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

April 30, 2019 - Blue Adobe Grill - Mesa, Arizona

I visited on April 30, 2019 with Marilyn Stavros and Cathy Lindholm.    We started with a very large plate of chips…delicious…with a salsa like I have never tasted before this meal…I asked what the base was because it was a very dark brown and I thought there might have been black beans in the mixture.  The waiter asked and came back with " all the regular ingredients of salsa"...it was a little spicy but deliciously so.

Cathy ordered an appetizer…Four Corners Bean Con queso – a blend of cheeses, tomatoes, leeks and green chile – hand mashed with Pinto Beans, Pico de gallo and sour cream.  This tasted very good…and was so addicting with the chips.

I ordered the Chimichanga with shredded beef…and chose the mini instead of the regular…thank God!  It was caramelized onions, Jack and Cheddar cheese, and the  shredded beef place in a large flour tortilla, folded then deep fried to a light crispy texture…topped with Adobe Sour Cream….served with rice and beans.  It was loaded with shredded beef.  I liked it. (I must note here that even though it was the mini…I still have a lot to bring home for later.)

Marilyn ordered Last Night’s Meat Loaf – a traditional Meal Loaf with distinct Southwestern Flavors of Blue Adobe Chorizo and Hatch Chiles, buttery Potato Pancake and Sauteed Vegetable.  Likewise Marilyn ordered the single slice…and had plenty to take home.  I tasted the Potato Pancake and found it quite blah…it was deep fried but I thought the inside could have had something added to the mashed potatoes.

Cathy ordered Santa Fe Café – which was a build your own…she choose the Smoked Port Tamale, Shrimp Enchilada and a Relleno.  I tried a bite of tamale…very tasty meat.

Marilyn and I shared a dessert – Crème Brulee – it was served in a huge dish…heavily caramelized with slices of strawberries..it was very tasty…but I thought the crust was caramelized too much.  However, that did not distract from the good taste.

I want to go back and try their Green Chile Corn Chowder.

Original Blue Adobe Grille

144 N. Country Club Drive

Mesa, Arizona 85201

(480) 960-1000

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

                Friday 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.    

                Saturday 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

April 27, 2019 - Lone Spur Cafe - Prescott, Arizona

Pat Scarrow, Carol and Mike Thompson and I took a day trip to Prescott on April 27, 2019.  When we arrived in town...and found a parking spot....we decided to try the Lone Spur Cafe for coffee and a snack.  But that turned into something to eat.  Carol and Mike split a BLT with fries.  I ordered the Biscuits and Gravy...the biscuits were soft just as I like 'em.  Pat ordered 2 pieces of toast and 3 slices of bacon. 

I thought everything tasted just fine…it was all pretty average.  The café is really old, but quite charming.  It fits right into its name and its location in Prescott.

Lone Spur Café

106 W. Gurley Street

Prescott, Arizona 86301

(928) 445-8202

Hours:  Sunday – Thursday 6:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

             Friday – Saturday 6:30a.m. – 2:30 p.m….then dinner 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 

April 24, 2019 - Flancer's - Mesa, Arizona

I visited for dinner with Cindi Walcott.  I ordered the BLT…5 thick bacon strips, lettuce, tomatoes, New Mexico Green Chile aioli…served with one side.  I chose French Fries.. I didn’t care for the jalapeno aioli…I loved the bacon...the bun was like a very soft ciabatta roll.

Flancer’s

1902 N. Higley Road

Mesa, Arizona 85205

(480) 396-0077

Hours:  Daily 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

April 19, 2019 - Sauce + Wine - Scottsdale, Arizona

I visited on April 19, 2019 with Carol Thompson.  We went to lunch after our doctor appointment in North Scottsdale.  

Carol ordered the Mac ‘n Cheese…was served this big bowl of large elbow type pastas with this wonderful buttery and cheesy sauce.  I loved the taste.  I would ordered this.  It was served with a roll and butter.  I ordered the Grilled Cheese Panini – three cheeses – Cheddar, Mozzarella and Fontina.  It was fabulous…served in this soft crust large Ciabatta roll.   It was loaded with cheeses. It was a great grilled cheese.  I also ordered a cup of Tuscan Tomato Soup..topped with large shavings of cheese….served with a roll and butter.

Mac 'n Cheese

Tuscan Tomato Soup

Grilled Cheese Panini

I need to return because they have a wood fired oven for pizzas…and I would like to try their pizzas.  I studied the menu that I brought home with me…and there is one at Dana Park and one at San Tan  Village as well as Queen Creek Marketplace on Ellsworth…and one in Gilbert.

Sauce + Wine

14418 N. Scottsdale Road

Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

(480) 321-8800

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

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