August 22, 2017 - DVine Bistro and Wine Bar - Chandler, Arizona

I visited on August 22, 2017 with my bridge partner, Cathy Lindholm.  We stopped for lunch on our way to the Sun Lakes bridge game.

Cathy ordered the Salmon Burger with Sweet Potato Fries…it was huge…and she said that it tasted delicious….pan seared salmon cake topped with bleu dressing, bacon, mixed greens, tomato and sautéed onions on brioche. 

                                             

Cathy's Salmon Burger

I ordered the BLT & A with French Fries…it was very tasty…bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado with chipotle aioli.  But as I always say, “it is very difficult to ruin a BLT.”

     
                                            

My BLT & A

DVine Bistro and Wine Bar

3990 S. Alma School Road

Chandler, Arizona  85248

(480) 782-5550

Hours:  Monday – Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00p.m.

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

             Sunday  4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

August 19, 2017 - Jade Grill - Superior, Arizona

I visited on August 19, 2017 with Carol and Mike Thompson during our visit to the Prickly Pear Festival in Superior.  There were two items on the menu – Veggie Egg Rolls with Prickly Pear Sweet and Sour Sauce…and Asian BBQ Sliders. Carol and I ordered the Eggs Rolls and Mike ordered the Sliders.  Each plate was $5.

Our plates each had five veggie egg rolls…the owner said to let her know how we liked her homemade prickly pear sweet and sour sauce. It was delicious…one could really taste the prickly pear…so that’s what I told her.  She told us that she wasn’t happy with the sauce that she made last year…so this year she boiled…and boiled to down a second time to hopefully bring out the prickly pear taste…well….it did…and it was spectacular!

Jade Grill

639 US Highway 60

Superior, Arizona 85173

(520) 689-2885

Fare:  Asian BBQ

Hours:  Wednesday – Sunday –Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

             Wednesday – Sunday – Dinner 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Summer Hours:  Wednesday – Friday – Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2:30  p.m.

                            Wednesday – Friday – Dinner 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Nightly Specials are served on specific days Wednesday – Sunday (subject to change)

August 4, 2017 - Ocean Trail - Talking Stick Resort - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited by myself for lunch on August 4, 2017 while playing in the Phoenix Desert Empire Regional Bridge Tournament at Talking Stick Resort.   I ordered the Seafood Creole..and heat on a 1-10…I chose 8..and my waitress said that I would probably want to go down…so I did to 7…and I loved it.  Shrimp, crab, mussels, clams in this great broth with dirty rice.  It came with  two hot rolls and lots of butter.  I really did enjoy my meal.

The wait staff was friendly, helpful and provided good service.

Ocean Trail

Talking Stick Resort

9800 Talking Stick Way

Scottsdale, Arizona  85256

(480) 580-7777

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

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

July 29, 2017 - Mellow Mushroom - Phoenix, Arizona

My grandson, Jonah and I spent the late morning and afternoon with cousins, Jackson, Jessica and Darren Friesen.  First we took the boys to AZ Air Time and that was followed by lunch at Mellow
Mushroon.

Jonah ordered the French Bread Cheese Pizza off the kids’ menu.  I ordered a small House Special..mellow sauce and mozzarella cheese with .pepperoni, sausage, ground beef and Applewood bacon with black olives, mushrooms, roma tomatoes, green peppers and onions…all topped with more mozzarella cheese.     Jessie, Jackson and Darren shared a Gluten-Free Pizza – half Pepperoni and half Hawaiian.  Darren and Jessie each ordered a house salad that looked fresh and delicious…spring mix and romaine lettuce with roma tomatoes, black olives, cucumbers, and onions topped with shaved Parmesan cheese.

House Special

Mellow Mushroom

5350 E. Highstreet #115

Phoenix, Arizona 85054

(480) 889-0999

Hours:  Daily 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

July 19, 2017 - Merci french cafe & patisserie - Scottsdale, Arizona

Tanya Connor took me to her favorite dining spot today.  I ordered the Quiche with scallop and bacon with Parmesan and ricotta cheese.  Now that was a slice of quiche.  It was almost like a slice of cake…close to almost 2” high in a delicious crust.  The texture was perfect..and the scallop pieces and the bacon was perfect.  It was served with a very large fresh salad and a very savory dressing.

Scallop and Bacon Quiche

Tanya ordered the Classic Burger without a bun.  It was also served with a huge salad that was exactly like mine…and there were also these delicious tasting herb French Fries.

Classic  Beef Burger

I couldn’t pass up the mouth watering desserts…all homemade.  I ordered the Milk Chocolate Tart…the crust was of fine crumbs and melted butter…topped with toffee chips. ...ganache with milk chocolate and salty caramel.  Yummy! The chocolate was absolutely marvelous.  There was a then dark chocolate banner that read “Merci”.

Milk Chocolate Tart

I want to visit for dinner.  I believe that I will return many times....making my list of people to invite to join me.

For lunch one goes to the counter and orders what is desired….then pays at the counter.  It is brought to your table when ready.  I felt the entire staff was very friendly and helpful.

Tanya goes to Merci quite often.  She knows everyone so she introduced me to Chef and owner Duc Liao.  She later told me that he  was once a Parisian fashion photographer.  You could see that in all the decorating of the café.

Merci french café & patisserie

7620 E. Indian School Road

Scottsdale, AZ 85251

(480) 947-2777

mercifrenchcafe.com

Hours:  Monday - Tuesday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

             Wednesday - Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

             Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

It is located in a small free standing shopping area located on Miller just south of Camelback.  I must check out the address above to see what is at that address...but I didn't feel it was on E. Indian School Road.

Price Range:  $=under $10 - $$= $11-$15 for lunch $$$= $16-$25 for dinner.  Very affordable in my opinion.

July 12, 2017 - El Panzon y Frida - Scottsdale, Arizona

UPDATE:  This restaurant closed its doors in December, 2017.


This was the restaurant that I picked for my monthly dinner with Kelli Jo Welk.

While I waited for Kelli's arrival I ordered off with a El Panzon’s Paloma cocktail – El Silencto Mezcal – Cointreau – fresh lime – grapefruit basil sorbet all served in a lime-salt rim glass.  It has a very distinctive taste which was the basil in the sorbet.  I don’t know if I even liked it but it was a soothing drink…not  sweet and after drinking it I didn’t have a desire for something else to drink.

Kelli and I each ordered a starter soup – Kelli the Classic Tomato and I chose the Avocado Gazpacho.  I tasted Kelli’s and it was delicious.  I was surprised by mine because I was expecting soup…and it was served first by placing the sliced pickled radishes in the bowl…then spooning several soup spoons of the avocado soup..then topped with three grilled shrimp.  I must tell you though that it tasted marvelous even if it stunned my expectations of soup.  I would try it again.  I expected a cold soup and it was.  It always amazes me with sometimes how little the servings are…and yet I always walk away full.

Classic Tomato Soup

Avocado Gazpacho

I have always wanted to try a Bone Marrow appetizer so that’s what I ordered.  Kelli ordered the Sirloin Sliders.  We both just wanted a light dinner so we didn’t a full sized dinner.  If I ever returned I would order the Seared Scallops and Coconut Lobster.

My Bone Marrow was displayed marvelously and was served with delishly grilled asparagus served with five dollar sized tortillas and house chimichurri ( chopped parsley, cilantro, shallot, clove, oregano, vinegar and olive oil with some chile or red pepper flakes.  I thought this was delicious.  Comes from Argentina ,,always served with beef…but is also good with smoky grilled chicken and fish) .  I am happy that I ordered it but I don’t think I would ever order it again.

Bone Marrow

Kelli was served three sliders…which were quite large.   She gave me one…the sirloin was perfect and served with pickled cabbage, pearl onion, Dijon, horseradish crema on a pretzel roll.  These were very tasty.

Sirloin Sliders

The service was very nice.  Our server was so attentive.  It was different but good.  We were there really early so we were able to visit but once it began to get crowded it was really loud.

El Panzon y Frida

7323 E. Shoeman Lane

Scottsdale, Arizona

(480) 659-1544

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

             Friday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

             Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

             Monday:  Closed 

         

This restaurant is now closed.

July 8, 2017 - Backyard Tacos - Mesa, Arizona

After my neighbor and I spent the afternoon at Smart and Final...and the Standard Restaurant Supply stores, we decided to have an early afternoon bite at Backyard Tacos before sitting down to watch the Diamondbacks vs. the Cincinnati Reds.

We each ordered a carne asada street taco…and we each ordered an Al Pastor street taco…OMG! The Al Pastor style taco is one that consists of crisp-thin shavings of vertical spit-roasted port, marinated with guajillo chiles and anchiote, a mildly earthy, ever-so-slightly bitter spice with a distinctive bright red color.  It is a dish that is said to have developed in Central Mexico, based on shawarma spit-grilled meat brought by Lebanese immigrants to Mexico.

Our meat appeared to have been cooked up extra crisp on the plancha after it had been sliced because it had that bacon-like quality.  Ours were topped with a bit of roasted pineapple, salsa, cilantro and onions.

Those little tiny street taco tortillas were crammed with filling…and after a trip through the salsa bar…perfection!  We had a choice of corn or flour tortillas….we picked flour. I will definitely be returning because there are five other items on the menu that I must try.

Every item is prepared freshly as you order..everything is made on site.  As you stand in line to place your order, behind the counter you see this huge open grill  cooking meat.  It was hot today…I can’t even imagine how hot it was working in the kitchen.

The service was excellent and fast.  For the number of guests coming and going, all the orders were filled rapidly...none of us waited long for our order to be given to us.  I felt that we really receive a great taco for the price paid.  We paid $2.25 for each street taco...but on Tuesdays they are $1.79 each.

Backyard Tacos

1524 E. University

Mesa, Arizona 85203

(480) 464-8226

Hours:  Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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

            Sunday – Closed