Phoenix Area Getaway

Yes, it's hotter than blazes in Phoenix at this time of year, but my friend Lois is there for a few weeks and I decided to make a short visit to spend time with her.

As always, we did a lot of shopping.

On one of our three days, we headed to Cave Creek, an Old West town about 25 miles north of Phoenix. Cave Creek has one main street which is the main route through town.

Our first stop was at The Town Dump, a store that one of Lois's friends likes and which describes itself as "A wild and crazy store" that meanders inside and outside and is piled high with decorative items, pottery, and lots of southwestern "stuff."

Next stop was at Valerie's Furniture and Accents, where Lois has bought many of the decorative items for her Arozona home. We all found things to buy here.

Our next stop was for lunch at Tonto bar & Grill at the Rancho Mañana Resort and Golf Course.

Tonto has a beautiful dining patio that overlooks the mountains and which is kept comfortable even in today's over-100 degree weather with overhead fans.

Both Shiela and Lois ordered 8-ounce burgers which looked amazingly delicious.

I chose a meal-sized salad from the creative Salad menu.

First you decide what kind do salad you want. And then you top that salad with an Accompaniment.

I chose the Cowboy Cobb salad and topped it with Crispy Crackling Calamari Rings.

While delicious, my salad was so enormous I couldn't finish it.

Despite the large servings, I'd certainly return to Tonto for another meal. The food is fresh, well prepared and delicious. And the setting is lovely and relaxing.

We made one final shopping stop in Cave Creek at Buffalo Biil's to look at cactus sculptures for Lois's atrium. They had several that she might be buying.

Our very last stop was in the next town, Carefree, at the Adelante Gallery, a lovely art gallery that features art by local artists.

And so ends a carefree day in Arizona.

A Quick Arizona Visit

Right after Thanksgiving, I headed to Phoenix to spend a few days with Lois and Jim. Lois and I became friends about 15 years ago, having "met" through a friend's online blog. Fifteen years ago blogs hadn't really been invented, so to speak, but this friend...Frank...had a web site in the early days of the Internet, that he updated every week with the URLs of interesting web sites he'd discovered.

Lois and Jim are not in Phoenix all that often, so when they are there, I always try to visit.

My three-day visit was packed with what I like to do most: visit with friends, shop, and eat in restaurants.

These are highlights and good restaurant tips, should your winter travels be taking you to the Phoenix area.

It was Lois who introduced me to Last Chance, the one of its kind store in Phoenix where returns, overstocks, and other miscellany from all Nordstrom stores go to be sold at extraordinarily low prices.



She and I always spend the first and last days of my visit at Last Chance, getting there as close to opening as we can, and staying until we are either exhausted or satisfied that we have done an adequate search for clothing and other "treasures" that we can't live without. If we are still there at lunchtime, we walk over to Miracle Mile Deli in the same shopping center and share one of their New York Deli-style sandwiches.

Earlier this year, Lois tipped me off to Renegade Canteen, one of Scottsdale's newer restaurants. I tried it last January with friends Silky and David and we all loved it. Recently, Jim took his sister and family there and they all enjoyed it. So, this visit, it was time to return to Renegade with Lois and Jim and we, once again, had a delicious and interesting dinner.

Lois ordered the Dr. Pepper Beef Short Ribs which are served with Chile Cheese Grits.



Jim chose the Pot Roast which is served like a beef stew with all the vegetables that cook with it.



And, I opted for the spicy Caesar Salad followed by the Green Chile Pork Stew which Renegade considers to be another starter, or light entrée. The stew was a more than generous main course.





For dessert, to have a little something sweet, we shared the Crème Brulée which is beautifully garnished with frozen blueberries and almond brittle...a delicious ending to a special dinner.



I highly recommend Renegade Canteen for its varied menu of American Western fare and comfort food classics at reasonable prices. They are open nightly for dinner and weekdays for lunch and serve Sunday brunch. They have a nice kid's menu (priced $4 – $6) and offer many menu dishes at reduced prices on their Happy Hour menu each evening in the bar seating area.

Over the years I've gotten to know many of Lois and Jim's friends who live year 'round in Arizona. On my second night, we dined at The Mission in Old Scottsdale with Pat and Gary.



Pat and Gary are fabulous cooks who love good food and who keep up on the local restaurants in between preparing their amazing meals at home. We went to The Mission on their recommendation and, as always, were not disappointed. The food is "Modern Latin" which is a total departure from chef Matt Carter's classic French dishes at his other excellent Scottsdale restaurant, Zinc Bistro.





We sat outside on the back enclosed patio which has the feel and decor of a courtyard in an old Spanish mission.

We started with the made-tableside Guacamole which was delicious...the addition of crunchy pumpkin seeds added that little something special.




We also shared an enormous order of the Mission Fries, as mix to sweet potato fries and white potato fries. The Fries are served with lime slices and two tangy dipping sauces.



We all ordered tacos which were beautifully presented on a rectangular serving dishes and tasted as good as they looked.

I chose the Vegetable Tacos which on this evening were made with corn, black beans, flavorful spices, and cotija cheese.



Other taco filling choices are Mahi Mahi, Skirt Steak, Pork Shoulder, and Chicken.

This was a perfect light meal for all of us, but another time, I plan to have less of the shared side dishes and perhaps try some of the larger dishes such as the Swordfish Veracruz, the Green Chile Duck Confit, or the Half Roasted Chicken (which is served with the Mission Fries.) I'm told that the Street Corn is a "must" as a side dish; its grilled on a skewer and seasons with butter, chile paprika, and cotija cheese.

The Mission is open every day for lunch and dinner and offers a special Afternoon Menu and Weekend Brunch. I'm looking forward to a return visit soon.

On another day, I got together with Shiela, Anita, and Sam for lunch at Wally's American Pub N' Grille in Gainey Ranch.



Shiela lives in Scottsdale, Anita and Sam, her daughter and grandson, respectively, live on the East Coast and were visiting for Thanksgiving. Wally's was a good place for us to visit.



It was warm enough to sit outside on their patio which was still in view of the TVs over the bar inside so Sam could keep up with the day's football games.

Wally's menu features a large selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers, Mac & Cheese, a daily Blue Plate Special, and typical pub fare. Our choices included the Havana Cuban Panini, the Fresh Fruit and Berry Salad, a Burger, and Fish and Chips.

Lois, who usually eats little for lunch, willingly joins me, who always eats lunch, for lunch when we are together. She and Jim introduced me to a lovely bakery café called Wildflower Bread Company.
Wildflower bakes its own breads, and serves breakfast, lunch and casual dinners every day. Order at the counter and your food is brought to you. A bowl of soup (each day different soups are features) is priced under $5 and most sandwiches, salads, and pastas are priced under $8. The Scottsdale Seville Wildflower location where we ate has seating indoors and on an outdoor patio.

Jim and I shared the Grilled Turkey Pastrami...a perfect light lunch for us.



Wildflower has close to a dozen locations in Arizona, most in the Greater Phoenix area.

SPENDING THE FIRST WEEK OF 2011 IN ARIZONA

I started off 2011 with a 4-day visit to the Phoenix area.

This is the first time I've been there in Winter and, to my surprise, it is cold in Phoenix in early January, especially when it is dark. Temperatures were in the low 40s overnight and no warmer than the low 60s at the warmest part of the day. I spent my entire visit in jeans, wearing a jacket.

But, it was nice to be away and to visit with friends. It seems that each year, more of my friends move to or vacation in the Phoenix area.

Friends from Connecticut, Silky and David, are spending the month of January in Scottsdale. I stayed with them.

Right from the airport, Silky and I headed to Last Chance for a day of shopping. I know I've blogged about Last Chance before, but, in case you've missed it, it is at Last Chance where all Nordstrom returns and overstock items eventually turn up. Silky and I made two visits to Last Chance in our four days together. Just to give a timeline as to how long it takes for items to wind up at Last Chance, I found several things that were in my Nordstrom late last July. The deal at Last Chance is that there are no returns and one must inspect items closely for flaws, defects, or damage. Sometimes an item is faded, sometimes a button is missing, sometimes there is a rip; in the case of shoes, they often have been worn and returned and can show signs of wear. That said, a lot of merchandise is in perfect condition but simply out of season by the time it is returned and it just winds up here. I spent about $40 and came home with two backpacks, several tops, a purse, some jewelry, and socks!

The doors open at Last Chance at 10 a.m. Both days, we spent about three hours shopping and came out with bags laden with goodies. On our second visit, another friend, Arlene, came with us. Arlene is new to the Phoenix area. This was her first Last Chance encounter. Here are Arlene and Silky waiting for the doors to open


...the area in front of the doors is filled with merchandise to keep people occupied while they wait for 10 a.m. (great bargains here too, of course).

We spent a day with former Californians, Marcia and Charlie in and around Gold Canyon, which is south east of Phoenix.



Some of us played golf



while the others ventured off to the Queen Creek Olive Mill



for a tour ($5 per person) and lunch.



Queen Creek Olive Mill is Arizona's only working olive farm and mill. The olives are grown in groves close to the mill. At the mill, they hand craft their extra virgin olive oil from the olives they grow. Our tour guides described olive cultivation in Arizona. The detail that interested me most is that insects and mold are not a problem here because of the intense heat; therefore, the olives are grown without the use of any pesticides.

The Olive Mill has a large marketplace that features the Queen Creek Olive Oils (can be shipped), locally made baked goods that are made with olive oil, and many packaged olive specialty foods.

For lunch in the Mill's Tuscan-inspired eatery, the three of us shared a Vegetable Antipasto Plate which was accompanied by Grilled Olive Oil Bread. Silky and Marcia ended their lunch with scoops of gelato.




On my last afternoon, we stopped at The Phoenician Hotel to visit their Cactus Garden. The Garden is open to the public and there is no cost to visit. Just tell the guard at the gate that you are going to the Cactus Garden and he will give you a visitor's pass for your car. You can park with the valet at the hotel entrance or self-park in their garage.

The Cactus Garden covers two acres and features 250 varieties of cactus and succulents. It is at the base of Camelback Mountain.










Each time I visit the Phoenix area, there are new restaurants to try and old favorites to revisit. The restaurant scene is lively and overall, I am rarely disappointed. This visit, I loved every restaurant meal I had.

Our first dinner was at Renegade Canteen, which was voted one of the best new restaurants for 2010.



We were delighted with our meal and the attentive service. Renegade describes its food as "Western American Cuisine" but I feel it much more than that. The dishes are creative, innovative, and are made with the freshest of seasonal ingredients. Renegade prides itself in its selection of wine. Many wines are from lesser known California wine regions; our server shared his expert wine knowledge with us in helping us make our selections.

To start, we had a Caesar Salad which was garnished with Dry Jack Cheese and Jalapeno Cheddar Croutons and a Spinach Salad dressed with a housemade Bacon and Honey dressing, Candied Pecans, and topped with a Coddled Egg.




David ordered the Daily Special of Rack of Lamb. It was 6 good-sized chops on a bed of Creamed Spinach.



Silky went vegetarian with the Tagliatelle with Mushroom Meatballs, prepared with Truffle Butter, San Marzano Tomatoes, and Parmigiana Cheese. Her dish looked spectacular and was delicious. I've never seen nor tasted meatballs made of mushrooms and I'm looking forward to a return visit to enjoy a whole serving for myself.



My dinner choice was the Blackened Catfish which was accented with a Cajun-inspired mix of Crab, Shrimp, and Crawfish. It was accompanied by 'Nawlins Rice."



For dessert, the three of us shared the Meyer Lemon Cake which was artistically perched on thinly sliced apples and garnished with fruit sorbet and a cookie. Delicious!



Prices are very moderate at Renegade Canteen. Our meals with a glass of wine each were about $35 per person before tip. Most Main Dishes are priced between $15 and $20; Steaks are in the $35 to $45 range, depending on cut, but, unlike many pricey popular steakhouses that serve a "naked" steak on your plate, Renegade's Steaks are served with your choice of sauce and a vegetable side dish. Renegade is a big restaurant with several dining rooms. The dining rooms are beautifully furnished and small enough to not be noisy.

Another night we tried Blanco, the Fox Concepts Group's relatively new Mexican Restaurant.


While we loved the American/Mexican Food, we found the noise level to be too high; we could not hear one another across the table.

We had Fish Tacos, Beef Tacos,



and a Guacamole Cheese Crisp.



The Cheese Crisp is a Pizza-like creation made with a mix of three cheeses melted on a crisp flour tortilla and topped with the diner's choice of such toppings as Guacamole, Chicken and Poblanos, Shrimp and Corn, or Short Rib and Avocado. Silky ordered the Guacamole Cheese Crisp for her dinner. David started his meal with the spicy Guacamole.

We drank beer with our meal. I'm told by friends that their Margaritas are not to be missed (the Blood Orange Margarita sounds tempting to me!)

So, good food, very reasonable prices, but too much noise at Blanco.

Another evening, we dined at Chompie's, a New York style deli and bakery. It's a favorite of Silky and David and has now been added to my list of must-visits when in Phoenix/Scottsdale. Even getting there early in the evening, there was a line waiting for tables (no reservations). Chompie's has four locations in the Phoenix area and serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily. All their breads, bagels and pastries are baked in house.

Silky and David both had Pastrami Sandwiches.



I had a Tuna Melt.




The sandwiches are huge and are served with your choice of French Fries, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, or Fresh Fruit. There are all-you-can eat dill pickles on the table. Yum to Chompie's!

We took a lunch break on one of our shopping days at Chelsea's Kitchen. Arlene and I both ordered the Brussels Sprouts Salad and loved our meals.



Silky thought her Casbah Salad (Seasoned grilled chicken, dates, and chickpeas on chopped lettuce) was ordinary.



We all liked the free freshly-baked cookies that we were offered on our way out. Arlene eats at Chelsea's Kitchen regularly and her teenage daughter and her friends also dine here. I liked the atmosphere and the food. Silky most likely won't return.

Before I headed to the airport, we stopped for a Pizza lunch at Humble Pie.



David and I had the lunch special: Our choice of an individual pizza with soup or salad. Silky ordered Bruschetta and shared pieces of our pizzas.



I was introduced to Humble Pie by other Phoenix area friends; it's my favorite of pizza in this area...creative combination pizzas and interesting tasty salads and other dishes. I like it's lively atmosphere too.

David had the Roasted Mushroom Pizza and the Strawberry & Gorgonzola Salad.

I had the Artichoke Pizza with a Chopped Salad.



Humble Pie is deservedly a popular spot.