December 16, 2015 - Il Forno - Mesa, Arizona

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I visited by myself on December 15, 2015.  I ordered the Homemade Lasagna.  This was the best lasagna I have ever eaten…it was loaded with lots of meat sauce…and the pasta strips were very thin..just as I remember my Grandma’s. The piece was very high...and covered in melted mozarella cheese. It was served with a basket of hard crust small loaf of bread.  Great meal.

Homemade Lasagna

I enjoyed my dinner so much…and I know how much Sandy likes Italian food that I invited her to go with me on December 16, 2015.  Sandy ordered the Linguine and Clams in white sauce.  The entree was loaded with clams.  The white sauce was very tasty...and rosemary herb in the sauce really brought out the flavor of the clams.

Linguine and Clams

I ordered the Spaghetti Bolognese…and it was so meaty and delicious. Once again the meat sauce was loaded with meat.  We had two baskets of their delicious bread..and Sandy told them to leave the butts on the bread…it was the best part..and they did when they served the second basket.

Spaghetti Bolognese

I am Italian...and raised in a very traditional Italian home.  One of the things I love to do is to use pieces of bread to sop up all the red sauce.

As you can tell...I didn't like it!

Il Forno

6606 E. McKellips Road

Mesa, Arizona 85215

(480) 807-0888

Hours: Monday- Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

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

            Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

December 9, 2015 - Gertrude's - Phoenix, Arizona

Sandy Wilts, Carol and Mike Thompson spent the afternoon with me at the Desert Botanical Gardens.  I love walking the gardens where I am able to see and photograph cacti and succulents. They are rapidly becoming my passion.  Today the entrance was extremely beautiful with all of the poinsettias in the round concrete planter at the start of our walk to the admission area.

 On this walk we are able to see the beautiful pieces of  Chihuly glass.

We decided to have lunch at Gertrude's before our afternoon stroll.  Mike and Carol shared a Chicken Salad Wrap – BBQ Mayo, Celery, Apple, Fried Onions, Tomato, Jalapeno-Lime Slaw and served with Homemade Black Pepper Potato Chips. 

Sandy and I split the Gertie Burger – Arizona American Cheese, Smoked Onion-Bacon Spread, Lettuce, Tomato on an Arizona Brioche Bun  and served with Homemade Black Pepper Potato Chips.

I thought the meat in our burger tasted superb.  The burger was thick but the patties were loosely made…making very easy to eat. The Smoked Onion-Bacon Spread really accented the taste of the burger.  I really enjoyed this burger.

Gertrude’s

1201 N. Glavin Pkwy

Phoenix, Arizona 85008

(480) 719-8600

Hours:  Monday-Friday 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

             Saturday-Sunday  8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

December 7, 2015 - Sourdough Pizza - Mesa, Arizona

Sandy Wilts and I went to dinner before our evening of looking at Christmas Lights in Viewpoint.   We decided to try Carol Richmond's recommendation, Sourdough Pizza.

Sandy ordered the Ravioli  (small size) – beef topped with Marinara Sauce with a small salad with ranch dressing.  

I ordered the Three Little Sourdoughs – three slices of garlic bread topped separately with salami, pepperoni and Italian sausage, covered with mozzarella cheese, then baked to a light crunchiness with homemade potato salad.

I really liked my dish  The meal was not too large.  That’s what I really like about this restaurant.  You have a choice of small, medium or large sizes of orders.  The service of our waitress was excellent.  It is just very nice to have this restaurant close to our homes.

Sourdough Pizza

7440 E. Main street #1

Mesa, Arizona 85207

(480) 985-6658

Hours:  Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

             Sunday – Closed