July 28, 2018 - Licano's - Show Low, Arizona

My neighbor, Sandy and I took a drive today up north into the White Mountains...just to see if the temps were really cooler up there in the summer.  We stopped at Show Low for lunch.

We were served chips with a thin red salsa – refried bean dip – pico de gallo.  Everything was tasty.

Sandy ordered the #44 – a carne asada taco and a small tostado served with rice and beans. 

I ordered the Saturday lunch special – prime rib carne asada.  Mine was a slab of prime rib covered with two different melted cheeses and green sauce..and served with rice and refried beans…the prime was delicious…so tender..and what I really loved was that the fat had been cooked to a crispy black.

The temps are a lot cooler.  We plan to make many more trips that way during our hot summer months.

Licano’s Mexican Food and Steakhouse

573 W. Deuce of  Clubs

Show Low, Arizona 85901

(928) 537-8220

Hours:  Daily 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

July 5, 2018 - Grace Garden - Gilbert, Arizona

My bridge partner, Janet Hastings and I had dinner here after playing bridge in Sun Lakes.  We didn't do too badly...3rd Flight B East-West, 4th Flight B East-West and 3rd Flight B Overall  for .60 of a master point with a 54% game.

I ordered the Mongolian Beef – one of my favorite Chinese dishes – with Fried rice. Nice chunks of beef…fresh vegetables…large slices of green peppers…onions…all in a sauce that was 

Janet ordered the Shrimp Amazing with Fried rice…large shrimp with broccoli, carrots, onions – and once again the perfect sauce.

Fried Rice

The service was quick and efficient…very friendly.

Grace Garden

4331 E. Baseline Rd Suite B-109

Gilbert, Arizona 85234

(480) 892-3888

(480) 813-2888

(480) 89203889 – fax

Hours:  Monday -  Thursday 10:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

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

             Sunday 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.

June 21, 2018 - Beijing Noodle House - Mesa, Arizona

My bridge partner, Janet Hastings and I enjoyed a good afternoon at the bridge table.  To celebratewe stopped at the Beijing Noodle House on our way home.  This was the first vsiit for both of us.

Janet and I both ordered a Vegetable Spring Roll – tiny fried  spring stuffed with a carrot, cabbage, shitake mushroom caps, bamboo sprout, bean sprouts, graded ginger and garlic…served with a plum sauce…very good…hot…right out of the fryer.

Janet ordered the Pork Cabbage Buns -  pork, shredded cabbge, carrot strips,scallions, ginger and garlic mixture…inside a steamed dumpling which was so soft and fluffy…very tasty.

I ordered the Signature Buns – rou jia mo – Chinese hand held snack – bitsof chopped pork, cilantro and green peppers.  Wok-fried with a soy-based gravy piled onto a wheat flour bun. The buns was fluffy and fresh.

Pork Cabbage Buns

Signature Buns

I really enjoyed everything that we ordered.

This was our chop sticks setting.  I liked the touch.

Beijing Noodle House

1440 S. Country Club Drive

Mesa, Arizona

(480) 699-9619

Hours:  Daily 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m

June 19, 2018 - Raging Bull - Mesa, Arizona

This new restaurant/bar opened up rcently close to my house in Mesa.  They just added breakfast to their day.  I stopped for breakfast...my first visit. 

I ordered the Country Fried Steak…huge meal…the meat, scrambled eggs, fried cube potato pieces and four huge pieces of rye toast.  I am choosy about my gravy....this gravy tasted just like home.  The potatoes were crisp and hot.  The rye toast was thick…all for $8.75…I am going to return…service was excellent.

Raging Bull

155 S. Power Road

Mesa, Arizona 85206

(480) 912-4211

Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 6:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

             Friday – Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.

June 14, 2018 - La Madeleine French Bakery and Café - Gilbert, Arizona

I visited with Janet Hastings on June 14, 2018 after a bridge game in Sun Lakes. Janet and I each ordered the Salade Sampler(a choice of three salads.  We each ordered two salads and a cup of soup.) Janet ordered the Cranberry and Pecan Wild Field – sweet dried ccranberries, toasted pecans and field greens tossed in balsamic vinegar.

Both of us chose the Strawberry and Bacon Spinach – fresh strawberries, crisp bacon, sliced mushrooms, toasted pecans, red bell pepper and fresh spinach tossed  in balsamic vinegar.

I chose their Original Caesar for my second salad – crisp romaine, homemade croutons, fresh shredded parmesan and their homemade Caesar dressing.

Both of us ordered a cup of French Onion Soup in place of the third salad.  I didn’t care for it because it wasn’t what I like for French Onion Soup…I want my onion broth covered with a slice of baguette and covered with soup…and baked.

I will visit again because there are other items I want to try but I am never ordering the French Onion Soup again.

La Madeleine French Bakery and Café

2156 E. Williams Field Road #101

Gilbert, Arizona 85296

(480) 485-8490

Hours:  Open Daily 6:30 a.m. – 10:00p.m.

June 3, 2018 - The Herb Box - DC Ranch - Scottsdale, Arizona

My two grandsons, Judson and Jonah..celebrated my 70th birthday this morning with brunch at The Herb Box.  I have wanted to try this restaurant for a long time.  So it was a double bonus!

I ordered the Bourbon-Ginger Brioche…crème fraiche, bourbon-ginger peach topping and served with bacon.  It was different.…the brioche was like slices of a pound cake…anyway it was heavy..but it tasted good.

Jonah ordered the Cheese and Chicken Quesada .  Judson ordered the Chiquesa Verde – egg, Cotija, Jack Cheese, Pulled Pork and Tomatillo Verde

The Herb Box

20707 N. Pima Road

Scottsdale, Arizona

(480) 289-6180

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

             Friday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.

             Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 3:00p.m.

May 28, 2018 - Matt's Big Breakfast - Phoenix, Arizona

I met my cousins Dan and Nannette Ellis at Matt's for breakfast.  I ordered the stack of three pancakes…served with maple syrup…delicious!  My only complaint was that it cost $1.50 to get a second little cup of syrup.  There’s no way anyone can eat that many pancakes with so little syrup but I will get over it.

Matt’s Big Breakfast

825 N. 1^st Street

Phoenix, Arizona

(602) 254-1074

Hours:  Daily 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.