http://thehotsheetblog.com/?p=1231 We are right in the middle of the Waste Management Phoenix Open week, of course with the big signature weekend to come tomorrow and Sunday. The Open is up at the TPC in Scottsdale, and is definitely known for being the rowdiest, loudest, most energetic crowds on the Tour. All that energy has to go somewhere once you've left the gates, and if the Bird's Nest isn't your thing, here are our suggestions for what to do and where to go in the North Scottsdale/Phoenix area:

WHERE TO EAT

Skip the chain restaurants and head to these local gems up north:

Zinc Bistro: At Kierland Commons, just a little more than a mile away from the TPC, you can find Chef Matt Carter whipping up his French specialties. It's delicious and you can eat on the patio, on the side or tucked away in a back courtyard, to absorb the perfect weather. Whatever you do, get the molten cake - just make sure to order in advance.

North, Greene House: North (and Bar North) and The Greene House are all brain children of  you-guessed-it, Sam Fox, and both are at Kierland Commons. If you haven't tried The Greene House, prepare to be wowed. The atmosphere and food are fresh as can be, laid back but sophisticated at the same time.

The Compound: Live Music + Grill: The creators of the McDowell Mountain Music Festival have set up shop - err, restaurant - at the Scottsdale & 101. But this is no ordinary grill, of course there's live music to be had nearly every night. Great place to go to relax after the Open.

El Encanto: You're already up north, so head a few more miles up and visit El Encanto, one of Phoenix's oldest (and most delicious) Mexican restaurants. You'll be surprised, too, by the lake surrounded by trees, with swans floating around -it's what they're known for. That, and the year-after-year award-winning margaritas.

White Chocolate Grill: Oddly, not every dish is made with white chocolate. A disappointment to some chocoholics like me, until I tasted the oh-so-fresh American fare. It's reminiscent of a Houston's-type restaurant, with the classy dark wood, really expertly cooked food, but the WCG as we call it has a killer bar and atmosphere. Get there early.

NIGHTLIFE

You've seen some golf, now you're full from one of the restaurants above, and you want to go out. Here's where to do it:

Devil's Martini North: The sister to the original location in Old Town Scottsdale, Devil's North - as it's called - is the primary dance club/bar/lounge in North Scottsdale. It always has the best DJs (before you go, you can even request music on their web site), stiff drinks, and what's widely known as the best looking crowd in town. Don't be fashionably late this weekend - go early to save yourself time in line.

Stone Rose Lounge: This swanky place is at the swanky Fairmont Scottsdale, literally right behind the Open, which means you won't have to find a DD to get there. There will be live music and drinks with a bite, but this isn't the place to go to dance. This is the place to go if you want to relax on the patio or watch the action around the bar.

Armitage: Just a couple miles north of the Open is DC Ranch, and Armitage is the oh-so-popular wine bar you've gotta try. There's a long wine list for the sophisticated type, and a spirit list for the rest of us that really is full of spirit with creative concoctions. It's really cozy with oversized chairs and couches, but it's quaint so don't wait too long to get your spot.

When CityNorth opened about a year ago in north Phoenix, it had upscale shopping, hip cutting-edge people moving into the loft spaces, and the anticipation of larger shops. But the most exciting things were all the new restaurants. One of the most exciting was 25 Degrees, an ultra-glam-vintage-modern burger bistro that mixes gourmet techniques into the best comfort food around.

They have four burgers that they've crafted brilliantly, ranging from their "number one" (caramelized onion, gorgonzola, crescenza, bacon), to the "number three" (mezzo secco jack, green chili, chipotle, avocado), and their "number four" with yellowfin tuna has sent people swooning.

But those daring to create their own are rewarded with the best-of-the-best choices in meat (sirloin, turkey, veggie), and their cheese selection is more extensive than most wine bars, and is from all over the world. Paired with one of their 14 homemade sauces,  you really can't go wrong.

I will mandate you to get their onion rings, though, which are hand battered and dipped and yes, there is a difference. My main problem when I go is deciding burger or non-burger, since their grilled three cheese sandwich or their fried egg sandwich really rocks my world.

For the beverages, a man from Chicago said it was the best Guinness milkshake he's ever had anywhere. I was too glued to my chocolate malt to pull myself away. Another option is their PBR on-tap, a patron's favorite.

All-in-all, it's a must-go.  (And a must-stuff-your-face.)

25 Degrees

5415 E High Street, #127
Phoenix, AZ 85054
(480) 502-1125

You have to try the biscuits

On my first visit, I checked out the Mulitgrain Pancakes which were yummy, and BIG. They took up the entire plate! My husband is a fan of the Gringo Breakfast Burrito. And we're both huge fans of their Cinnamon Rolls. These alone are well worth the visit. They're baked every day and according to the menu, "When they're gone, they're gone." Now, that's fresh.

Multigrain Pancakes

Gringo Breakfast Burrito

Scramble also offers a light lunch menu, but I doubt I'll ever try it because the breakfast is just too good to pass up!

 www.azscramble.com

9832 N. 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85020