We just returned from a wine-soaked weekend in Sonoma County, CA, and I wanted to share with you some of my favorite recommendations! xoM Where to Sleep? Hotel Healdsburg, h2hotel, Harmon Guest House Fifteen minutes from the Santa Rosa Airport, at the confluence of the Dry Creek, Alexander and Russian River Valleys, Healdsburg is a quaint town that is an ideal spot from which to …
Last summer, on my annual trek to the Aspen Food & Wine Classic, I met Chefs Rico Torres and Diego Galicia who had been named to Food & Wine’s list of best new chefs in 2017. Since October of 2013, Chefs Torres and Galicia have been enchanting diners in San Antonio with their celebration of Mexican gastronomy at their restaurant, Mixtli. I was so excited …
The Sicilian Butcher has released a new summer cocktail menu designed by Sheldon Wiley, The Maggiore Group’s mixologist and Guinness World Record holder for Fastest Bartender. In case you were curious, Sheldon holds the record for the most cocktails made in one minute with 18, and most cocktails in one hour with a jaw dropping 1,905. The YouTube video from his record breaking feat is pretty fun to …
Crossing over the Salt River onto the ASU campus in Tempe feels like entering another world. It’s fun to see all the kids scurrying to class on bikes and battery powered skateboards, and is a reminder of the importance that ASU plays in our town of 1.6 million plus. It was on College Street across from the Mona Plummer Aquatic Complex that I had the …
Pei Wei Better On Its Own At the end of 2017, Pei Wei Asian Diner split from its parent company, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, and moved its corporate office from Scottsdale to Irving, Texas. Experimenting with a new logo and brand, Pei Wei has been mixing things up, like tapping into the trend of healthy dining with additions to the menu like quinoa, salads and …
Helio Basin Brewing Company owners, Mike Conley and Dustin Hazer, bring something unique to the Arizona dining scene. In their mission to raise awareness for Arizona beer and cuisine, they have found a partner in Chef Tamara Stanger, a Utah native with a passion for Arizona. Supporting local farms and small businesses, the team at Helio Basin has created a menu decidedly Arizona-centric. What does …
This is the time of year where we are reminded of why we live in Arizona. The weather is nothing short of glorious, and everyone takes advantage by dining al fresco and spending as much time as possible outside. This past week was no exception: Hubby and I celebrated our 22-year wedding anniversary with a six-mile hike, I attended a bowling event at Scottsdale’s new …
There were too many highlights this past week to focus on just one post, so I had the idea to write a weekly wrap up. After 5 years of writing this blog, I am game for changing things up, so give me your feedback as to whether you like it (or not). I will try to be brief and not get too bogged down in …
In revisiting the post I wrote regarding the Devour Phoenix Culinary Classic of 2017, I noted my intention to attend both days of the tasting event in 2018. However, by the time I purchased my tickets in December (tickets went on sale in September), the tickets for Saturday were already sold out. I realize this was such a rookie move for a culinary classic geek …
I blew out my flip flop Stepped on a pop top Cut my heel had to cruise on back home But there’s booze in the blender And soon it will render That frozen concoction that helps me hang on. Wasted away again in Margaritaville Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame But I know, it’s my …
