Blue Hound Kitchen brings delicious food, classy vibe to downtown Phoenix

Posted on May 18, 2013 by nicki

My recent meal at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails is one that I wished could have lasted forever — and with the abundance of dishes my companion and I were lucky enough to try (thanks, J. Lauren PR), it was a delightful time that still has my mouth watering.

And the food isn’t the only draw here, though Chef Stephen Jones‘ ever-changing seasonal menu is worth the trip. My companion noted the spot seemed like one movie character Ron Burgundy would love, with a “stay classy” feel crafted with lots of wooden accents, sports on at the cozy bar, dim lighting, and comfy leather booths that make diners feel like they’re in their own private little worlds.

The bar and restaurant, nestled into the Hotel Palomar at CityScape in downtown Phoenix, has big city views of the adjoining bustling CityScape atmosphere. The atmosphere is about as New York City as you can find downtown, and on a Monday night, there were lots of suits, way more men than women, filing up the bar area. If you’re on the prowl for a new guy, head for a cocktail here — the selection is vast, with stand-out’s including the oh-so-refreshing Floradora ($10), with gin, lime, raspberry syrup, soda and ginger; and the French Riviera ($10), with Dolin Blanc, Velvet Falernum, strawberries and club soda.

The cocktail menu has a ton of diversity, so there’s bound to be something you like.

As for the menu, Chef Stephen recently revamped more than half of it, with locally sourced menu items that give all the dishes a refreshing taste. The latest menu is seafood-focused, and my pal tried the Jerk Cured Scottish Salmon with shaved celery, apple and fennel salad and a potato puree ($9 for a small portion). He said the fish was perfectly cooked, and the sweet elements balanced out the dish.

I had to try some of my favorite soup, gazpacho, a cup of which came with the perfect fresh veggies garnish to stir into the cold blended soup ($5). I’ve had my fair share of gazpacho soups in Spain, and this was hands-down one of my favorites. It was thick and rich, which I loved, and perfectly flavored.

We also started with the Crows Dairy Goats Milk Yellow Corn Cake ($5-$10, based on portion), which was topped with a red onion jam and marinated spring squash. Everything about this was delightful, from the consistency and buttery flavor of the corn cake, to the perfect jam topping that was a pleasant surprise that worked. The marinated veggies added some savoriness, and I wanted more.

I loved that all the dishes are designed for trying, since there are sampler portions of just about everything on the menu. My companion got a small portion of the Lamb Meatballs, with dandelion greens, potatoes, chickpeas, and red onion yogurt ($9). It’s got to be one of the most innovative, fanciest dishes you could try at that price.

Chef Stephen also sent out an appetizer of Shisito Peppers ($5-$8), which is something I’ve actually never had before. The peppers were fun to nosh on and were tame enough for anyone’s palate.

I ordered a plum tomato flatbread, made with house-pulled mozzarella ($12). All the ingredients were stand-out and high-quality, but I’ve had a flatbread like this at St. Francis. Opt for the more outside-the-box offerings if you go to Blue Hound.

Chef Stephen was also kind enough to send out a lemon and fennel sorbet, which was light and refreshing and a perfect meal-ender — even though I had insisted I was too full for dessert, I couldn’t help eating every bit of my portion. The fennel offering was unlike anything I’d ever tasted before — it was a really interesting flavor that definitely gave the dessert a farm-to-table taste. I’d give the dessert points on uniqueness alone.

Not only was it a pleasure to meet Chef Stephen and gobble up his amazing food in a relaxed but classy atmosphere, the service was also impeccable. Like the hotel it’s housed in, Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails strives to make its customers feel at home, too.

Skip the food, get $1 beers at Bar Louie at Tempe Marketplace on Wednesday’s

Posted on May 4, 2013 by nicki

I’m always excited when new bars open up at Tempe Marketplace, and I headed to Bar Louie this past Wednesday. Lucky us — Wednesday’s at Bar Louie means $1 domestic drafts, which is quite the great deal.

We sat on the patio, which had some skewed views of the televisions at the indoor bar. What was probably supposed to be the hip and college-friendly inside of Bar Louie seemed like a more brightly colored Cheesecake Factory. There was nothing striking about it that made it seem like a dining destination based on ambiance alone.

The food wasn’t much better. My companion’s fish po’ boy ($10) seemed to be served on the same burger basket you would find at Chili’s, and I was really disappointed with my own meal, which was nothing above the average sports bar in taste.

We started with chips and salsa, nacho cheese and guacamole ($7), but there was nothing exciting about it. The chips didn’t taste homemade, and the salsa was bland. It was a disappointing start.

Next, I had a cheese quesadilla ($7), which was just as meh. The tortilla wasn’t evenly distributed with the cheese, and it was too crispy.

Besides the mediocre food, the service at Bar Louie was pretty bad. It was awhile before our own table was bussed, and the one right by us (where we actually wanted to sit to get a better view of the game inside) was left unbussed for probably 20 minutes after we sat down at ours. Bar Louie might be seeming like it’s trying to class it up at Tempe Marketplace, but I wouldn’t want to go back unless it was for one of those $1 beers.

Federal Pizza in central Phoenix a hipster pizzeria

Posted on April 27, 2013 by nicki

If you’re a fan of Windsor or Postino and love pizza, just go to Federal Pizza already. The spot is owned by Craig DeMarco’s Upward Projects, too, and it has the same hip vibe all the other restaurants do.

The interior actually reminds me a little of Chelsea’s Kitchen, with warm lighting and a homey feel. There’s a bare bones patio facing the street, and the servers tended to be young and have their own style because of the lack of uniforms. The joint is casual — I even went right after teaching a workout class, and no one seemed to care about my grungy attire.

The drink menu is simple, with beers and flavored wine coolers. I got a lavendar raspberry one, which was delivered in an oh-so-cute little jar-like glass. The cooler was refreshing and tasted like flavored Sprite — I’d recommend trying one.

I started my meal with an appetizer — foolishly, considering just about everyone at my table got individual pizzas, which are way too huge and should be shared! I got vegetarian black bean soup of the day ($3), which was decent but a little bland — I loved the crunchy texture of the soup from the veggies, though.

For my pizza, I got a simple cheese pizza with olives ($12), which I could only eat two out of six slices of. The pizza was really crispy, almost burnt on the edges, and it just wasn’t my favorite type of pizza — I much prefer the floppier style of Cibo. Still, it’s nice to have another central Phoenix pizza option, and it’s right across the street from the to-die-for Churn — which alone makes the trip to Federal Pizza worth it.

The Breadfruit and Rumbar in Phoenix is pure paradise

Posted on February 11, 2013 by nicki

The Breadfruit and Rumbar has been serving downtown Phoenix patrons tasty Jamaican food since 2008, but I finally checked it out for the first time this past weekend. I fell in love with it instantly and can’t wait to go back.

The Breadfruit and Rumbar is a charming Jamaican eatery with an extensive selection of more than 100 rums. I had one of my new favorite cocktails there, the changing-daily Punch Bowl Special ($9), made with fresh pomegranate and cranberry juices. It was so refreshing, plus pretty strong, and I could have sipped them all night long. And if you’re into cigars, you can purchase one there to pair with your rum, too.

We started with the Plantain Avocado Spring Rolls ($8.50), paired with a mango chutney. If you like the avocado egg rolls at Kona Grill, you’ll definitely like these. And it’s nice to know The Breadfruit locally sources all their menu items, so everything is extremely fresh.

I’m usually not a huge tofu fan, but I took the recommendation of our server to order the Coconut Curry Tofu ($11.50). It was a really hearty, delicious dish, and the tofu reminded me of chicken bits — I really liked it. The rice and beans (they’re called “peas” on the menu) was my favorite part of the dish, which also came with veggies and plantains. It was a great variety of foods and really filling. I’d highly recommend it.

My boyfriend got the Jerk Chicken ($12), which he said was the best jerk chicken he’d ever had.

Besides the tasty food, the atmosphere at The Breadfruit was so pretty. The lounge area was dark and sophisticated — you won’t find any sports televisions — and the main dining room was small and cozy. Service was excellent, and I’d recommend it as a great date place. For more information on The Breadfruit, go here.

Loco Patron on Mill Avenue in Tempe has great happy hour deals

Posted on February 4, 2013 by nicki

Loco Patron has long been a fixture on Scottsdale Road in Old Town Scottsdale, but I’ve always gone there more for the margaritas and barcrawler atmosphere than for the food. I haven’t had any food at the Scottsdale location in several years, but I was highly impressed with the amazing happy hour offerings I sampled from the new Tempe location, which opened this past December on Mill Avenue right by the light rail.

Their happy hour runs from 3-7 p.m. daily and features a ton of hearty food options for very little moolah. On my recent visit there, my boyfriend and I shared tostadas ($5) and tacos ($3), which were basically the same thing, save for different cheeses — go for the tacos with a corn tortilla and cojita cheese instead of their shredded mix, and you should be good.

We also got a cheese crisp, a steal at only $2! The food was all great and a really phenomenal value for the portion you got, too.

Plus, you get free chips and salsa with any meal, so we were definitely feeling full without spending a ton.

Besides the great food offerings, happy hour drinks are worth the visit, too, with $3 beers, wine and wells and jumbo beers starting at only $4.25. The Mill Avenue location also features a cool patio overlooking the busy street, and there’s a huge bar and tons of televisions broadcasting sports throughout the venue. The service was fast and friendly, and it’s nice that it’s conveniently located to the light rail in case you have too many margaritas. For more information on the Tempe Loco Patron, go here.

Angels Trumpet Ale House in downtown Phoenix great for beer lovers

Posted on January 6, 2013 by nicki

If you’re a beer lover, you’ll probably love Angels Trumpet Ale House, which has more than 30 beers on tap in downtown Phoenix. The spot also serves up lunch and dinner, with a menu full of sammies, pizzas and hamburgers to be enjoyed in the large communal dining room, at the beer bar or out on the patio.

I love that the bar and eatery is right across the street from FilmBar, which makes it an ideal place to grab a bite and drink before a show. When I last went there, I got a Churchill Grilled Cheese Sammy ($8.50), which I got with fries. It wasn’t my favorite grilled cheese (I would leave off the pesto next time), but the portion was so huge I could barely finish half my meal. It was a great value.

My companion got the Tractor pizza ($11), which was one of the most unique pizzas I’ve ever seen — it came with Brussel sprouts, bacon, caramelized onion, and even an egg on top.

As for beers, there are giant chalkboards describing each one, and the servers are really knowledgeable and can help guide you toward a good choice. For more information on Angles Trumpet Ale House, go here.

Pig & Pickle in Scottsdale a new foodie destination

Posted on December 16, 2012 by nicki

Yay! Rejoice! There is finally a foodie spot in south Scottsdale less than a mile away from me that brings some hipster cred to the corner of Hayden and Thomas Roads. The Pig & Pickle just opened, serving up a pork-heavy dinner menu paired with a variety of beers and handcrafted cocktails. While the interior gives off a sports bar vibe with an open kitchen, the menu features local ingredients in comfort food style dishes that give the place a warm, welcoming feel.

I had a really great vegan burger ($8), made with beans, grains and seeds. It was tasty and filling, and I really enjoyed the seasoned fries that came with it.

My friend got the creamy broccoli and and brown ale with cheddar soup ($7), which he said was great.

And here’s his pot roast sammie ($10), with carmelized onions, havarti and chile aioli. It looked like a hearty sandwich, and he said it really tasted fresh.

I’d go back to the Pig & Pickle to try their mac n’ cheese — and I’m also curious how their appetizer of pickles would stand out. The spot is also cool because it serves food until 1 a.m., which is great for Old Town Scottsdale nightclubbers who want a foodie fix. For more info, go here.

Desert Roots in Tempe a new vegetarian joint

Posted on November 1, 2012 by nicki

Celebrate: there’s a great vegan/vegetarian breakfast and lunch spot on Mill Avenue, Desert Roots Kitchen, and it offers up a rotating menu of tasty veg-friendly items with local ingredients for peeps who love eating healthily.

The cafe, which has been open for about the past 5 months, is hidden in the plaza off of 5^th St. and features a great case of vegetarian dishes, such as pasta salad, pumpkin pudding and dolmas. The spot also serves coffee and breakfast items and a changing daily special, which I got when I went there recently—the pinto bean wrap, with brown rice and peppers.
The joint is order-at-the-counter, and there’s a little patio outside where you can nosh. Getting my food was super-quick, and the staff was very friendly. Most meals cost only around $10, and you can build your own meal with a variety of sides, an option I loved since everything looked so good. My pasta salad was really tasty, and the wrap packed a protein punch and was really filling. While the spot doesn’t currently serve dinner, the owner said she anticipated dinner hours in the near-future. Check out more info about Desert Roots here.

Chelsea’s Kitchen a Valley must-try

Posted on October 17, 2012 by nicki

I know, I know — it’s taken me forever to get to Chelsea’s Kitchen, a restaurant I’ve been wanting to try for years! I went there this past weekend and was so happy to finally head to this beautiful eatery that has a breezy island vibe with sprawling patios both at the front of the house and back.

It’s no wonder the spot was bustling when I went for dinner at 9 p.m. on a Friday night — the mixed crowd of all ages packed the house, which has cozy booths and striking printed curtains that make guests feel right at home, no matter the crowd. The bar contains a few televisions with sporting events on, so you can dine in any type of atmosphere you wanted — cozy dining room, spacious patio or at the bar.

Our servers were professional and attentive, and the meal was fantastic and hugely portioned — I took half of mine home. I loved the Lucy’s “Spiked” Lemonade ($8) cocktail I got, with vodka, lemonade and fresh rosemary. It was refreshing and strong and didn’t have a gross alcohol taste — it was easy to drink and tasty.

We started with the Guacamole and Chips ($10), which is pretty much a must-try since all the ingredients, including the chips and salsa, are all made in-house. The salsa had the perfect amount of spiciness (maybe a 7 out of 10), and the guacamole would have been great to eat on its own.

For my meal, I tried the Shangri-La Vegetarian Burger ($12), which consisted of grains, nuts and seeds. I usually don’t get French fries, but I did this time, and they had really great seasoning and the perfect amount of oil. The burger was tasty, but the consistency made it difficult to hold together. Not that it matters — it was a great veggie burger that was really filling.

Chelsea’s biggest impression on me was the service of the staff, who made you feel welcome and valued from start to finish. It’s no wonder people remain so loyal to the eatery — it seems like a wonderful place for anyone to have a great meal.

Bacchus Mischief by Il Tocco an intimate, unique wine tasting

Posted on July 29, 2012 by nicki

I’ve been wanting to go to an Il Tocco event for a really long time. The private dinner parties, under the name Culinary Mischief, are always at secret locations and are limited to 30 people — and your multi-course meal with wine pairings is always a unique menu crafted by locally-based, Italian-born chef Gabriele Bertaccini.

Since those events can cost around $115, I was thrilled when I heard about Bacchus Mischief, the latest creation by Bertaccini that is only $50, where only a dozen guests still meet in a secret location and sample six different types of wines paired with small bite plates. I went to the inaugural Bacchus Mischief in downtown Phoenix yesterday, and I had a blast and met some really amazing people. With the wine flowing, it’s easy to make new friends, and there was an engaging, diverse group at yesterday’s tasting.

To go to an Il Tocco event, which also take place in Los Angeles and New York, first sign up for the mailing list here. You’ll receive e-mails about future events, and then less than a week before the party, if you make it on the list, you’ll get the venue address. I won’t say exactly where the one I went to was, but it was an art gallery and home with some really fun artwork and a baby grand piano that made me drool.

Once we arrived, we were led up the elevator to the kitchen/dining room area and were immediately served a drink. All the wines featured at Bacchus Mischief are little-known, inexpensive Italian wines, and you can even order bottles or cases of ones you like through Bertaccini. He and his staff prepare delicious little bites that complement the wines, and the ones we sampled yesterday included cheese and honey, bread and olive oil and flourless chocolate cake. It’s neat to sample the wine first, then taste the food and try the wine again, which gives the wine a whole new taste.

Throughout the tasting, you can take notes on your wines using the booklet Bertaccini prepares for you. The packet includes traditional wine grading, so you can file away what aromas and flavors you detected and keep it so you never forget the ones you loved. Bertaccini gave a brief history of each wine before we tried them, and the rest of the time was spent mingling with the crowd, which included people of all ages. I had a blast talking to all the new people I met, who were just as passionate about food and cocktails as I am and were just interesting people in general.

Bertaccini plans on doing Bacchus Mischief events every few weeks, while Culinary Mischief events are around monthly now. For more information, go here.

Nicki a la Noche

A 20-something's guide to what's hip in the Valley.

Category Archives: Dining