December 29, 2022 - Angie's Lobster - Mesa, Arizona

 

I visited for the first time with Peg Hartman.  I usually don’t review fast food restaurants…but this one is new in the Valley…and I like lobster…gives a whole new twist to fast food.

You can only go through a drive through…you can only pay with a credit card…and there are no straws for your drink. I went online and read their Mission Statement…very interesting…but truthful.

We both chose #2 on the menu board - Maine Lobster served warm with seasoned lemon butter in a toasted and buttered bun…Angie’s sauce…fries and a drink…we ordered lemonade (your choices are lemonade or sweet tea)….all for $9.99.  If I criticized at all I would say they need a sturdier bun…but I can live with it.  I will return…there are other items I want to try.

 We went back to Peg’s house…and ate dinner and visited. 

Angie’s Lobster
2848 A. Signal Butte Road
Mesa, Arizona 85212
Hours:  Daily 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

December 17, 2022 - Zona Cantina + Cocina - Mesa, Arizona

 

I visited with one of my usher friends, Rhona, when we went to an early dinner before ushing Joy To The World  - a Sacred Christmas By Jenny Oaks Baker and Family Four at the Mesa Arts Center.

Rhona ordered the Grilled Chicken Plate – grilled chicken with sauteed seasonal vegetables served with a side of baby arugula salad, pico de gallo, guacamole, beans, rice and tortilla.

Grilled Chicken Plate

I ordered Asada Tacos  - 3 carne asada street tacos, topped withe pico de gallo, cabbage, sour cream, mild spicy mayo and mild habenero ailoli, served with rice and beans.  I loved mine...the street tacos were stuffed...and had a kick to them...but just as I like 'em.

Asada Tacos

 I loved that they were served on a wooden carving board.  The ambience was wonderful…soft music but one was able to visit quite easily over the music and the sounds of diners.  The serving staff was accommodating and efficient.  They were knowledgeable.  It was a nice comfortable dining experience.  I look forward to returning many times as there are many other items I would like to try on the menu.

 Zona Cantina + Cocina
5609 E. McKellips Rd.  Unit #101
Mesa, Arizona 85215
(480) 912-1853
Hours:  Monday  - Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
            Sunday – 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

December 7, 2022 - Nick's Italian Restaurant - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited with Jody, Joshua and Jonah Hayes after a Cheyenne Traditional School soccer win v. 
Tonalea 4-0.  It was my very first dinner there.  I ordered the Baked Ziti with Bolognese sauce….perfect…hot…  Joshua ordered the Gnocchi with Bolognese…Jody ordered Linguine Melanzane – sliced eggplant, chicken, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and olive oil..…….Jonah ordered the 9” pizza – Pepperoni and Sausage.

It was delicious...and I liked the local customer atmosphere in the restaurant!  Our service was excellent.

Nick’s Italian Restaurants
13910 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
(480) 314-9445
Hours:  Lunch:   Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
             Dinner: Sunday – Thursday 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
                          Friday – Saturday 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

November 12, 2022 - Frank and Lupe's - Scottsdale, Arizona

 Peg Hartman and I went to Old Town Scottsdale for the Canal Convergence...which is an annual displayof pieces of art on the canal...water...lights...fire...

We decided to eat at Frank and Lupe's for dinner.  

The complimentary chips and salsa was very good…great chips.  I liked the salsa but it did have a kick to it…and Peg would have liked it a little heartier.

 Peg Hartman ordered the Beef Tostado Plate…she chose the ground beef and she chose guacamole as her topping…and rice and beans.

 I chose the Stuffed Sopaipilla Plate – large sopaipilla stuffed with carne adosada and lots of lettuce…and rice and beans.  I chose the red sauce as the topping on the sopaipilla.  I really liked my dinner. It was different.  Our wait staff was very accommodating .

Frank and Lupe’s
4121 N. Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3809
(480) 990-9844
Hours: Open daily 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

October 26, 2022 - The Perfect Pear - Tempe, Arizona

 Our monthly Mesa Arts Center Usher Group ate lunch at this restaurant in Tempe...Cindi, Rhona, Lisa, Ella, Marie, Gini, Lorraine, Donna, Peggy, Bobbie, Syd and myself.  

We started with a toast in memory of Mikki…and Rose who will never usher with us again. They will be missed.

I ordered the Perfect Grilled Cheese – brie, four cheese blend, arugula and crispy bacon….served on a grilled pear bread.  Yummy!  I would go back and try something else because there are so many yummy items on their menu.  You know the food is good at this restaurant because it is always packed.

The Perfect  Pear Bisto
603 W. University
Tempe, Arizona
(sw corner of University and Roosevelt)
(480) 966-7327
Hours:  Daily 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

 

October 3, 2022 - Stone and Barrel - Sun Lakes, Arizona

 

I ordered the Millionaire Burger – certified angus chuck, white cheddar, bacon, carmelized demi onions, lettuce, tomato, house sauce on a toasted brioche bun and served with my choice of Herb Parmesan Fries.

 The best burger I have had in a very long time.  Plus you could take a bite out of it because it wasn’t really tall.

Stone and Barrel – Sun Lakes
Oakwood Clubhouse
24218 S. Oakwood Blvd
Sun Lakes, AZ 85248
(480) 317-3605
 

September 6, 2022 - Proof Bread - Mesa, Arizona

I visited with my neighbor, Sandy.  We arrived about 10:00 a.m. We talked to the ladies up front…asked if it was okay to go watch the bakers.  Yes!

 There were four bakers.  Each would grab a large sheet pan with two mounds of dough covered with this cloth  from France.  They didn't know the Fremch name.  So far I am not able to find by researching. They would dump the mounds on the work table one at a time…take a new clean sheet pan and slowly after putting a mound in the pan..push it out until it almost filled the pan…then put the cloth over the first layer in the pan…and then repeat with the second mound…put the pan in the large tray carrier.  This was repeated until all the mounds were flat in the pans.

All of this was followed by feeding each of those flat pieces of dough from the large sheet pan through the laminator…what does this do…well it acts as a wonderful rolling pin and at the same time butters the dough.

The long  rolled out flat pieces of the dough were taken back to the work table.  Using this neat baker tool which is a six piece cutter all connected…they begin to cut the dough from bottom to the top. (This would be perfect us, Jo Martin…every piece is perfect.)  Now for all you quilters they use the  big plastic ruler which looks just like our six inch ruler… out comes the cutter wheel. (Why these people would be great quilters.)  When they get to the  end the baker come back with the ruler and cutter…cutting diagonally thereby creating this long piece of shaped dough. (It looks a lot like a sports team banner.) 

Frst thing we watched today was the making of croissants by starting at the bottom of dough which is the longest part of dough…and rolling it up to the pointy part…keep repeating.

 When the bakers were finished making the croissants they started on the almond croissant…they did the same thing but this time put in this piece of solid almond filling..and once again rolled that up from the bottom of work table to the top…yum!  Always my favorite.

 After the almond croissants were the bakers brought the laminated sheets to the work table…one piece at a time....only this time the bakers cut perfect squares of dough…and from the bottom of each square they rolled up two batons of chocolate…guess what?  Pain au chocolat!

What an exciting and interesting adventure.  I learned so much.  From now on I will be more respectful of all the flakey pastries.  Although most of them I suspect in the United States are not as time consuming as these.

 We  ordered lunch…and all those pans of croissant, almond croissants and pain au chocolat were set aside to proof.

 Sandy ordered Quiche Lorraine…it came baked and served in a square piece of Danish. 

I ordered a Ham and Cheese in a croissant served with a salad with a balsamic dressing and their  homemade croutons.

Lunch was followed by a vitist to their Harvest  Market next door….and looked at everything…now I am looking for a recipe that uses lobster mushrooms…

 It was time to go home so we went back to the bakery…Sandy bought a Cranberry and Walnut Boule…I bought a Seeded Loaf…guess what ?  An Almond Croissant..and their famous Morning Buns…guess what I am having tomorrow morning?

Almond Croissant

Seeded Load

Morning Bun

 The almond croissants had been restocked with new croissants so  I asked if those were some of the croissants we had watching being made…and the young lady said,”‘Oh, no!”  then explained that those croissants will proof for about two days…tthen glazed and proofed for another 8 hours before going into the oven.

Proof Bread
125 W. Main Street
Mesa, Arizona
(480) 270-8320

Hours:

       Tuesday - Saturday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

        Sunday  10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

       Closed Monday

 

July 29, 2022 - The Vig - McCormick - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited with  my cousin Tiffany.  She comes to Phoenix once and a while to work from her office in Reno, Nevada.  We always try to get together for lunch.

Tiffany ordered the Vig Salad – arugula, kale, apples, strawberries, candied pecans, Crow’s diary goat cheese with lemon poppy dressing.  This salad looked fresh and delicious.  She said that it was very good.

I ordered the Vig Burger – Rovery Diary Wagyu beef, cheddar cheese, avocado, caramelized onions, pickled jalapenos, house bacon and Vig sauce served with French fries.  My burger was delicious…and the French fries were very tasty.

Our server was wonderful and very welcoming.  I loved the atmosphere that he created.

The Vig McCormick
7345 N. Via Paseo del Sur
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
(480) 758-5399
Hours:  Monday – Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
             Friday 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
             Saturday 10:00a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
             Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

July 13, 2022 - Big Tex BBQ - Willcox, Arizona

 

My grandson and I visited this restaurant during one of our road trips - this one to Willcox..  It serves up smoked meat in a railroad car.  We were not that hungry so we shared a meal for dinner.  The food was delicious.   

We ordered Fried Dill Pickles...and then shared a 1/ 2 pound burger with Swiss cheese, onions, tomatoes and lettuce with fries.

Big Tex BBQ
140 E. Maley Street
Willcox, Arizona
(520) 384-4423

Jonah thought the sinks in the restrooms were great...and so did I.

August 15, 2022 - Roasted Banana and Sour Cream Waffles

 I just made these for breakfast this morning for breakfast for the first time.  They are easy to make and delicious.

Roasted Banana and Sour Cream Waffles
 
3 bananas, peeled (2 broken into large pieces for the batter, 1 sliced for serving)
              3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed
              2 eggs
              1 cup sour cream, plus more for serving
              2 teaspoons baking powder
              1/ 2 teaspoon kosher salt
              1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
              1/ 8 teaspoon ground cloves
              1 cup whole wheat flour
              Cooking spray
              Maple syrup, for serving
 
   

1.       Preheat your oven to 400*F.

2.       Place the 2 bananas broken into large pieces and the butter in a small baking dish and roast  

 until the bananas and butter are a little bit browned and the bananas are very soft when

 you press them with a fork, about 15 minutes.

      3.    Turn the oven down to 250*F and heat your waffle iron to tis highest setting.

      4.    Using a fork or a potato masher, crush the bananas directly in their baking dish with the 

             butter.

      5.    Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and whisk in the eggs and the sour cream.  Whisk in

             The baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and cloves.  Stir in the whole wheat flour.  Be careful

             not to overmix – just stir it until everything is combined.

      6.    Spray your waffle iron with cooking spray.  Add enough batter to your waffle iron to cover    

             Most of the surface area (the exact amount will depend on the size of your waffle iron.)

             Close  the waffle iron and cook the waffle until the iron has stopped steaming and the

             waffle is golden brown and crisp, about 4 minutes, but the exact timing will depend on the

             heat of the your waffle iron and the size of your waffle.  Transfer the waffle to a sheet pan

             and keep it warm in the 250*F oven while you repeat the process with the rest of your

             batter (spray in between waffles as needed).

      7.    Serve the waffles warm with the sliced banana, extra sour cream, and maple syrup.

July 12, 2022 - What's Crackin Cafe - Mesa, Arizona

 

I went by myself  to see if it was big enough for a unit board  meeting…and it isn’t…but maybe in September…we would do okay on the patio….but it might still be hot…yikes!  I ordered the two eggs scrambled…and they were delicious…with bacon…which was too greasy (even though I ordered it crisp)..and hash browns but they were hash whites (even though I ordered them crisp)…and rye toast which was wondeful…soft and yet toasted and buttered.  I was happy enough  with my meal…next time I will try something different.

What’s Crackin’ Café
6663 E. McDowell Road, Suite 101
Mesa, Arizona 85215
(480) 264-6832
Hours:  Monday – Thursday 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
             Friday – Sunday 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

July 2, 2022 - Shaanxi - Mesa, Arizona

 

My neighbor Sandy and I went there for an early dinner.   We are so boring but we share the same thoughts…when trying a new place…order your favorite meal…so she ordered the Broccoli and Beef…and I ordered the Mongolian Beef…and it was okay but I wasn’t impressed like all the reviews stated.

 Here is the problem…the prices are high…Sandy’s meal consisted of many of these huge pieces of broccoli and not so much beef…I was served a plate of onions and not so much beef…plus we had to pay an extra $1 each for rice….what?

 Mine had lots of the cut up chiles in it..and I hated that.  I always thought spices were for taste…I had to pick out many pieces because if you accidentally bit into one you would think you were biting into a shrimp shell..yuk!

 I wasn’t happy…plus I had to ask for Soy Sauce… I will say this, though, the next day everything still tasted good.

Shaanxi Garden
67 N. Dobson Road Ste109
Mesa, Arizona 85201-6822
(480) 733-8888
Hours:  Monday- Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  4:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
             Friday – Sunday  11:00 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

June 3, 2022 - Princess Mediterranean Restaurant and Market - Mesa, Arizona

 

My sister and her husband, Willie took me to this restaurant in celebration on my 74th birthday.

Jeanne ordered the gyro plate.  Willie ordered the Chicken and Beef Shawarma Combo.  I ordered the Beef Shawarma – slice marinated beef with tahini sauce.  Each plate was served with hummus, rice and a garden salad with pita bread.

I asked what the shawarma meant and the young man explained to me that it designated the method in which it was cooked.

 The hummus was the best and the creamiest I have ever eaten.   Each was served with tahini sauce…but their choices of sauces were also the cucumber based one… and I believe that is the Tzatziki sauce or the garlic sauce which is garlic and mashed potato base.

Willie's Chicken and Beef Shawarma Combo

 

Jeanne's Gyro Plate

My Beef Shawarma

Dessert:  three baklava – walnut (the one eaten the most) – pistachio  - cashew…and they were delicious – each with a very distinctive taste…the cashew had a very nutty, sweet taste…I really like the pistachio…but they were all good.

The Baklava - left the Walnut...center the Pistachio...and right..the cashew

(I liked all of them...but I liked the pistachio the best.)

Princess Mediterranean Restaurant and Market
2620 W. Broadway Rd
Mesa, AZ 85202
 (480) 894-1490
  Hours:  Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
               Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
               Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

May 17, 2022 - Charleston's - Mesa, Arizona

Four of us went to Charleston's after Tuesday Afternoon Bridge at Leisure World. 

I ate my very first catfish…and the dinner was delicious…huge dinner…served with fries that were excellent and creamy cole slaw that was excellent…and homemade tarter sauce…delicious.

Mary Rose and Cathy split a Catfish Dinner…Mitzi ordered the Parmesan Crusted Chicken seasoned in a parmesan, walnut and pecan crust, topped with marinara on a bed of angel hair pasta, with a grape tomato, mozzarella and red onion herbal salad.

Dessert – Bread pudding…the best I have ever tasted…served creamy and hot with two blackberries on top. Loved it!

Charleston’s
1623 S. Stapley Drive
Mesa, Arizona 85204
(480) 635-9500
Hours:  Sunday – Thursday  11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

May 8, 2022 - Gabriella's Contemporary American Cuisine - Scottsdale, Arizona

 Happy Mother's Day

We sat out on the patio of this lovely restaurant and celebrated Mother'Day...Jack, Judy, Jonah, Jody and I.  Joshua and Judson were traveling home from Gonzaga University.

We started with Stuffed Tater Tots with chili aioli  and siracha ketchup.  Jody order a mimosa and the rest of us just drank water.

 I ordered the French Onion Soup and the House Ground Chuck and Brisket Burger – with onion jam, bacon, smoked gouda…and it was served with great fries.  The best burger I have had in ages…and I could bite into it.

 

French Onion Soup

House Ground Chuck and Brisket Burger

Jack and Judy shared French Onion Soup and Fish and Chips – beer battered cod, caper remoulade, red cabbage slaw.  Their entrée looked delicious.  Judy said that it was good.

 

Jody ordered the Steak Salad with romaine, baby greens, charred corn, cherry tomatoes, crispy onions, avocado, cheese blend and buttermilk dressing.  Jonah ordered the . Ultimate Grilled Cheese with brisket burger patty, mixed cheese, Gabriella’s sauce, caramelized onions and fried egg.  Both were on the Mother’s Day menu.

Gabriella’s Contemporary American Cuisine
10155 E. Via Linda, Unit #131
Scottsdale, Arizona 85258
(480) 534-7625
Chief Anthony Barr
Hours:  Wednesday – Sunday 11;00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
         Lunch 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
         Dinner 4:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

May 3, 2022 - American Way Market - Chandler, Arizona

I visited for lunch with the Unit #351 Bridge Board of Directors.  

I ordered the Smoked Brisket sandwich..and it was good..served with a cole slaw.  It was delicious.   This restaurant is attached to an antique mall.  Great way to go lunch with friends and spend the afternoon going through the antique mall.

American Way Market
1509 N. Arizona Way
Chandler, AZ 85225
(480) 772-1877
Hours:
            Pastries and Coffee 10:00 a.m.  – 4:00 p.m. Daily
            Lunch 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Daily
            Friday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.  Daily
Smokehouse – Bakery – Café
Trip Advisor says #1 of 483 restaurants in Chandler

April 22, 2022 - Monroe's Hot Chicken -Tempe, Arizona

 

I visited with Cindi Walcott .  We each ordered the Fried Chicken Sandwich topped with southern slaw, pickles and kick-it-up sauce on a toasted brioche bun.  We shared an order of fries.  Cindi ordered the mild heat…and I ordered the medium heat…that was plenty hot for me. I loved my sandwich.  I thought the fries were delicious.  Cindi thought the sandwich was just too messy!

Monroe’s Hot Chicken
430 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 108
Tempe, Arizona, 85281
(480) 687-0007

Heat Levels
Mild - Just a truth of heat
Medium – warming up now baby!
Hot -  feel the burn
Extra Hot  - burn baby burn!
What Da Cluck! – Call the fire department
Southern – no heat

March 29, 2022 - Franco's - Scottsdale, Arizona

It is time for Peg to go back to Montana for the summer.  Her daughter, Cory, drove to Mesa to help her close her house and drive home.  But..first...the last supper.

We started with bread and olive oil…then we were served a plate of large piece of thinly sliced cheese…I believe Asiago…and slices of Italian meats that were delicious…I even put cheese and meat on piece of bread and dipped it in olive oil…mmmmmm…
 
Cory ordered the Penne Shrimp with radicchio and a house salad.
 

Peg ordered the Petto di Pollo Piccata with a sauce of lemon, white wine, butter capers) with a Beet Arugula Salad – zucchini, string bean, onion and goat cheese.
 

I ordered Fettucine with Meat Sauce…delicious – my meat sauce was a bolgnese.  It was hearty.  The serving over the fettucine was very large.  I love it!
 

Dessert – Menerghata – a meringue cake which had a very refreshing taste to it…and was tasty.  It was like a light airy icy cake with a custard (crema pasticcera) with lots of whipped cream and topped with large sliced strawberries…delicious.

Franco’s Italian Caffe
4327 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, Arizona
(480) 481-7614
Hours:  Tuesday – Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Owner – Franco Fazzuoli