Tag Archives: phoenix

Chelsea’s Kitchen a Valley must-try

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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.

Chelsea's KitchenIt’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.

Chelsea's Kitchen

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.

chelsea's kitchen

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 Kitchen

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

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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.

’21 Jump Street’ shows Channing Tatum is more than just eye candy

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It took me awhile, but I finally saw 21 Jump Street this past weekend at AMC Esplanade, right after a delicious kale salad and whipped potatoes-filled dinner at the ultra-chic St. Francis (we sat on the mezzanine this time — very cool!) I’ve heard nothing but great things from people about how unexpectedly funny the movie was, and I’m a huge Jonah Hill fan. Plus, I was eager to see how Channing Tatum handled his turn as a comedy star in the flick, and I’m happy to say the duo played well off each other.

While this isn’t a movie I’d say you need to see right away in the theaters, if you’re looking for a breezy movie to laugh at, this will do it. Tatum and Hill star as young police officers reassigned into an undercover drug bust program as local high school students. They have to befriend the dealers to get to the suppliers, and hijinx ensue as they’re suspected as narcs by the students.

One of the best parts of the movie is when the duo are on drugs themselves, if only because you get to see Tatum act super-silly.  He may have found a new calling as a comedian with this movie (and he wasn’t so bad at hosting Saturday Night Live this year, either), and Hill was solid, as usual. And if you haven’t heard about the amazing cameo you might miss if you blink, I won’t spoil it here. If you want the movie to be even funnier, go to the Esplanade like I did, where you can drink while you’re watching the film.

Biltmore Spring Movies in the Park a fun way to enjoy the season

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I’ve been to many Biltmore Spring Movies in the Park events, but I was never so excited to attend as I was last Friday — the movie was Clueless, my favorite movie of all time. Don’t judge — there were lots of people around me who had no trouble reciting the flick line-by-line, as well.

The groundbreaking film was played on a large screen in the grassy area in the middle of the upscale outdoor mall, and people brought blankets and chairs galore to perch in front of the screen. It’s easy to buy food from one of the nearby restaurants and bring it back to your spot to enjoy the film (Paradise and California Pizza Kitchen are a couple of my faves for to-go), and though you’re not supposed to have alcoholic bottles at the spot, no one really monitors drinking — be safe and bring some plastic cups to pour your beverages in.

There’s even a popcorn machine serving up movie theater-style snacks to the masses, and the movie itself is free. For the full schedule of movies, which run through April 27 on Friday’s at 7:30 p.m., go here — this week’s film is The Sound of Music.

Blue Martini at CityNorth one of the coolest places in north Phoenix

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It’s been really difficult for me to find cool places to drink at and dine at in north Phoenix (if you know of somewhere cool, please, please, please leave it in the comments for me), but this weekend I had a good time at Blue Martini at CityNorth. I’ve been to Blue Martini once before for a karaoke night, but I had two huge meals there this weekend that allowed me to sample a ton of their signature martinis and dishes.

Blue Martini is the anchor of CityNorth, a retail and living space that only completed the first phase of its development. Our server assured us the complex would soon be built up again, with more restaurants and shops to come besides the few (Kona Grill, Bebe, Ocean Prime, to name a few) it has now.

Not surprisingly, Blue Martini’s signature menu item is its martinis. The menu boasts more than 40 varieties and come in just about any flavor you might like.

Probably my favorite martini I tried during the weekend was the Caramel Swirl, with Van Gogh Dutch Caramel Vodka, Irish Cream Liqueur and cream in a glass topped with caramel. It was sweet and didn’t taste like alcohol, and if you love caramel, it’s a no-brainer.


The Espresso Martini is almost as tasty, with Grey Goose Vodka, Borghetti Espresso Liqueur and Irish Cream in a chocolate-covered glass. It definitely has that coffee taste.

A restaurant favorite is the Bellini, a peachy drink filled with Grey Goose Vodka, Peach Schnapps, peach puree, Chandon sparkling wine and a splash of orange juice. It was fruity and had a tropical vibe to it.

I also tried the Tootsie Roll, which tasted like an orange Tootsie Roll pop, and The Perfect Pear, which tasted more sour than pear-like–our table wouldn’t recommend that one.

Food-wise, we sampled a little bit of everything on the menu. By far, my favorite dish on the tiny menu is the Margherita Flatbread, which had the perfect consistency because it had lots of cheese and wasn’t too crispy. This is what I’d get every time if I went back for food.

We also tried the Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, which came with fried pita chips. I was not a fan of the pita because it was too thick and hard, and the hummus was just mediocre to me. I felt the exact same way about the Spinach and Artichoke dip, which also came with fried pita chips and wasn’t spectacular.


We also tried the Baked Brie en Croute, a breid cheese puff over a strawberry cabernet sauce that came with crackers and grapes. It was a really delicious dish–I just wish there was more of it!


My friends loved the Sliced Beef Tenderloin, which is pictured below.


And we all gobbled up the White Chocolate Mousse cake dessert, which was rich and creamy and came with an Oreo cookie crust and white chocolate and whipped cream.


While the food and drinks were great, I’d try to go during happy hour if you could, since cocktails are all half-off from 3-7 p.m. daily, and food is discounted. Most martinis cost around $12, and food generally ranges between $10-$20, so this is definitely the best time to go. Sit on the heated patio, which has some sports televisions to check out, or head inside to the cozy, sleek sports bar lounge. For more information on Blue Martini, go here.

The Main Ingredient in central Phoenix keeps it simple, delicious

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Old houses turned into hip and modern restaurants are just so cool, and The Main Ingredient Ale House & Cafe in central Phoenix is no exception. And it’s hard to find a place in the States that serves Coca-Cola Light, so it gets points for that alone.


The dark and cozy eatery looks like it could be a romantic spot because the lighting inside is so low, but it’s actually more casual in that it has sports broadcasting on a television in the dining room, and the bar is stocked with more than 30 beers from around the country and a variety of wines. This would be a great place to come before a game downtown if you want to chill out but still want to be a part of culture, since it’s in the historic Coronado district.

The food menu at The Main Ingredient is simple and stocked with salads, sandwiches and American staples such as mac n’ cheese. Everything that came out looked really high-quality, and my food was delicious.

First, I really enjoyed the chips and salsa ($4), with chips from yummy local La Tolteca and a medium heat salsa. The chips had the perfect texture and consistency, and the salsa had the right amount of spiciness. They definitely rivaled some of the best chips and salsa I’ve had at Mexican food restaurants, which is no surprise considering they’re from La Tolteca.


For my entree, I got the griddled cheese with a  side of greens ($7). Instead of the sourdough it usually comes on, I got the sandwich on focaccia and added avocado to go along with the tomato. Be sure to pair your sandwiches with the greens rather than the kettle chips–I added a delicious lemon vinaigrette to the greens, and they were amazing. I could have eaten that salad as the whole meal, it was so delicious–if you don’t like salads, this will make you a believer. The focaccia made the sandwich mouth-wateringly good, and for the price, I thought it was an excellent value.


Besides the tasty food, The Main Ingredient also features a little patio, and it’s definitely a central Phoenix gem that’s worth checking out.

Sand Bar great for drinking, watching the game, but skip the food

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I’ve been hanging out a lot recently at the Sand Bar at Desert Ridge, watching the Arizona Diamdondbacks dominate in the baseball world and sampling some strong margaritas. You’ve got to appreciate a bar that has actual sand you can sink your toes into, bringing a little bit of the beach to the Valley.


At the Desert Ridge location (there are three in the Valley), there’s a massive bar in the center of the outdoor patio, along with a ton of umbrella-covered tables atop the sand, as well as a big indoor restaurant.


The bar is full-service and has a slew of televisions, and there are also three more secluded cabanas with ultra-comfy couches and televisions.


This past Sunday, my friend and I were surprised to see no one was sitting at the cabanas, and we got our own private viewing party at one after requesting to sit there.


I’ve only had the food at Sand Bar once, but it was nothing special and definitely not something I’d crave. I did like the endless bucket of chips ($5) and two types of salsa (the green is my favorite), but I’d stick to that if you want food.


The cheese enchiladas ($8.99) were rubbery and forgettable, and I didn’t enjoy the red sauce that covered them. The saving grace of the dish was the rice, but even that didn’t stand out.


Instead, go to Sand Bar for an island-y atmosphere and a ton of viewing options. Even though all the TV’s at the bar displayed football games, the bartender had no problem turning on the Diamondbacks for us at the cabana, and the service there has always been great for me.

AMC Esplanade 14 dine-in theater experience a comfy and tasty one

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Forget having to schedule your dinner reservations around the movie you’re going to see. AMC Esplanade 14 in the Biltmore area of Phoenix recently underwent major renovations, turning its 14 theaters into chic dine-in auditoriums where viewers reserve their seats and get restaurant-quality service as they fill up on food and drinks while watching the flicks.


I got a tour of the theaters, which open Wednesday, September 7, last night. This is only the ninth AMC dine-in theater in the nation, with the next closest one being all the way in Kansas City. The new theaters’ capacities range from 32-136, so each visit is way more intimate that the traditional movie-going experience.


The first cool thing about the theater is the MacGuffins bar that greets you when you walk in. It’s replaced the concessions stand, with the kitchen behind the bar. I love the drinking-and-movie combination, since a lot of times alcohol can make a mediocre movie that much more fun. It’s also a great place to hang out and catch up before the movie or discuss the film afterward, and the bar is fully stocked with everything from beer and wine to mimosas and martinis.


There are two types of theaters at the new AMC–nine Fork & Screen theaters and five Cinema Suites theaters. The Fork & Screen have more seats, and they’re also the ones that will be showing all-ages movies. They have great comfy chairs with little lights you can push next to them to get a server to come around, and the seats are spread out enough to where nothing feels cramped.


While the whole venue is technically 18-and-older throughout, kids younger than 18 can come with someone 21-and-older.


The Cinema Suites theater have a more luxurious feel to them in the sense they have less seats and the chairs are absolutely amazing. You can just sink into them and recline almost to the point of lying down. Those theaters are exclusively for people ages 21-and-older, and they have the same set-up where you push a light to get a server’s attention.

Each seat in the theaters has a menu and silverware next to it, along with a tray that slides out right in front of your seat. It’s actually possible to be reclining while eating, which is really cool and makes you feel right at home.

The servers try to take your full order, from appetizers and drinks to dessert, all at once, so they keep the disruptions during the film to a minimum. The menus are full of American fare, including burgers and salads to flatbreads and seafood dishes, all served on bamboo plates that eliminate clinking during the film.


We tried a lot of food while we watched the funny-but-predictable The Hangover Part II, starting with the Veggie Triple Feature ($7.99) that included jicama, pizza strips, celery and carrot sticks served with hummus and ranch. It was a huge appetizer and really tasty, and I loved that it was such a healthy option.

We also ordered the Double Cheese Batons ($7.99), mozzarella sticks topped with parmesan cheese. They were also yummy and a big portion.

I had to order the Bistro Mac and Cheese ($10.99) for my entree. I left off the bacon and chicken, and I loved the creaminess of the sauce and the abundance of pasta. It was served with a really great pretzel breadstick, which I thought was a delicious unique touch. I would recommend getting this, for sure.

And for dessert, we ordered New York Cheesecake ($6.49). I have to say, for a casual dining menu, both my guest and I freaking loved this cheesecake. It was really soft and creamy, and the strawberries were a perfect accompaniment.

I was really impressed with how concerned the wait staff was with making your movie experience enjoyable. Everyone who brought out our food and drinks were really careful not to disturb us, and they were impressive as servers in that they were very knowledgeable about the menu and were accurate with everything. They also spaced out all the courses expertly, preventing you from getting your entree while you’re still working on your appetizer. They’ll usually drop the check about an hour into the movie, but you can still add on whatever you want. Altogether, it was just a really pleasant and comfortable experience.


Tickets for movies range from $6-$15, and prices depend on the film and the theater you see it in. Even if you don’t want to eat a full meal there, I think it’s great to have the option to drink alcohol while you’re watching a movie. For more information, log on to www.amctheatres.com/Esplanade.

The Paisley Violin a charming little spot on Grand Avenue

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Not going to lie, Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix looks pretty sketchy.

But it’s also home to some of the coolest places downtown, like performance arts venues and galleries The Trunk Space and Soul Invictus, and Mediterranean eatery The Paisley Violin.


I love The Paisley Violin’s intimate setting. It barely seats 20 people inside, and the vibe is laid-back and casual. There is live music on Friday nights with acoustic guitarists, and there’s also a patio to sit on when it’s cooler. Plus, indoors, there’s a full bar with coffee, too.

For being such a small place, the food at Paisley is pretty amazing. My pal and I started with the Mediterranean Platter ($8.50), a great sampler that included massive amounts of hummus and babaganouge, as well as dolmas, olives, falafel and veggies. We even got extra pita offered to us for free by the server when we ran out–score!


I had the oh-so-tasty veggie burger with potato salad for my entree ($7.50). I opted to have it on nine-grain bread, and I felt healthy just for eating it. The burger, made from rice, veggies and herbs, was very filling and topped with a ton of veggies and mozzarella. As far as non-soy-based burgers go, it was top-notch. My potato salad was also delicious, with a mustard base.


My pal tried the El Greco ($8.50), a lamb sandwich he paired with some Spanish stew. He said it was mighty tasty, as well.


Besides the awesome food, I just love the relaxed atmosphere, and it’s a real gem in Phoenix that’s worth checking out.

Nick’s Italian delivers on tiramisu, neighborhood vibe

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I really like eateries that are high-energy and bustling, especially ones that have their dining area set up as one big room. So it is with Nick’s Italian in Paradise Valley (there are two more locations in the Valley). The upbeat, high-energy restaurant makes you sort of feel like you’re in someone’s home, since the seating quarters are close.

The food is all handmade, and I really enjoyed my meal, too. My pal and I grabbed a seat at one of the bar high-top tables, and we started off with the Caprese salad ($7.95). It wasn’t huge of anything, but the mozarella was high-quality, the tomatoes were juicy, and the basil was ample.

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For my entree, I got the Portobello Mushroom Ravioli ($15.95). The pasta was filled with delicious mushrooms, which I really enjoyed. I liked the pink sauce the ravioli was served with, but I wish it would have had fresh tomatoes in it. Also, I felt like the portion could have been a little more generous.

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Here is my pal’s Veal Parmesan ($17.95), which he said was pretty darn awesome because the veal was tender and the sauce was tasty.

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The meal-ender, the tiramisu ($6), was a great deal, really delicious and perfect to share. The mascarpone cream was mouth-watering, and the ladyfingers melted in my mouth. Tiramisu is my favorite dessert, and that was definitely my favorite part of the meal.

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While I enjoyed Nick’s Italian, and I did appreciate the twinkly lit patio, I would choose Arrivederci over Nick’s if you’re in the area, based on the service alone. We were in a busy area near the bar, but servers should still strive to make you feel welcomed and relaxed no matter how buzzy the place is, and I didn’t really get that vibe from our server. If you do go, try to get a table in the main dining area or patio–maybe things would feel a little more welcoming.