April 15, 2015 - La Canasta - Phoeniz, Arizona

I took the light rail downtown this morning.  I went to my son's office to sign my tax return.  I took him out to lunch.  We tried La Canasta's for the very first time.

Joshua ordered the Woodman’s Dinner – Green Chile Beef …cubed beef cooked in roasted chili peppers....served with rice and refried beans.  It was delicious. I tried a bite. 

I ordered the Machaca Dinner – it is shredded beef cooked with peppercorns, onions, roasted chili peppers, and tomatoes…served with rice and refried beans.  I loved this meal.  The beef was very tasty...as was the refried beans.  I love tearing off a piece of tortilla...filling it up with a little meat...a little refried beans...a little rice...and some of the lettuce salad that is served on top of the meal. That's the way to eat a good Mexican dinner.

Each of our meals was served with one huge homemade tortilla that came wrapped in tin foil like a burrito…it was steamy hot.

I think they served the best salsa I have ever tasted with their chips to begin the meal.

La Canasta’s

723 s. 7^th Avenue

Phoenix, AZ 85007

(602) 254-7295

Hours:  Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

                              Sunday 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.    

April 9, 2015 - The Grille at Las Sendas - Mesa, Arizona

I visited  with Annabelle Furgerson and Dona Pierce.  Dona and  I started with a Skinny Margarita…very good…then I ordered Brie and Proscuitto Bruschetta – brie, prosciutto, seasonal fruit and berries with Balsamic Reduction.  This was delicious four slices of bread -  each with a healthy slice of brie…a thin slice of prosciutto…topped with Balsamic Reduction – one slice with a blackberry…one slice with a strawberry…one slice with raspberry…one slice with a small section of orange.

Annabelle ordered the Queso and Chips – homemade Queso Dip served with red, white and blue chips.  I helped Annabelle nosh them down…the dip was outstanding….not too hot but lots of peppers taste.

I also ordered the Blue Moon Fish and Chips – Blue Moon Battered Pacific rockfish, Fries, Coleslaw and Homemade Tartar Sauce.  I wasn’t impress with the fish…the batter was pretty greasy…the fries were pretty so so…the Tartar Sauce was very tasty.

I want to come back here…sit out on the patio and watch the sunset as I sip margaritas and noshed on appetizers.

The Grille at Las Sendas

Las Sendas Country Club

7555 E. Eagle Crest Drive

Mesa, Arizona 85207

(480) 396-4000

(480) 306-9000 – Fax

Dascha Williams – Restaurant Manager

dwilliams@lassendas.com

www.lassendas.com

March 29, 2015 - Half Moon Windy City Sports Bar - Phoenix, Arizona

I visited on March 27, 2015 with Mike and Carol Thompson to watch the Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball Game vs. UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen round with the Phoenix Chapter of the GU Alumni.

I ordered the Pretzel Fondue – fresh baked pretzel breadsticks cut in long wedge sticks served with a rich white cheddar and asiago cheese sauce infused with Old Style Beer.  These were quite tasty with our Fat Tire Beer as we waited for the game to begin.  Later Mike and Carol ordered a pizza…1/ 2 cheese and 1 1/ 2 Pepperoni.  I ordered the Italian Sausage Sandwich “wet” – spicy Fontanini Italian Sausage topped with Sweet peppers and grilled onions….with added giardiniera.  It must have been the added giardiniera that made the sandwich blistering hot.  Ordering the sandwich “wet” means that the hard roll or bun is dipped in the au jus or drippings of the roasted beef.

I visited on March 29, 2015 with Joshua, Judson and Jonah Hayes to watch Gonzaga University Men’s Basketball Game vs. Duke in the Elite Eight with the Phoenix Chapter of the GU Alumni.  Once again I ordered the Pretzel Fondue…quite tasty with my Fat Tire Beer.  We ordered a Cheese Pizza for dinner – a 3^rd generation family recipe from Chicago, featuring a butter and herb flavored cracker crust topped with Papa Moizo’s sweet red sauce, mozzarella and asiago cheeses.  I love thin crust pizza…so this was a perfect pizza for me…and it was but in small squares…this is also the way I like to eat pizza.

History:

Growing up on Chicago’s North Side I fondly remember walking with my dad down to the street corner to get an Italian Beef or Chicago Dog.  We’d walk with our brown paper bags and setup to eat on a local park bench.  Once a week we’d visit a friend of my dad at his Italian restaurant on Irving Park, who would sit and tell stories from when they were kids.   

    On the weekends my grandfather would make his Chicago Style Cracker Crust Pizza.  He would teach me how to roll the dough and the difference between fresh & dry herbs.  The undeniable passion for flavor and authentic ingredients were part of those memories and what we are carrying forward to our friends in Arizona.  Our dogs are true Vienna Beef served in S. Rosen’s Poppyseed Buns from Alpha Bakery.  We fly Eli’s Cheesecakes to the store each week.  The Italian sausage and meatballs that fill our Chicago baked hoagies are produced by Fontanini, a Chicago landmark.  As for the pizza...that’s ours, made here in Arizona, fresh every day. A Chicago family recipe shared with our family in Arizona.

      Our focus with the Half Moon Windy City is to capture some of the essense of the Chicago through the food, the design of the restaurant and the excitement of the sports that I grew up with. I hope you enjoy the midwest hospitality experience!  (This is printed on the menu…as told by Clay Moizo.)

Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill

2121 E. Highland Avenue

Phoenix, Arizona 85016

(602) 977-2700

March 19, 2015 - Joe's Farm Grill - Gilbert, Arizona

I told you that I would be visiting this eatery very often.  Here I am returning already.  Today I visited with the Thesman Communities Singles Group.

This trip I ordered the BBQ Pork Plate with cole slaw and garlic flatbread.  The cole slaw was just the best tasting that I have ever eaten.  Finely chopped carrots and cabbage.  The dressing was sweet…but not too sweet…not really tangy. Lemon and strawberry lemonade was my drink choice.  It is hand squeezed.  Delicious as we sat under the timorous trees once again.  

I have resolved to try something different on every visit.

March 13, 2015 - Joe's Farm Grill - Gilbert, Arizona

I ate dinner here tonight with Peggi and Bob Decker.  They are friends from Corona, California.  Peggi Sandoval Decker and I worked together years ago at Interweb/RR Donnelly and Sons in Los Angeles, California.  My son Joshua was the ring bearer at her wedding to another co-worker Ruben Candelaria.  We haven't seen each other in 32 years.  What fun!

Peggi and I each ordered the Farm Burger.  I had Swiss Cheese added to mine.  Each burger was a large patty that was handground today.  You could taste the freshness of the meat.  It was served on this wonderful bun (and that tasted homemade).  The bun was toasted.  That's a big kudo in my book. Peggi chose the Fried Bake Potato for her side.  I chose the Fried Zucchini.

Bob ordered a 1/ 2 rack of the Slow Smoked Baby Back Ribs.  I didn't try them but they looked delicious.  It was served with cole slaw, fried and garlic flat bread.

We decided to try the malts.  Peggi ordered vanilla.  Bob ordered strawberry.  I ordered chocolate.  They were delicious.  Tasted like the old fashioned ones.  We were also given a strawberry lemonade.  You could taste the homemade lemonade.  It was delicious.

We decided to sit outside under this giant timerous tree.  What a fresh setting...fresh food.  Good meal...wonderful food...wonderful conversation...wonderful friends.  Who could ask for more.

Sandy Wilt and I ate dinner in the backyard under this great tree last night for my birthday, June 3, 2015.  We tried some new items.  I put the Homemade Whole Grain Honey Mustard on my burger. It is delicious.  I brought what I didn't use home in the little cup you see in this picture.

You can't see my burger very well...but the top picture on this page is the Farm Burger.  The last two visits I have been selecting the Small Caesar Salad instead of Fries.  You are able to see it clearly there to the right. And in the small plastic container is the Homemade Whole Grain Honey Mustard. Give it a try.  I thought it was a tasty variation to just plain mustard.

I have always wanted to try the Homemade Sweet Potato Pie.  My birthday was the perfect time to do just that.  It is served in a graham cracker type crust…but it is too sweet for me.  The crust tastes as if you are eating pure sugar….and because of the sweet potato base the pie is very sweet.  I would need

about a gallon of soft serve ice cream to eat a whole Sweet Potato Pie.  It tasted as if one of the main crust ingredients was brown sugar or maple syrup...or both.                                                                  

Joe’s Farm Grill

3000 E. Ray Road

Gilbert, Arizona 85296

(480) 563-4745

Hours:  Open Daily 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

March 10, 2015 - Wildflower Bread Company - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited this evening with may daugher-in-law Jody Hayes and my grandson, Judson and Jonah.  I have eaten at this restaurant before this visit.  Anyway, I wasn't hungry...that is rare...I didn't order anything to eat.  Jonah ordered the penne with alfredo sauce.  Jody ordered her favorited the Chopped Salad.  Judson wasn't hungry either so he ordered this gigantic chocolate fudge brownie.  I am not a brownie fan so I am sorry to say I didn't even try a bite.

There was a sign on the table avertising their Creamy Coconut Custard Pie as a St. Paddy's Day special.  Jody said that she would have some if I bought a piece.  I had to do it because I can't seem to pass up any type of coconut pie.  I bought a pie and split it with Jody. The filling was great but the crust really subtracted from the pie. It was just a plain pie crust...and it didn't taste right with the pie.  I think there should have been a pie crust with lots of butter, coconut, flour or graham crackers.

I looked back in my notes and the only time I record a visit was November 20, 2012 with Jody.  I ordered the Wallflower Grilled Cheese Sandwich and a cup of Black Forest Lentil Soup.  Jody ordered the Chopped Salad.  I loved my soup.  The bread was delicious but the sandwich needed to have more cheese and less big thick slices of bread.

I have not ruled out this eatery as a place to stop for a meal.  I just have to try more menu items to see if I can find something that I like.  I really love Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

Wildflower Bread Company

Sonoran Village North Scottsdale

15640 N. Hayden Road

Scottsdale, Arizona 85260

(480) 991-5180

Hours:  Monday - Friday: 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM

                             Saturday: 7:00 AM - 9:00 PM

                             Sunday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM

March 6, 2015 - Sandbar Mexican Grill - Chandler, Arizona

Jack and Judy Svendsen, Judson and Jonah Hayes and I went here after the hockey game tonight..  Jack and Judy Svendsen ordered the Nachos – house queso, tomatoes, jalapenos, homemade salsa, guacamole and sour cream.

 

Judson ordered Carne Asada Tacos – grilled steak, southwest marinade, pickled onions and jalapenos and radishes.

 

Carne  Asada Tacos

 

 I ordered the Chimichanga – shredded beef, jalapeno cream cheese, cheddar cheese and guacamole, salsa and sour cream.  The tortilla came packed with the best tasting shredded beef.  It was probably the best Chimichanga that I have ever eaten.

 

Chimichanga

 

 Jonah ordered Mac and Cheese.

 

This is a nice quiet place for lunch but on Friday nights it is packed with lots of young people eating and drinking.  The music is loud and pounding.  It is impossible to visit or talk about anything.  We watched the Phoenix Suns beat the Brooklyn Nets 108-100.

Sandbar Mexican Grill

7200 W. Ray Road
Chandler, Arizona 85226
(480) 961-1700

Hours:  11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m. Monday – Friday

             10:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.  Saturday and Sunday