January 23, 2016 - Margaritas Grill - Mesa, Arizona

Today I went on the 16th Annual Historic Home Tour brought to us by the Mesa Historical Museum. It was a very large tour.  Eighteen homes/buildings were on the tour.  We were able to visit eight of the them.  The tour was from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.  I believe that we started about 12:30 p.m.  Next year I am starting right at 10:00 a.m.  I thought it was wonderful having so many sites because that provided for an even amount of people at each home.  I have to say that the homes I saw we lovely. So many have been restored.  I really enjoyed the homes that accented so well so many antiques.  My favorite was the home located at 604  N. Grand.

I went with Howard and Gloria Marble as well as Estelle and Bruce Birza.  They are all neighbors of mine at Las Palmas.

We went to the Margaritas Grill for lunch.  The service began with chips and salsa.  I thought both were quite tasty…and I did love the sauce. I promptly dropped it all over the table covering which fortunately was  paper…thank God!  


Gloria and Bruce ordered the Cheese Relleno – Pablo chile stuffed with Monterrey Jack cheese and smothered with house salsa and melted Monterrey Jack Cheese.

Howard ordered the Chile Rellano de Pollo – Pablo chile stuffed with shredded chicken and Monterrey Jack cheese and smothered with house salsa and  melted Monterrey Jack Cheese.

Estelle and I ordered the Three Flautaus – Shredded Beef.    All dishes were served with Spanish Rice and a choice of  Refried, Black or Borracho Beans.   I chose the Borraho – which is a whole pinto bean dish…everyone else ordered Black Beans.

I thought that my meal was very good.  However, there wasn’t anything about it that moved it to excellent.  I would visit again.

And we each ordered a margarita – Estelle, Howard and Gloria ordered the Strawberry Margarita…I ordered the Blue Agave Margarita…and Bruce ordered the Original Margarita.  I thought the margaritas were way too expensive.  And even though the menu said that the restaurant wouldn’t split bills for a table of 5 or more…and a 20% gratuity would automatically be added, we asked and the waitress was more than accommodating to do that.  Good because I have always believed that the refusal to do separate checks is an example of no customer service.  I have always felt this is a very business practice.

The Blue Agave Margarita 

The Strawberry Margarita

Margaritas Grill

10 W. Main Street

Mesa, Arizona 85201

(480) 969-5812

Hours:  11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.   Tuesday – Thursday

              11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.  Friday and Saturday

January 17, 2016 - Pizza A Metro - Gilbert, Arizona

The Hayes group was back at Pizza A Metro after the third game of Judson's hockey team at AZ Ice in Gilbert.  His team the 02 Jr. Coyote Bantam AA team who had just defeated the Araphoe Warriors from Colorado 6-0.  The group included Joshua, Jody, Judson and Jonah Hayes; Jeanne and Willie Stecher and Tom and Carolyn Patrick.

Joshua ordered a cup of Stracciatella…soup that I call the Egg Drop Soup…. everyone but the boys.

Jonah of course ordered his old stand by – Cheese Pizza.  Judson ordered the Meat Lovers Pizza. 

Jonah's Cheese Pizza

I sampled a  piece of Jonah’s pizza.  I won’t be ordering cheese pizza.  The crust is too soft and squishy.  I like my crust thin and crisp.  I don't remember the crust being this way when Jonah and I shared a Meat Lovers Pizza last year about this time.

Judson's Meat Lovers Pizza.

Joshua and Jody shared the Cioppino. I think that I would try this on another visit to this restaurant.

Jody's share of the Cioppino

Jeanne ordered Clams and Linguine. 

 Willie ordered the Sphagetti and Meatballs. 

Carolyn ordered the Italian Tacos…one beef…one chicken…and one fish.  These looked wonderful.  She had me try a taste of her salad because she thought the dressing was so good.  And…it was.  I would have no problem ordering this dish.

Italian Tacos

Tom ordered the Pistachio Entrusted Salmon

I ordered the Lemon Chicken Rigatoni.  I was really disappointed in my dish.  I will tell you right now I don’t like the mixing of Asian and Italian.  I also ate a great Caesar Salad.  

I will not give up on this restaurant.  I will be visiting again.

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The Hayes group was back at Pizza A Metro in Gilbert after a January 14, 2017 hockey game at  AZ Ice in Gilbert.  The group consisted of Joshua, Jody, Judson and Jonah Hayes, Jeanne and Willie Stecher, Tom and Carolyn Patrick.

Joshua ordered everyone but the boys a cup of Stracciatella…soup that I call the Egg Drop Soup.

Jonah of course ordered his old stand by – Cheese Pizza.  Judson ordered the Meat Lovers Pizza.  Joshua and Jody shared the Ciopino.  Jeanne ordered Clams and Linguine.  Willie ordered the Sphagetti and Meatballs.  Carolyn ordered the Italian Tacos…one beef…one chicken…and one fish.  Tom ordered the Pistachio Entrusted Salmon and I ordered the Lemon Chicken Rigatoni.

I was really disappointed in my dish.  I will tell you right now I don’t like the mixing of Asian and Italian.  I also ate a great Caesar Salad.  I also trusted  piece of Jonah’s pizza.  I won’t be ordering pizza here.  The crust is too soft and squishy.  I like my crust thin and crisp.

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This is one of the Hayes family's favorite restaurants to visit whenever in Gilbert for a hockey game. Judson's team did play a 4:05 p.m. hockey in Gilbert this afternoon.  No..his team did not register a win.  They lost 5-2 to the Jr. Sun Devils.

Judson ordered the Rigatoni Pipitone (rigatoni in a creamy vodka sauce and ground sirloin)

Jody ordered the Spaghetti with Meatballs.

Jonah and I shared a Meat Lovers 12” Woof Oven Pizza…

Joshua ate a bowl of Stracciatella Soup.  Everything was delicious.

We were served a plate of bread – strips of soft bread with soft crust that had a sweet taste to it.  The strips were about 1” wide..and served with honey butter.

Please also go to November 29, 2014 and read my blog of my first visit to Pizza A Metro.

Pizza A Metro

832 S. Greenfield Rd.

Gilbert, Arizona

(480) 632-7777

January 9, 2016 - Buckboard City Cafe - Superior, Arizona

Cathy Jamruszka and I drove to Superior this morning.  We were going to the World's Smallest Museum.  We decided to go right there but to start with breakfast at the Buckboard City Cafe.  Both of us decided to try the Buttermilk Kakes - short stack, scrambled eggs and crisp bacon.

The pancakes were light and fluffy.  The scrambled eggs were just as I like them.  I always order my bacon fried very crisp.  What could be wrong.  It was a very good meal..and all for $6.68.  Nice atmosphere in the cafe.  I liked the big windows so we could watch the birdfeeders...we watched the cactus wrens. We could also see the great mountain scenery - Apache Leap.

Plus you just walk across the parking lot and enter the World's Smallest Museum.

Buckboard City Café

1111 US-60

Superior, Arizona

(520) 689-5800

January 6, 2016 - Bistro a'la Mode - Mesa, Arizona

Cathy Jamruszka, Sandy Wilts and I went to one of my favorite little hide aways today for lunch.  I also covered our visit and meal in this blog on June 30, 2015.

We sat in front of the fireplace with a roaring fire while we perused the menu and the specials. 

Cathy ordered some of the specials for the day – Grown Up Grilled:  Greek Spanakopita Croissant with Twisted Mac – with roasted red pepper and herbs. 

Sandy ordered the Chicken Marsala Pot Pie – rich chicken mushroom marsala topped with pastry and asiago mashed potatoes.  

This is how it is served.  Sandy lifted up the bowl and dumped it on her plate.  Now it looks like this.  So I did the same thing.  It was great eating it like this rather trying to dig through the bowl.

I ordered the Beef Burgandy Pot Pie – classic beef burgundy topped with pastry (perfectly round) and asiago mashed potatoes.  I also ordered a bowl of the Seafood and Corn Chowder for all three of us to share. 

Cathy ordered Dessert:  Apple – Canberry Pie with this delicious heavy whipped cream and raspberries…large pieces of apple.  It had a very cinammon flavor taste.  I think there was some tpe of cinnamon liquor in the recipe.  It was almost a hot taste. Served on this wonderful decorated plate with red sauce…beautiful presentation.  Forks around!

One of my favorite practices is bringing us our bills in an old book.  Here are our three:

Cathy's was Growing Up - Sandy's was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - and mine was Hans Brinker.  What fun!  

After we walked the grounds as we always do because they are beautiful...even when it is cold outside.

McDowell and Greenfield on Norway

4012 E Palm St
Mesa, AZ 85215

(480) 641-4148

10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. closed Saturday and Sunday

( see its own directory for more information)

Master Chefs: Michael D. Chevalier and Benjamin Romine, but the highlight is breads and pastries by Stephanie “Chef Tess” Peterson.