An Arizona-based food, beverage and travel writer since 2008, I launched this website in 2015 to document my culinary adventures, beverage escapades, gardening endeavors, and travel in the Phoenix area and beyond. Also find a comprehensive calendar of Phoenix-area food and drink-related events on my Events page.
For the past two years, I’ve been working on two books (supporting our Arizona community of course! - Arizona Wine: A History of Perseverance and Passion which came out in September of 2019, and Phoenix Cooks launching in September 2020). I haven’t been able to get back to in-depth chef interviews and restaurant features, but when I do, Fabio on Fire - PIzzeria Italiana will be at the top of the list!
Fabio Ceschetti
I first met Fabio Ceschetti a decade ago when he worked at Tutti Santi, and we’ve been friends ever since. Fabio, who has owned a successful catering company for years featuring a mobile wood-fired pizza oven (hence the “Fabio on Fire”), messaged me in the fall of 2016 with an idea. "I want to open a little spot,” he said. “I’m thinking our side of town, but I’m nervous. My wife thinks we can kill it this side of town, what do you think?” I agree! I responded. “I really hope you both are right,” he typed with a smiley face. In January of 2017, another message - “I have something to tell you but I’d like you to keep it a secret for now. I’m about to sign a lease for a new restaurant.”
Well, the rest is history.
Peoria welcomed this Italian chef and his wood-fired pizzas, fresh-baked bread, seasonal specials, handmade pastas and Italian desserts with open arms. The restaurant is so busy, he is about to expand for the second time, doubling his seating and adding a full bar.
One of these days, I’ll sit down with Fabio over a glass of wine and share some of his stories, but for now you’ll have to be content with a few snapshots of his delicious dishes on our many visits.
Fabio on Fire is located at 8275 W Lake Pleasant Pkwy #101, Peoria, AZ 85382 and is closed on Mondays. It is open 3 to 9 pm Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 am to 9 pm Friday through Sunday. TIP: This place is BUSY, but there is a handy Waitlist app on the website where you can put your name in to reserve your space in line. We do it a few minutes before we leave the house and usually are seated when we arrive: http://www.fabioonfire.com/
A semi-weekly feature, Rubee Tuesday is a recap of my week's adventures in dining and drinking in the Phoenix area.
The Local at Second Story Liquor Bar
Wednesday, August 16: I'm working on my next assignment for Experience Scottsdale and spent the afternoon with Executive Chef Jordano Sessions of Second Story Liquor Bar. This talented young chef has a background in botany nutrition and sustainable agriculture, and I can't wait to share his story and food philosophy.
SSLB will be rolling out a new menu of global small plates and I had a sneak peek at some of the delicious dishes, such as his carrot and turmeric arancini with gochujang aioli and tomato jam. Tip: Pair it with Andrew's "Local Roots" cocktail with turmeric-infused gin, chamomile grappa, lemon, and watermelon syrup.
Afterwards, we joined our friends Margo and Norman at Crudo. A Wednesday night special encourages you to gather with your friends and family to share a refillable Polenta Board. Dinner includes a market salad, platter of polenta (local Hayden Mills) topped with a weekly sugo, garnishes, and a bottle of wine for four people. All this at only $20 per person. We feasted on polenta topped with pork belly, brisket, and shishito peppers, and rounded out our dinner with excellent cocktails such as Brenon's "Just a Snip" pictured below and small plates like a wonderful yellowtail collar.
Thursday, August 17: I attended a special media sampling of new fall dishes at Char Kitchen + Bar. More photos and details can be found by clicking the photo of their Mediterranean Chef's Board below.
Friday, August 18: My friend chef Fabio Ceschetti and his wife have long had a dream of opening their own restaurant, and it has come true with the opening of Fabio on Fire! Although Fabio just opened in June, he's already received great reviews (such as this one) and a busy restaurant every night. In fact, plans are already in the works to add a 30-seat patio. I finally had a chance to visit with my parents and wow, we loved it! And the best part? It's on my side of the valley in Peoria. You'll find Italian pastries, pizzas, pastas, and salads, and Fabio also bakes his own bread and makes gelato. Look for a future feature, but for now, here's a glimpse of some of the fantastic dishes we enjoyed.
Farro salad with shrimp, golden raisins, roasted pinenuts, arugula and shaved Parmesan cheese
Amarone
Meatballs (Fabio's nonna's recipe)
La Vegetariana pizza
Short rib ravioli with porcini cream sauce (a special)
Lobster ravioli with crabmeat sauce (a special)
Veal and beef ravioli with marinara (a special)
Italian pastries
Dessert!
Fabio's strawberry gelato
Sunday, August 20. I was invited for the third installment of the monthly Sunday Supper series at Hearth '61, the signature restaurant at Mountain Shadows Resort. Special guest Jason Raducha of Noble Bread joined Executive Chef Charles Wiley for a four-course wine dinner ($74 per person). It was my first time at Sunday Supper, but not my last! The next one is scheduled for September 17. Look for a detailed recap of my experience to post next week.
Jason Raducha and Chef Chuck Wiley
Ora king salmon, Noble millet gremolata, and golden pepper beurre blanc
A recently-launched feature, Rubee Tuesday is a recap of my week's adventures in dining and drinking in and around Phoenix.
Market Street Kitchen: Piggy Wings, lomi lomi, and big eye poke
Wednesday, July 20th. I've been a long-time fan of Market Street Kitchen (I chose to spotlight it in a 2014 issue of AZ Wine Lifestyle), but it had been a while since I've visited this North Scottsdale gem. Well, now I have an even bigger excuse to get here more regularly: Garrit's fantastic cocktails and Secret Treasure Island Tiki Menu, and Chef Hunn's dishes, especially those drawing on his Hawaiian roots such as teriyaki "piggy wings", sockeye salmon lomi lomi, and big eye tuna poke with mango and shiso leaves. Follow this link for a detailed recap.
Thursday, July 21st. It was with great anticipation that Phoenix fans awaited James Beard Award-nominated chef Silvana Salicido Esparza's new restaurant - Barrio Gran Cafe Reserva. I had made reservations the first day they were accepted, but then had to cancel, so I was really looking forward to a wonderful dinner catching up with our friend Kathy. I loved everything about it, including its intimate size (I think it seats about 25 people) and the beautiful art.
The wonderful food really speaks to Chef's philosophy and the tasting menu is different than anything she has done at her previous restaurants. It captures the true spirit of Mexico in a sophisticated yet unassuming way. You can see a lot of heart and dreams went into this little jewel.
Kathy and I chose the tasting menu, while my husband opted for a la carte items of tableside guacamole and mole du jour.
Oaxacan chocolate mousse with Ancho Reyes, mezcal berres, crema chantilly
Saturday, July 25. After celebrating the 6th anniversary of Phoenix Bites (congratulations Taryn!) we stopped on the way home at Crudo. I've been a fan since their original location (I wrote this in 2010 after a visit with current food critic Dom of the AZ Republic), and since then it's gone on to win awards and accolades for both food and cocktails. Another amazing dinner with our friends Margo and Norman just made us realize how overdue we were for a visit. They also have one of the best deals in town as dinner can be coursed with your own choices from the menu: 3 for $35, 4 for $45, 5 for $55. The four of us feasted on three courses each and some of our dishes at another perfect night at Crudo included:
Sunday, July 24. Doing errrands in our NW Valley neighborhood, we stopped at a favorite BBQ spot for a quick supper at Dillon's KC BBQ: Award-winning onion rings, smoked chicken taquitos, and the brisket platter with a side of BBQ beans and coleslaw
Check back next week as my plans include visits to Citizen Public House, a bar competition at Wasted Grain, Deseo at the Westin Kierland, Craft 64, The Mission, Eddie's House, and Bitter and Twisted.
To browse past Rubee Tuesday recaps, click this link.
