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.

RUBEE TUESDAY: Sicilian Butcher, The Mexicano, Thirsty Camel at The Phoenician, Farm Provisions in Prescott, Pie Box at Rock Springs Cafe

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

Cocktails at Thirsty Camel at The Phoenician

Cocktails at Thirsty Camel Lounge at The Phoenician resort

Sunday, July 2: Sicilian Butcher (Phoenix). Joey Maggiore’s restaurants are always on our go-to list when family is in town and bonus. It also serves food until 10 pm, so was the perfect choice for my cousin’s first meal in AZ after picking him up at the airport Sunday night.

Some highlights: Octopus with ceci bean puree, rapini, celery and potaotes; Caesar salad with anchovies; chicken parmigiana meatballs with malfadine in cream sauce; carbonara with chicken parm.

For dessert? Italian pastries from Sicilian Baker next door.

Monday, July 3: The Mexicano (Phoenix). The rest of my family visiting from New Hampshire had arrived on Saturday so for our first meal out together, I picked The Mexicano. No surprise - it was a big hit!

Chicken tinga burrito requested as a chimichanga served enchilada style and red and green salsa.

Build-Your-Own Margarita Bar (video Reel here); frozen margrita sampler; queso fundido; guacamoles with elote and with pomegranate; ahi tacos; birria bao buns; tortilla salad with aji tuna; Sonoran molcajete; dessert board (churros, cream-stuffed conchas, flan):

Chef Fidencio Alatriste of The Mexicano

Tuesday, July 4: Thirsty Camel Lounge at The Phoenician (Scottsdale). My cousin requested a cocktail lounge at a resort with a beautiful view, and I knew just where to take him. Special thanks to Art for his off-menu creations!

Thirsty Camel at The Phoenician

Wednesday, July 5: Farm Provisions (Prescott in northern Arizona). A day trip to Prescott included one of our favorites. We love everything about this family-owned spot - great comfortable vibe, excellent craft cocktails and a delicious farm-fresh menu (read more in my Prescott article here in A Taste of AZ magazine).

Ranchers Reuben with house-made corned beef, Jarlsberg cheese, bacon 1000 island, and Granny Smith apple sauerkraut on rye

You can see more on my video Reel here.

We ended our a day with a stop at Rock Springs Cafe and Pie Box on the way home for some of their famous pies (cherry pie for dad, blueberry-cherry for us).

Check back on my next Rubee Tuesday for visits to D&Y Chinese, Arizona Biltmore, Course, and Chantico.