Farms, Roosters, and Jazz...

Well, here is my attempt to sum up my 4 weeks here in Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale.  After accepting the fact that I had gained a little bit of weight, you can imagine the shit show that ensued.  However, a few more miles on the treadmill never hurt anyone.  Along with this I decided to limit my search for food to doing Internet searches and word of mouthinstead of eating my way through town.  After all, isn’t that the whole purpose of the Internet?  Doing research on food?

In the past three weeks you can say I have become a “Real Housewife” of this region of the country.  My mornings consist of waking up, going to the gym or yoga (I went to yoga twice, a yogi I am not), and then eating at home the majority of my meals.  Not only does this save money. but it helps in maintaining that 20 something figure.

Don’t get me wrong, I still had a meal out, just not as often so here goes....Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale though the stomach of Luis Augusto Figueroa.  

My friend Lizzie recommended a restaurant to me after reading my last blog, The Farm at South Mountain.  I went to the website and tried to figure out exactly what it is.  After two minutes of staring at the screen, I was overwhelmed and came to the conclusion that I should just go and hope for the best.  The Farm is located in Tempe.  Doesn’t seem like much from the road, but once you park you enter a place that is so unique that I have not been able to get it out of my head.  The Farm is a community of privately owned restaurants and little shops.  From an art studio, to a spa, to a wellness center, it’s easy to forget why I came here.  I am a sucker for art supplies, not to mention a homeopathic remedy to help with my recent fluctuation in weight. There are three restaurants here.  Unfortunately, I haven’t made it to the breakfast place nor the dinner restaurant.  Breakfast ends at 11 and dinner begins at 5.  The Farm Kitchen however, is open in between.  If you crave great sandwiches, or soup, fresh teas, or anything else that constitutes lunch on the farm this place has it.  I have been here twice. The first time, I got a pulled pork sandwich to go.  The pork, cole slaw, and bread were all package separately in order to ensure freshness and a non-soggy sandwich.  The pork was sweet, and cooked with love (cheesy, I know, but its how it felt with every bite).  As for the slaw, it had the right amount of tang to create a perfect bite every time.  I ended up eating this over the course of several hours, a fork full of pork followed by a fork full of slaw and eventually a bite of bread.   One of the great things about this place is the size of the portions.  They are huge, and can make up two meals if you so please.  My second visit here I ordered to halves.  The first was a Chicken Salad sandwich with pecans (come to find out they have tons of pecan trees on site, more than likely I sat beneath one as I inhaled my food).  The second half was the Farm Garden Sandwich.  Sprouts, cucumbers, avocado, tomato, all on 9 grain bread.  I recently have gotten into veggie sandwiches, they are refreshing, especially in Arizona winter heat, not to mention they are guilt free in my mind, AND the textures are fun.  According to this months Food and Wine Magazine, textures are part of the reason we are addicted to junk food.  Yet we always forget the vegetables and head for the chips.  Just some food for thought.   

If The Farm is a little to hippie for your taste, you’re in luck.  On one of my days off, I decided to visit a restaurant called Gallo Blanco inside the Clarendon Hotel in Phoenix.  I came about this place thanks to my waiter at Le Grande Orange (see previous blog entry).  If you’ve ever stayed at the Ace Hotel in either New York or Palm Springs (and apparently Portland and Seattle), this is Phoenix’s equivalent.  From the outside, the building looks a like a nothing hotel.  Once you walk through the doors, it’s almost like stepping back in time to a more retro era.  This funky hotel is home to Gallo Blanco, which (surprise) is a Mexican restaurant.  Don’t be fooled by the queso and enchiladas, this place has burgers, salads, and most importantly, breakfast all day. I came here for brunch with a couple of friends.  I ordered the “chilaquiles”.  Chilaquiles are traditional Mexican breakfast consisting of eggs, at times chicken, and some sort of chile sauce.  Gallo Blanco’s take on this dish is pretty impressive.  Instead of it being presented as a scramble, I got a layer cake of chilaquiles.  Pulled chicken between two crispy corn tortillas and topped with to sunny side eggs and plenty of cilantro.  I was in breakfast heaven.  I tried to eat it as fast as I could in order to prevent the tortillas from getting soggy.  The chicken was smoky and juicy (half way through I found out it was dark meat, usually I would cringe, but what I choose to not know isn’t going to hurt me).  Add in the chile sauce and cilantro, it left an oh so good bitter/sour/spicy taste in my mouth that left my taste buds asking for more.  Half way through, I threw in the towel.  Turns out restaurant portions are obscenely huge compared to what I am cooking at home now. To wash this all down, a pitcher of Prickly Pear Margaritas.  This is native to this region and quite delicious.  Worth every calorie and an hour on the treadmill. 

The last place that stood out to me, Kazimierz World Wine Bar.  This place is located in Scottsdale, and was also on the list from my friendly waiter friend.  I gave myself permission to indulge in a flight of red wine (a Bordeaux blend stood out to me, but not enough to remember it’s name, ish!) and chocolate fondue.  I’m not a huge fan of chocolate, but giving the surrounding environment and the fact that I haven’t drank in a while, I needed something in my stomach.  What better than melted chocolate and fruit to accompany the wine.   I work with musicians.  One of the perks of traveling with musicians is that every once in a while they will decide to play a set at a local bar.  Kazimierz is also a jazz bar, and my friends happened to have a gig there on this particular night.  What are the chances?

Add live music to flights of wine, fondue and incredible musicians, and you are thrown into an era we tend to forget about.  This place is perfect for a date, a group of friends, or even on your own to enjoy the sounds, the ambience, and treat yourself to a night cap.