grrlscout's Profile
PHX Food Truck Festival - October 22nd
Here is the most up to date list of participants:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=237356719643696
Local beer and wine will also be served, and there will be live music. Just a heads-up - the prices for tickets go up on Monday.
Justin's Ragin' Cajun restaurant in Phoenix
My beloved is from Baton Rouge. Like you, we primarily get our fix at home. If we find ourselves in the west valley (which is rare), we're always sure to stop at Flavors of Louisiana. They are from Baton Rouge as well, and really know how to work a roux.
PHX Food Truck Festival - October 22nd
The Phoenix Street Food Coalition & Roosevelt Row Community Development Corporation are getting together to put on Phoenix's first Food Truck Festival.
Details:
http://phxstreetfood.org/?p=242
Phoenix Food Gifts
I know, right? And most of the varieties used for landscaping around here are non-natives as well. I guess our native varieties are too shrubby and slow-growing for most people's taste. Too bad too, because their pods are way tastier, in my opinion.
If you do collect the pods, hang onto them until the Fall. Desert Harvesters does a milling at Maya's Farm -- in October, I think? More info here:
http://www.desertharvesters.org/how-we-run-mesquite-millings/
BTW, carob pods are also in season.
Phoenix Food Gifts
I was going to recommend Native Seeds. But their site was down that day.
Just know that their mesquite flour is actually from South America. At least it was last time I checked, a couple weeks ago.
Phoenix Public Market also sells mesquite flour. I am not sure if it is native or not. A quick call would probably answer that question.
If you were closer, I would just sell or trade you for some of my own, that I had milled last year.
Phoenix Food Gifts
You can get cholla buds from TOCA (Tohono O’odham Community Action):
http://www.tocaonline.org/www.tocaonline.org/Oodham_Foods/Entries/2010/3/10_Purchase_Oodham_Foods.html
They also have info on their preparation on the site.
*August 2011 Cookbook of the Month Companion Book, PALETAS by Fany Gerson
Recipes for Corn, Avocado, Spiced & Spike Grapefruit, White Sangria, and Roasted Apricot-Vanilla are now all on the Serious Eats site:
http://www.seriouseats.com/user/profile/Fany%20Gerson
I don't have the book with me at the moment, so I can't check and see which ones are in there.
Classic cocktails and fine spirits used
I've had good luck at The Duce. They have everything from a Tom Collins to a sloe gin fizz. They squeeze their own juices, and there's no sour mix in sight.
Some minuses for serving them all on the rocks and in mason jars, and some overgarnishing, however. Their heart is in the right place.
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The Duce
525 S Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004
Steve's Greenhouse Grill
Went there once with co-workers for lunch. I think I had a burger. It was OK, if you stick with the basics.
Glass-bottled milk?
The urban grocery at the Phoenix Public Market also carries the bottled Straus products.
mozzarella curd
I found rennet at Fry's -- near the gelatin, I believe. Junket is the brand:
http://www.junketdesserts.com/rennettablets.aspx
I got citric acid at Sprouts, in the bulk foods jars.
If I could have just one Mexican place in Phoenix, what should it be?
Isn't Los Dos Molinos New Mexican? Or at least, aspires to be?
mozzarella curd
You can buy it? I've made it. Rennet and citric acid are all that's required.
orange flower water
Give Lee Lee a try, since it's close to you, and they have a pretty big Middle Eastern food selection.
Culinary & Cocktail Herbs - Where to Find/What to Make?
Thanks for the tip! If I find myself over that way, I'll certainly pick some up.
Culinary & Cocktail Herbs - Where to Find/What to Make?
As far as herbs go, I grow basil, tarragon, thyme, and lemon balm. The basil I grew from seed (Seed Savers Exchange), the rest, from transplants. I don't remember where I got the tarragon, but the thyme came from a now defunct nursery, and the lemon balm were cuttings from a friend's plant.
I used the lemon balm in my last batch of limoncello, and it turned out just lovely. The basil I like in a basil & rye:
http://www.chow.com/recipes/13435-basil-and-rye?tag=search_results;results_list
I would like to get some borage and lemon verbena to add to the garden.
Looking for pappadams in Phoenix
Lee Lee Oriental Market also sells them. I have seen them in the bread aisle.
oh and let us not forget the cocktails
We're going in about a year, and I've already started my "to visit" list. In addition to the already mentioned Napoleon House, I also have at the top of my list:
Cure
http://www.curenola.com/index.php
Followed by:
Bar UnCommon (manned by bartending legend, Chris McMillan)
http://www.baruncommon.com/
http://www.imbibemagazine.com/Chris-McMillian-Past-Presence
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Napoleon House Bar & Cafe
500 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70130
New in Town... Great West Valley Food?
Don't know how far West you're willing to go, but Flavors of Louisiana has the best cajun food in the Valley, IMHO.
Agreed that Carolina's is mighty tasty too -- best tortillas ever. And also Restaurant 28 does have some pretty good Southern food.
Shish Kebab House in Glendale is decent. Not great, but decent.
And welcome, from another former Washingtonian and West Valley resident!
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Shish Kebab House
5023 W Olive Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302
Flavors of Lousiana
13025 W Rancho Santa Fe Blvd, Avondale, AZ 85392
Quinoa Help
It's in my regular breakfast rotation. I just cook up a batch of 4 1/2 cup servings. In the morning, I add milk, cinnamon, Splenda, maple syrup, dried cranberries, and walnut bits. Then microwave it for about a minute. It's really tasty and filling.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grrlscout224/2941831930/
BTW, I love You Are What You Eat!
moist lemony cake recipe?!!?
X2 on the lemon jello cake! Rather than top it with Cool Whip, I like a nice simple sugar glaze. This version sounds nice:
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Lemon-Cake/Detail.aspx
How to make thicker chili?
I sometimes add a cooked and mashed sweet potato to my chili, for the slight sweetness, and to sneak a little extra fiber and beta carotene to the family. I'd imagine it would also work with a regular potato, as long as it's starchy.
Santa Fe Breakfast or Bakery
Sorry the details are sketchy... but when I was there a few weeks ago, I spied a french patisserie in "Burro Alley." It looked very promising, but we had just eaten. I believe it was called Cafe Paris.
During my previous visit, we went to Cafe Pasqual for brunch. The trout benedict was tasty with a big huge T!
Place for drinks and and (light) food north Phx/Glendale area?
I've always wanted to try Oggi's. If you end up going there, please report back!
Another alternative is R.T. O'Sullivan's. It really a huge sportsbar / restaurant combo. The food is pretty decent, they have happy hour specials, and there's definitely beer. Plenty of seating, but it can be loud, with all the TVs they have.
Here's their site:
http://www.rtosullivans.com/
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R T O'Sullivans
5830 W Bell Rd, Glendale, AZ
Searching for decent Chinese on West side
Lately, I've been a fan of China Grill. It's kind of Americanized, but their food is done well.
I haven't tried it myself, but I hear if you want authentic Hong Kong style cuisine, Hope Kee (the restaurant in the new Lee Lee) is the place to go.
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Hope Kee
7575 W Cactus Road, Peoria, AZ 85381
China Grill-Thunderbird Rd
7518 W Thunderbird Rd Ste 3, Peoria, AZ 85381
Best Phoenix Thai
Thai Hut is my favorite so far in the Valley. I absolutely ADORE their Pad Kee Mao and have to eat it every couple of weeks.
Need Input On Best Burger In PHX Area
Sitting on the patio with a Light Rail Cream Ale (Vanilla Porter in the Fall) and an American Kobe burger, preceded by those tasty nacho chips, and I am fat-rat happy.
Need Input On Best Burger In PHX Area
Wow. 5 Guys. Haven't thought of that place in yearrrrrs.
I too, don't get Delux. It cute and cool, but the burger didn't really do it for me. Mine was kind of dry and flavorless.
I went to Chuckbox once, and it was a few years ago. I remember I found their burger rather enjoyable.
But honestly, my favorite so far is the American Kobe burger at Sonoran Brewhouse -- especially with the grilled onions.
Santa Fe and Taos ... Your Recommendations
While you're in Santa Fe, stop at Tara's Organic ice cream. After reading a review in National Geographic Adventure, I made a point of stopping there when I went to see my mom in March. So, so good!
She has a lot of really creative flavors. I especially enjoyed the pink peppercorn, goat cheese / raspberry, and basil varieties. I'm still thinking about it! I think it's on, Second Street (?), across from a brewery.
