June 7, 2019 - Sparky's - Hatch, New Mexico

I visited this unique restaurat in Hatch during my trip to the southwestern section of New Mexico with Cindi Walcott. 

I was so full (from breakfast)  I ordered a Green Chile (fresh Hatch chiles) Chocolate milkshake.  I thought it was really delicious in comparison to the image I had in my mind. In fact the cold and the chocolate really did tamp down the hot…hot of the chiles.

Cindi ordered a pulled pork sandwich with fries and a root beer float.

The pulled pork was like big hunks of ham…very tasty.  I really liked this sandwich. The shake had big hunks of chiles in it.  The fries had a chile salt on them…I ate some but they were just too hot!

If you don’t go for the food…go to have a look at Teako’s Giants…he has a huge collection of giant statues.  But have something to eat.  You can’t go to Hatch without eating something with the famous Hatch Chiles in the item you order.

Sparky’s

115 Franklin Street

Hatch, New Mexico 87937

(575) 267-4222

Hours:  Thursday – Sunday 10:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

             Monday – Wednesday – Closed

             Closed – New Year’s Day

                            3:00 p.m.  Super Bowl Sunday

                           Easter Sunday

                           Thanksgiving

                           Black Friday

                           Christmas Day

Owners:  Josie and Teako Nunn

June 6, 2019 - McAlister’s Deli - Las Crusces, New Mexico

I visited on June 6, 2019 with Cindi Walcott.  It was late.  We had just arrived in Las Cruces…had checked into our motel.  All we wanted to do was eat something.  This restaurant was recommended to us by the clerk at the motel.  It was close by. 

I ordered the 1/ 2 Four Cheese Grilled Sandwich and 1/ 2 cup of Tomato Bisque.  It was nothing special but it hit the spot.  I was happy with my meal.

McAlister’s Deli

2800 Mall Drive

Las Cruces, New Mexico

(575) 522-3287

Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 10:30 a.m.  9:00p.m.

             Friday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 10:0 p.m.

June 6, 2019 - Horseshoe Cafe and Bakery - Benson, Arizona

I visited  with Cindi Walcott.  We were headed to the Southwest corner of New Mexico for the weekend. I ordered the Patty Melt…it was perfect…grilled onions, Swiss Cheese on Marbled Rye bread.  The bread was fabulous…very thick patty and it was cooked well…no pink!  Just the way I like it.

Cindi ordered the Mushroom Burger…it was huge but looked very good almost too high to have a good bite.   Both were served with fries.

Horseshoe Café and Bakery

154 E. 4^th Street

Benson, Arizona 85602

(520) 586-2872

Hours:  Monday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

             Sunday 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

June 3, 2019 - High Tide - Gilbert, Arizona

I visited with Jeanne and Willie Stecher .  We were celebrating my 71^st Birthday. We arrived during Happy House …so started with drinks…I had a Bloody Mary…Moscow Mule for Jeanne…and Willie had a beer. Jeanne ordered the Calamari for a starter…it was fabulous…like butter… it was battered calamari served with two types of sauces…Old Bay Lemon Aioli and Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce. I loved this starter.

Calamari

I ordered the Fish ‘n Chips – Battered Alaskan Cod…served with Mixed Fries, Peach Cashew Salad and Remoulade.  (Remoulade is a seafood dressing made from hard boiled egg yolks, oil and vinegar  - flavored with mustard, capers and herbs.

Fish 'N Chips

Willie ordered the Louisiana Gumbo-rich Creole Stew of Andouille, Sausage, Chicken, Okra, Crab Meat, Shrimp and Crawfish..served with a scoop of rice…he ordered Dirty Rice.  (Willie is allergic to shellfish and they were able to accommodate him.)

Louisiana Gumbo

Jeanne ordered a Crab Cake off the Crabby Hour Menu...and a bowl of Lobster Bisque.The Crab Cake was served with Lemon Aioli, Fried Avocado and Micro Greens.

Crab Cake

Lobster Bisque

Because it was my birthday they gave me pistachio gelato..which was creamy and soft…delicious.

High Tide

2540 S. Val Vista Drive

Suite 101

Gilbert, Arizona 85295

(480) 821-9950

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

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

Happy Hour:  Monday – Saturday  - 3;00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

May 30, 2019 - Ristorante Giuseppe - Scottsdale, Arizona

Joshua, Jody, Judson and Jonah Hayes took me to dinner in celebration of my upcoming 71st birthday.  Ristorante Giuseppe is a small restaurant in Scottsdale.  It is always packed.  It oozes my Italian heritage.

For starters…once again we chose Bruschetta (lots of chopped tomatoes dripping in olive oil…just like Grandma used to make…served on thinly sliced hard roll bread and large grated pieces of parmesan cheese).  It was delicious.  I could have just made that my meal.

Bruschetta

I chose the Pasta Alex as did Judson.  It was wonderful but a little too spicy this time for me….I like spicy…but this was mouth burning spicy.  Jonah ordered the Spaghetti with the Famous Meatball…Jody ordered the Eggplant Parmesan…and Joshua ordered the Special…the Italian Ribs…just like Grandma Filicetti’s.

Pasta Alex

Dessert:  I chose spumoni but it was more of a Neapolitan…and I was disappointed.  I like more of the type that has a fruity and nutty taste taste to it.

Ristorante Giuseppe

13610 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 9

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

(480) 991—4792

www.giuseppescottsdale.com

Hours:

Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Sunday 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Cash only accepted – no credit cards

Bring your own wine - they will uncork and set up without a charge

May 23, 2019 - College Bar and Grill - Tempe, Arizona

I ordered the Jalapeno Agave Burger – half pound ground chuck hand pattied and cooked your way…topped with fresh sliced jalapenos that were sauteed in agave syrup, Jalapeno aioli, Applewood smoked bacon, and sharp white cheddar cheese.  The burger wasn’t the greatest…pretty much it was very dry…but the whole burger was delicious.  It came with fries…they were just delicious.

Julie ordered Fried Dill Pickles...which were really very good.

College Bar and Grill

502 S.  College Avenue, Suite 103

Tempe, Arizona 85281

(480) 699-6363

May 11, 2019 Aloha Kitchen - Mesa, Arizona

I visited with Mike and Carol Thompson.  All of us order the Bulgogi Plate – thinly sliced top sirloin in Korean barbecue sauce, charboiled and served on a bed of cabbage.  Served with rice and my choice macaroni-potato salad.  It was delicious.  I love the taste of Korean barbecue sauce.  I am not a fan of macaroni salad but I liked this one.  The dressing did not have a heavy taste.  The rice was very good tasting and consistency.  I can never distinguish the type of rice by taste, but this had an almost jasmine taste to it.  I will ask next time because it was so good.

These dishes are served with a choice of “mini” or “full” portion.  Carol and I ordered the “mini”…Mike ordered the “full”.  My portion was just perfect.  I could never have eaten all of Mike’s…I would have had to take most of it home.  I really like this when a restaurant gives you the choice of portion size.

Aloha Kitchen

2950 S. Alma School Road

Mesa, Arizona 85210

(480) 897-2451

Hours:  Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m.

             Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

             Closed Monday

Fare:  Japanese -  Hawaiian – Chinese – Korean