August 30,2018 - Cyclo - Chandler, Arizona

Janet Hastings and I went to the restaurant for the first time after we played a not so good game of bridge in Sun Lakes.

After we sat down we were brought cold water with heart shaped watermelon pieces, lime, strawberry and ginger…it was just beautiful.  There were fresh flowers in the restaurant.  Lots of art work on the walls.  I thought the ambience of the restaurant was so welcoming…plus the owner, Justina Duong talks with every patron.  She is quite charming.

I ordered Ga Xao Xa Ot – Crispy Lemongrass Chicken served with Jasmine rice.  The chili, garlic soy sauce was tasty with a kick at the end of the bite.

Janet ordered Pho Tai/Chin Nam – Beef Noodle soup  with rare sirloin and rice noodles.

Justina brought us two complimentary kambuca to sample.  It is made in house.  She invited us to try them onour next visit.

We also split a dessert – Mango Sticky Rice with slice of mangoes on top of the rice and coconut milk.  It was served warm.  I really liked it because the taste was great but not too sweet.

Cyclo

1919 W. Chandler  Blvd.

Chandler, Arizona

(480) 963-4490

azeats.com/cyclo

Hours:  Monday – Thursday  11:00 s.m. – 2:30 p.m.

                                                 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

             Friday 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

                          5:00 p.m. – 10:00p.m.

             Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

                              5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

             Sunday - Closed  

August 10, 2018 - Lush Burger - Scottsdale, Arizona

I was in Scottsdale picking up Jonah.  He was staying the night with me...and then on Saturday we were going to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum for the Learn Your Lizards Walk...then to the Heard Museum for another of the Indian Boarding Schools Film Series - "Our Spirits Don't Speak English".

We decided to have dinner at the Lush Burger while we waited for the #101 clear out.  This was my first visit. 

Jonah ordered the Sliders off the children’s menu…I ordered the Build-Your-Own Burger….brioche bun…burger with swiss cheese…bacon…grilled onions.  I had a choice of sides..and chose the fries…so did Jonah with his meal.  

Two Beef Slides - Children's Menu

I thought the burger looked really good…and it tasted good…but the bun was just too small for everything on the burger…I just hate fighting my burger to get it eaten.  I ended up eating it with my fork.   I think these big burgers need a bigger bun…or a heartier bun.  Otherwise the burgers are just too messy.  I would prefer a smaller burger that I am able to eat as a burger.

I really liked the Build Your Burger concept.  It seems as if every menu has fifteen different burgers...and that most of them have an item on the burger that I don't especially want...this one was perfect for me.

Build Your Own Burger

I really liked the fries even though there was a lot of salt on them which I usually don’t like.  It was a good dinner…Jonah ate both of his beef sliders.

It  was very nice that the staff changed both TVs close to us so that we were able to continue watching the baseball game. I have not complaints about the service.  

Lush Burger

18251 N. Pima Road

Scottsdale, Arizona 85255

(480) 686-8908

Hours:  Daily 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

August 9, 2018 Carolina's - Mesa, Arizona

I have been wanting to try this restaurant way before I ever moved to Arizona.  They recently expanded into Mesa.  Janet and I had such a good day at the bridge table that once again we decided to celebrate.  We tried Carolina's for the first time.

I was surprised that it was a place your order place and then pick a table until your number is called.  Wow!  I thought for sure it would  a sit-down place…but I loved the food….I love that machaca meat.  I ordered the 2 – machaca enchiladas…it came with rice and re-fried beans…Janet ordered the two enchiladas…one machaca and the other chicken. 

Janet also ordered chips and salsa.  Carolina’s is famous for its homemade tortillas…and I liked the salsa…only I would have preferred a chunkier salsa.  I could really taste the tomato in the salsa…

Machaca is a beef  that has been marinated, cooked, shredded and dried.  The drying process preserved the beef, made it easy to pack on the trail (like beef jerky) and it also gave the machaca a unique texture when prepared the traditional fashion.  It is rehydrated and then used in popular local cuisine in Northern Mexico and the Southwestern United States.

I need to find out more about this food.  I have eaten it many times at local real Mexican restaurants.  I think you can eat it after the process... skipping the drying out…and I bet for as much as Carolina’s sells in a day…that it had never been dried out…and rehydrated.

Carolina’s

1450E. Country Club

Mesa, Arizona 85210

(480) 912-3420

www.carolinasmexicanfood.com

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

             Friday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

             Sunday - Closed

August 2, 2018 - Tumi - Chandler, Arizona

Tumi

961 W. Ray Road #3  (southeast corner of  Alma School Rd  and Ray Road)

Chandler, Arizona 85225

(480) 821-1717

Hours – Tuesday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

              Sunday 11:30 a.m – 8:00 p.m.

              Monday - Closed

Fare:  Peruvian

Before ordering they set a plate of three objects on our table…two sauces…one hot…one not so hot…and this cup of like a popped or puffed corn nut….our snack.  It was salted…which was great…and it tasted good. 

Janet ordered the Seco de Res – tender pieces of meat slow cooked in Peruvian cilantro sauces…served with yucca (carsava), Peruvian beans,  salsa criolla and served with white rice.  (I tasted the beans and they were delicious.  Each dish had its own tastes.  Janet’s was like a stew.)

I ordered the Lomo Saltado – beef loin strips sauté in  fiery wok, with onions, tomatoes, cilantro mignonette and secrete ingredients mixed with French Fries, and served with white rice..  I love the taste of sauce of my dish…the rice was perfect…the meat was tender and tasty.  I loved my entrée.

Tumi

961 W. Ray Road #3  (southwest corner of  Alma School Rd  and Ray Road)

Chandler, Arizona 85225

(480) 821-1717

Hours – Tuesday – Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

              Sunday 11:30 a.m – 8:00 p.m.

              Monday - Closed

Fare:  Peruvian

July 28, 2018 - Licano's - Show Low, Arizona

My neighbor, Sandy and I took a drive today up north into the White Mountains...just to see if the temps were really cooler up there in the summer.  We stopped at Show Low for lunch.

We were served chips with a thin red salsa – refried bean dip – pico de gallo.  Everything was tasty.

Sandy ordered the #44 – a carne asada taco and a small tostado served with rice and beans. 

I ordered the Saturday lunch special – prime rib carne asada.  Mine was a slab of prime rib covered with two different melted cheeses and green sauce..and served with rice and refried beans…the prime was delicious…so tender..and what I really loved was that the fat had been cooked to a crispy black.

The temps are a lot cooler.  We plan to make many more trips that way during our hot summer months.

Licano’s Mexican Food and Steakhouse

573 W. Deuce of  Clubs

Show Low, Arizona 85901

(928) 537-8220

Hours:  Daily 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.