Write On Rubee

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.

Filtering by Tag: La Famiglia

RUBEE TUESDAY: Elliott Steakhouse, Anhelo, Fat Ox, La Famiglia, Pa’La, Atlas Wines, Cala, Sel

September 26, 2023  /  Christina Barrueta

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

Foie gras torchon topped with papaya and pomegranate arils at Anhelo in downtown Phoenix

Michael Regan, Director of Operations of Elliott’s Steakhouse, The Hidden House, and Brickyard Downtown in Chandler

Thursday, August 31: Elliott’s Steakhouse (downtown Chandler). This swanky steakhouse set in a 1912 theater is the newest addition to the team who introduced The Brickyard Downtown and The Hidden House to Chandler. It’s all the buzz and I can see why - we had a fabulous first-time experience with Meridith May and her husband Bill Brandel, owners and publishers of SOMM Journal and Tasting Panel magazines. Look for my interview with Director of Operations Michael Regan in the February issue of SOMM Journal.

Friday, September 1: Anhelo (downtown Phoenix). As you can see from past recaps, Anhelo is a personal favorite. This time we joined WorldClass owner John Bergman and his team for another fantastic evening.

Lobster and tomato risotto at Anhelo in downtown Phoenix

Wednesday, September 6: Fat Ox (Scottsdale). We were overdue for a visit to this modern Italian steakhouse, and an interview with Beverage Director Christiaan Röllich was a perfect excuse. Look for my feature in the January issue of Tasting Panel magazine.

Friday, September 8: Famiglia (Scottsdale). When I saw Famiglia’s Arizona Restaurant Week menu on our last visit, I had to book a reservation.

My delicious feast included the Vesper Martini and wine pairings with Bangs Island mussels, slow-roasted porchetta, and pumpkin cannolo, while my husband opted for the prosciutto and melon appetizer with cacio pepe off the regular menu.

Saturday, September 9: Pa’La Downtown (downtown Phoenix). Our second stop for Arizona Restaurant Week was another favorite.

My husband ordered off the regular menu (hummus and WorldClass presa, a special cut of Iberico pork), while I chose the warm cabbage Caesar salad and the WorldClass Iberico ribs above with Japanese sweet potatoes (along with GM Gilles’ wine pairings). We were also spoiled with a dessert sampler. Thank you Pa’La!

Wood-grilled Worldclass Iberico presa with I'itoi onion salsa verde at Pa’La Downtown Phoenix

Tuesday, September 12: Atlas Wines (Scottsdale). We spent the afternoon hitting a few spots in Old Town Scottsdale. First up: A wine tasting featuring The Hilt Estate, Jonata, and The Paring.

Rounding out the day, assignments for Experience Scottsdale brought me next to Cala at The Senna House hotel and Sel.

Roasted Cauliflower with za’atar, romesco, lemon aioli, and feta at Cala in The Senna House Hotel in Scottsdale

Beet gazpacho with peach sorbet, tomato salad, Crow’s Dairy goat cheese and Kalamata olives at Sel in Old Town Scottsdale

Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to Canal Club, Sedona, Virtu, The Market by Jennifer’s, Persian Room, Rose Garden, Franco’s Italian Caffe, Over Easy, and Christopher’s at the Wrigley.

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categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Elliott's Steakhouse, Anhelo, Fat Ox, La Famiglia, Pa'La, Cala, Atlas Wines, Sel

RUBEE TUESDAY: Arboleda, Cafe Monarch, Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort, The Mission Kierland, and La Famiglia

September 12, 2023  /  Christina Barrueta

A weekly feature, I publish Rubee Tuesday as a photo recap of my recent drinking and dining adventures. You can read past Rubee Tuesdays HERE.

Cappelletti pasta at La Famiglia in Scottsdale

Monday, August 21: Arboleda (Scottsdale Quarter). Back to one of our favorites! This time, we stopped by for sherry and an array of tapas, including gambas píl píl, and of course, WorldClass

Tapas and sherry at Arboleda in Scottsdale Quarter

Wednesday, August 23: Cafe Monarch (Old Town Scottsdale). I had made special arrangements with Ben Wald, Executive Chef of both Cafe Monarch and Reserve, for a Scottsdale City Lifestyle Magazine assignment. Keep an eye out for the Food issue to see what he created!

Cafe Monarch dining room

That night, we had reservations at Ember at We-Ko-Pa Casino Resort (Fountain Hills). I was already a fan of sommelier Dennis Payne, Chef Richard Pelz, and the team when we recorded this Taste of AZ podcast, but during our chat, I learned about their sold-out wine dinners. Since then, we’ve tried to attend every one.

Executive Chef Richard Pelz and team at Ember at We-ko-pa

Ember recently received Wine Spectator Magazine’s Best of Award of Excellence for the third year in a row, so it’s no surprise that their wine dinners are outstanding. This time, they welcomed Frias Family Vineyard of Napa Valley and special guest Fernando Frias for an unforgettable evening celebrating these exceptional Napa wines.

You can also watch my video reel here.

Frias Family Vineyard wine dinner at Ember at We-ko-pa

Thursday, August 24: The Mission Kierland (North Scottsdale). Acclaimed mixologist Christian Röllich is another podcast guest we’ve had on A Taste of AZ, where he told us about his new position as Beverage Director for Matt Carter’s stable of restaurants.

Röllich’s first menu overhaul was for Fat Ox, and now he’s done the same at The Mission, where we had a chance to sample some of his stellar cocktails, including: A welcome mamajuana (rum infused with herbs, roots, and spices, red wine, and honey); Rio Naranja (tequila, coconut, ginger, lemongrass and yuzu), Diosa Verde (tequila, arugula and cucumber); Little Tree (vodka, passion fruit, sarsparilla and turmeric); Chicha Sour (Pisco and chicha morada, a Peruvian purple corn drink), Mission Martini (Panamanian rum, honey, cinnamon and espresso); and Archbishop (bourbon and mole orgeat).

Stay tuned for my Christiaan Röllich feature in the next issue of Tasting Panel magazine!

Christiaan Röllich’s cocktail book, Bar Chef

Since we were so close to Famiglia, we wrapped up our evening at this hidden secret. This Italian gem owned by the talented duo of Sommelier Broc Chavez and Executive Chef Richard Rangel is one of my top restaurant recommendations. While it might fly under the radar, Famiglia is the kind of place that deserves more buzz and popularity, thanks to its warm, comfortable vibe and sophisticated Italian menu.

Yet another fantastic meal - this time, beet salad with gorgonzola, candied pecans, apples, and citrus, Calabrian cappelletti with ricotta, eggplant, and brown butter, and garganelli with braised chicken, peas, mascarpone, and lemon sauce. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that we made reservations to return in two weeks for Arizona Restaurant Week.

Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to Merkin, Jade Palace for a Tequila Corrido dinner, Sweet Republic, Anhelo, The Rose Garden, Tia Carmen, Osteria Mia, and a rebrand launch party for Lauren Allen Culinary Events.

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categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Arboleda, Ember, We-Ko-Pa, The Mission, Mission Kierland, La Famiglia, Merkin Old Town Scottsdale, Old Town Scottsdale, North Scottsdale