April 6, 2024 - Sheila's Kitchen - Camp Verde, Arizona

 

Visited with Sylvia  when we were on a road trip to Camp Verde.

 I ordered the Two Eggs – two eggs over medium with toast, hash browns and crisp bacon.  It was very good.  Glad we chose this restaurant.

 This restaurant is housed in the Montezuma Inn  - 1900.  We were told this has served as a hotel, bar and restaurant over the years.

 The Montezuma Inn building – built in 1900 at 396 S. Main Street. Constructed as the Joe Lane Saloon, the building was also known as the Red Star Saloon due to the colorful stenciled star over the door.

Sheila’s Kitchen
396 S. Main Street
Camp Verde, Arizona 86322
(928) 862-2095
Hours:  Sunday 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
             Monday – Tuesday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
             Wednesday – Thursday – Closed
             Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
             Saturday 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

February 26, 2024 - Paris Cafe - Scottsdale, Arizona

 I had lunch with my two friends Kelli and Carol.  Kelli and I both live in the Phoenix area, but Carol is our friend from Havre, Montana.

We spent the day together where we visited the Museum of Illusion...and then lunch

We each ordered the Paris Combo a cup of tomato basil soup and 1/ 2 sandwich.  Kelli chose the BLT – homemade sauce, bacon, salad, tomato on sourdough.  Carol ordered the Lyonnais – butter, imported salami, Swiss cheese, greens, French pickles on a baguette.  I ordered the French – butter, ham, swiss cheese, greens, French pickles on a baguette.

 Dessert – 2 crepes Belle Helene – pear, chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream…forks around…delicious.

 It was a quiet…small café..with red and white checked tablecloth.  We sat in a corner table and had a great visit...and a delicious lunch.

Paris Café
15125 Hayden Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480) 998-4875
Hours:  Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
             Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
             Sunday – Closed

January 4, 2024 - Carbajal's Mexican Food - Mesa, Arizona

 I visited here with Rhona Jenkins.   Rhona ordered the Beef Chimichanga which was served with guacamole and sour cream.

 I ordered the Green Chili Beef Chimichanga plate which included ride and beans and topped with guacamole and sour cream.  I also had a Blue Moon. This was just plain old good fashioned Mexican food…and I loved every bite.

Carbajal’s Mexican Food
7302 E. Main Street
Mesa, Arizona 85207
(480) 354-7100
Hours:  Monday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. -  9:00 p.m.
             Sunday -  Closed

November 25, 2023 - El Guerrerense - Phoenix, Arizona

 I had a lunch date with Sylvia.  I had read about this restaurant in her blog.  I wanted to try it...and I asked her to join me.

Sylvia ordered the Cuche en Verde o Rojo – pork in green salsa..served  with rice, fried beans and flour tortillas.  It was delicious…Sylvia let me try it….but bring a knife because it comes in huge delicious chunks but sometimes one needs a knife to cut the meat even though it is cooked very well.

Cuche en Verde o Rojo

I ordered Camarones a la Diabla  - shrimp in spicy red sauce and served with fried beans and rice…and served with my choice of flour tortillas…  I loved it…and the tortillas were hand made.

 

Absolutely delicious lunch…and it gave us a long time to visit…and talk about our next adventure.

 

Note:  Bring cash if you don’t want to pay the 3% fee to put it on a charge card.

 

El Guerrerense
1627 N. 24^th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85008
(602) 275-0555
Hours:  Daily 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

November 11, 2023 - The Collins Small Bite Kitchen - Phoenix, Arizona

 My friend, Kelli Jo Welk, treated me to lunch at this very nice restaurant because I take her to the airport when she flies home...and let her park her car in my patio driveway. Kelli is pretty darn wonderful.

This was my first visit.  I loved ambience.  The service was great.

 I ordered the Bistro Burger - havarti . vine tomatoes . red onion . dressed arugula . dijon . mayo served on a Noble brioche bun and I chose the Collins Cashew Coleslaw…and asked for little cup of the truffle aioli to put on my burger.  Delicious!

 The coleslaw was creamy and it was served with what looked with roasted cashews.  I liked it.

 Kelli ordered the Chicken and Brie Sandwich -  dressed arugula . truffle aioli . spicy tomato jam . Noble seeded baguette and chose the shoestring potatoes served with truffle aioli for dipping.  Kelli insisted that I try the shoestring potatoes and the aioli…yummy.  If I ever came back to this restaurant I would order the shoestring potatoes.  They were very good. 

 Dessert:  Coconut Cream Pie…was it ever tasty…forks around. A graham cracker crust and a very thick coconut cream filling…with whipped cream on top.  I should have taken pictures…but I was busy eating…and visiting with Kelli Jo.

The Collins Small Bite Kitchen
Biltmore Plaza
3160 E. Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016
(602) 730-3533
Hours:  Monday – Wednesday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
             Thursday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
              Sunday - Closed 

October 27, 2023 - Birrieria Don Jose - Mesa, Arizona

 This is a new restaurant in the 'hood...so I thought I would give it a try.  

I ordered the 5 Taco Plate – a carne asada; a pastor; a barbacoa and 2 – birria – there were a lot of salsas to try as well as creamy avocado .  I think the young lady made a mistake and charged me for 5 separate tacos…so very expensive…but that is okay.  The street tacos were loaded with meat and cilantro…I will be returning….and I will see how I do the second time around.

Birrieria Don Jose
6339 E. Main Street
Mesa, AZ 85205
(480) 912-1292
Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
             Friday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

November 14, 2023 - Gertrude's Restaurant - Phoenix, Arizona

 This will be the third time that I have written about this restaurant.  The other two were December 10, 2015...and March 8, 2022...I love the food here...and the ongoing changing of the menu.

Today Peg Hartman and I went to the Desert Botanical Garden to see the Ferando Botero Exhibtion within the gardens...and it was lovely.  He is one of my favorites because he draws, paints and creates bronzes of chubby people.

Peg and I always have lunch at Gertrude's when we visit the Botanical Garden.

Peg and I started with drinks: Diet Coke for me.  Pinot Grigio Ramato, Sun Goddess, Italy for Peg…she gave me a sip…excellent…the best pinot grigio ever...Peg is on the hunt now.

 Starter – Elote Fritters – roasted corn, fermented chilis, cilantro-lime aioli, cortjja and achiote. These were just absolutely the best.  I could have just eaten these for my meal and had been perfectly happy.

Elote Fritters

 
I ordered the Lentil Chop Bowl – lentil medley, red onions, grape tomatoes, herbs, achiote roasted carrots, Sonoran nopales, crisp garbanzo, orange- sumac vinaigrette.  It came just like a very fancy chop salad with lines of ingredients.  My favorites were the carrots and the crisp garbanzo beans. Lots of lentils - served cold and highlighted by the great orange-surmac vinaigrette which brough out the flavor of everything on the plate.

Lentil Chopped Bowl

 Peg ordered the Root Salad – mesciun, root veggies, dried fruit, sunflower kernel, sunflower-Thai vinaigrette. I tasted the dressing and it was marvelous.

 Plus our added bonus was Michael our waiter…who answered every question and gave all types of information…he is a keeper.  He made our lunch that more enjoyable.

Gertrude’s Restaurant
Desert Botanical Garden
1201 N. Galvin Pkwy
Phoenix, AZ 85008
(480) 719-8600
Hours:  Monday  - Friday 10:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
             Saturday  - Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m