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: Prime

RUBEE TUESDAY: Temecula Wine Dinner at Wrigley Mansion, Pyro, Prime, Mora Italian

November 14, 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.

Citrus and fennel-dusted tuna with WorldClass Caviaroli chili pearls, pickled parsnips, blood orange reduction, and butternut squash vinaigrette at Mora Italian

Friday, November 3: Wrigley Mansion (Phoenix). The wonderful folks from Temecula Winegrowers Association were back in town (I first met Devin Parr and the team here), and this time they hosted our group of wine and travel writers at the beautiful Wrigley Mansion.

Our private event began with sabering a bottle of bubbly before a wine tasting led by Samantha Capaldi of Samantha Sommelier, passed hors d'oeuvres with wine and bubbly, and this incredible tasting menu.

Afterwards, I joined the team for a kitchen tour led by David Brito, executive chef of Geordie's at Wrigley Mansion, and chef Vinh Nguyen, before a nightcap in Jamie’s Wine Bar.

Temecula is just a short 90-minute flight from Phoenix, and I fell in love with its excellent wines, beautiful tasting rooms, and welcoming community when I visited this past summer. I'm currently working on a few stories to spotlight the wineries, winemakers, restaurants, and activities, but for now, you can get a glimpse through my video reel - just click the photo below.

Saturday, November 4: PYRO Phoenix (The Grove). We were invited for a special Friends & Family preview before its official grand opening and were so impressed with everything about this stylish new spot - from the sleek decor to the delicious menu and warm and friendly service on such a busy night. The first restaurant to open at The Grove, a $400 million mixed-use development at 44th Street and Camelback Road, PYRO was brought to Phoenix by the Flagship Restaurant Group (founded in Omaha with 30+ restaurants across the country). PYRO introduces a brand-new concept to their stable of eateries - a chic Japanese bistro experience with a focus on live-fire and wood-grilled dishes.

We started with excellent cocktails - an Old Fashioned with plum wine and lapsang souchong black tea for my husband, and a Negroni (naturally) with Japanese gin and UME plum liqueur for me.

I would order any of these PYRO Phoenix dishes again, with my top three favorites being Ibérico pork skewers with pickled daikon and yuzu aioli, Dungeness crab noodles with Meyer lemon, crème fraîche, and smoked trout roe, and Branzino with pickled ginger shoots, Tokyo turnip & herb salad, and lemon-chili vinaigrette.

And so nice to see sommelier and GM Nisa Paris! Click the photo below for my video reel.

Monday, November 6: Prime at Gila River Resort and Casino - Wild Horse Pass (Chandler). Once again, the culinary and beverage team knocked it out of the park. This time, we were invited to experience Chef Michael Dei Maggi’s exquisite culinary pairings with Seven Apart, a Sonoma winery founded by Scottsdale resident Don Dady. Count me in as a new fan!

And, as always, no visit to Prime is complete without retiring to the bar to experience Camille’s cocktail talents.

Wednesday, November 8: Mora Italian (Phoenix). On Wednesday, we were invited to attend Scott Conant’s special autumnal dining experience, a one-night-only event featuring a special menu that showcased the fall flavors of pumpkin and squash.

Check back on next week’s Rubee Tuesday for visits to The Mexicano, a DAOU wine dinner at the Arizona Biltmore, 36 Below with Compa Spirits founder Abel Arriaga, and Vecina.

Comment
categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Wrigley Mansion, Pyro, Prime, Gila River Resort and Casino, Mora Italian

RUBEE TUESDAY: Prime at Gila River Resort and Casino at Wild Horse Pass, Tia Carmen, Tarbell’s and Vecina.

July 11, 2023  /  Christina Barrueta

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.

Elevated Seafood Tower at Prime at Gila River Resort & Casino - Wild Horse Pass

Wednesday, July 28: Prime, A Shula's Steak House Gila River Resorts & CasinosPrime, A Shula's Steak House Gila River Resorts & CasinosPrime, A Shula's Steak House at Gila River Resorts & Casinos – Wild Horse Pass (Chandler). While I’m usually here to attend one of their spectacular wine dinners, this time I was interviewing Chef Michael Dei Maggi, Advanced Sommelier Troy Tranzow, and Gila River Resort & Casinos Corporate VP of Food and Beverage Maj Kayyali for a SOMM Journal feature.

Chef Michael Dei Maggi, Sommelier Troy Tranzow, and Gila River Resort VP of Food and Beverage Maj Kayyali

After a great interview, we stayed for surf and turf that included the Elevated Seafood Tower, Potted King crab (a new favorite!), and Japanese A5 Wagyu (not pictured).

And, as alway, fantastic cocktails thanks to the skills of Camille Tixier.

Camille Tixier of Prime at Gila River Resort and Casino in Chandler, Arizona

Tamarindo Sour (Knob Creek rye, Alma Tepec Chile Pasilla liqueur, lime juice, Camille’s tamarind syrup, grapefruit bitters, and a rim of crushed Lucas tamarindo candy), Vieux Carré, and Sunshine Spritzer (Sloe gin, Italicus, Suze and club soda).

Writer Christina Barrueta of Write On Rubee with the team at Prime at Gila River Resort

Thursday, July 29: Tia Carmen at JWMarriott Desert Ridge (Phoenix). In August, The SOMM Journal is hosting a Gavi Master Class at Tia Carmen, providing a perfect opportunity to join Meridith May, the editor and owner of SOMM Journal, and event manager Dawn for lunch and a walkthrough at one of my favorite restaurants.

For dinner that night. we headed to another of our favorites, Tarbell’s, for a wine dinner highlighting mushrooms with special guest Brian Hedger, owner of local mushroom purveyor Hypha Foods.

Another fantastic experience at Tarbell’s!

Friday, June 30: Vecina (Phoenix). We ended our food-filled week at a Phoenix gem I wish I could get to more often, And this visit was extra-special as we were joined by Abel Arriaga, founder of Compa Spirits, and his family.

I fell in love with this taco árabe when it was a special, so I'm thrilled they added it to the menu! It features WorldClass Ibérico de Bellota pluma with chipotle crema, cashew dukkah, micro cilantro, and Fresno chiles on flatbread.

Taco árabe with WorldClass Iberico de bellotta pluma

Other must-orders include the Raiz Rioja cocktail with guacamole, chicken karaage with aji amarillo and togarashi, hiramasa ceviche with coconut leche de tigre, and skirt steak tacos with cascabel chile.

And this is still one of my favorite octopus dishes in town - WorldClass octopus with mole rojo, white beans, aji verde, and crispy potatoes.

Abel’s mission is to support small businesses across Mexico by curating beautiful artisanal spirits and boutique wines. Naturally, we had to sample some for ourselves, and wow, I was impressed! If you’re heading to Vecina (or see this on any other menus around town), be sure to order a bottle of Parvada Tinto from winemaker Lucía García Alonso in Valle de Parras in Coahuila de Zaragoza (the oldest wine region in America). It’s a rich and layered blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Tempranillo with notes of cocoa, plum, and black fruit and especially delicious paired with my taco árabe.

And to pair with decadent mezcal banana bread and peanut butter mousse, I was introduced to Lechugilla, a lesser-known agave spirit. Both of these were beautiful expressions of Lechuguilla (two different species), and I can’t wait to explore this category more. Thank you, Abel, for the introduction!

Lechugilla Cumbrita de la Sierra is made by Maestro Destilador Dolores González and hails from Chihuahua. The agaves are cooked in an earthen oven covered with pine needle duff, milled by hand using an axe and wooden mallet, fermented in a stone and clay basin with spring water, and distilled in a unique hybrid still called a "tren."

Lamata Lechuguilla Sonora, crafted by Maestro Vinatero Martín Yépiz in Alamo, Sonora begins with cooking the agaves in an underground oven before mashing with an axe in a wooden canoe. Abel pointed out that with a lot size of only 150 liters, it’s a rare find and has become a collector’s item. Tip: I also spied this on the backbar at Arboleda on my last visit.

Looking to do some exploration yourself? Join me at next month’s Chilte and Compas Spirits cocktail collab! Get all the details by clicking the photo below.

Check back on my next Rubee Tuesday for visits to Sicilian Butcher, The Mexicano, Thirsty Camel at The Phoenician, and Farm Provisions in Prescott.

Comment
tags / Vecina, Prime, Compa Spirits, Tia Carmen, JW Marriott Desert Ridge

RUBEE TUESDAY: Renata's Hearth, Kentucky Derby at Mowry & Cotton, Wrigley Mansion Podcast, Prime

May 16, 2023  /  Christina Barrueta

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.

The Arizona Biltmore

Friday, May 5: Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix. At the Phoenix Open back in February, I ran into talented sous-chef Leo Kuang of Renata’s Hearth at the Arizona Biltmore, and had been trying to carve out time in my crazy schedule to see him ever since.

Serendipitously, we happened to book our reservation on Cinco de Mayo and enjoyed some Patron cocktails and chef bites in the courtyard before dinner.

We then headed to the dining room. Chef Leo and team guided us in our choices - what a spectacular meal! My last visit was over a year ago, and we had stayed away far too long. Our round of starters included tender-smoky WorldClass Octopus a la Veracruz with patatas bravas and Spanish chorizo.

And, of course, if I see luxurious WorldClass Cinco Jotas jamón Ibérico de bellota on a menu, I have to order it.

More winners: Guacamole; Basque Sandwich Bites with jamón Ibérico, Manchego cheese, and truffle plus polenta fries (we order this every time); yellowtail ceviche with avocado mousse, charred tomatillo broth, cucumber, and crispy shallots; and stonefruit salad with winter greens, smoked requesón cheese, and honey vinaigrette made with WorldClass Argentine honey.

Somehow we saved room for entrees and sides, all of which are now also on my must-order list like roasted WorldClass seabass with mole verde and Peruvian rice.

And smoked Wagyu brisket with warm tortillas and rojo, verde, and cashew salsas; Caledonian prawn & scallop rossejat; patatas a la Huancaina (fingerling potatoes with aji amarillo and queso fresco); and warm fava beans with serrano-oregano butter and hen-of-the-wood mushrooms.

We packed up leftovers to-go because we had to squeeze in these decadent desserts (coconut tres leches cake with Bavarian cream, coconut Anglaise, and Chocotorta with caramel cream, champurrado sauce, and whiskey vanilla ice cream) and a Mezcal Carreño flight.

You can also watch our memorable night with our fab server Dani and Chef Leo in my video Reel HERE.

Saturday, May 6: Mowry & Cotton at The Phoenician resort for a Kentucky Derby Porch Party. We were invited to join the festivities at one of my favorite resorts and we are now going to make it a yearly tradition! Mowry & Cotton was a beautiful setting to sit indoors, or on the patio, to enjoy delicious food and excellent cocktails while watching the Derby. And it was so nice to run into Krista (aka @eatlovetravelplay).

You can also see my video Reel HERE.

And because we didn’t want the fun times to end, we headed upstairs with Krista and her husband Bill for a couple of rounds of cocktails at the Thirsty Camel bar.

Monday, May 8: Wrigley Mansion, Phoenix. Stay tuned for another A Taste of AZ podcast! This time I joined hosts Luke and Eric as we sat down with Executive Chef David Brito and Wine Director Jason Caballero of Wrigley Mansion.

And since it’s always a good time at The Wrigley, after the podcast, Jason took us on a tour of the wine cellar and we indulged in Montenegro shots, Fernet, and…a champagne gun.

Tuesday, May 9: Prime at Gila River Resorts & Casinos at Wild Horse Pass. As you’ve seen in past Rubee Tuesdays, we’re huge fans of the wine dinner series at Prime and have yet to miss one. On May 9, they invited guests to explore South America as the last in the spring series (but they’ll be back in the fall!).

Majdi Kayyali. Corporate Vice President of F&B for Gila River Resorts & Casinos, and Advanced Sommelier Troy Tranzow of Prime

We live about an hour away from the resort, so thank you to the team for hosting us for an overnight stay in one of their beautiful suites!

Linda welcoming us with Camille’s Maracuya con Mead with passionfruit and honey

As always, Prime Executive Chef Michael Dei Maggi had fun with the themed region, explaining his inspiration before serving each delicious dish.

And if you’re showcasing South America, it’s no surprise that WorldClass ingredients were on the menu - this night, it was their octopus, sea bass, Argentine beef ribeye and tenderloin, and dulce de leche (it was also a nice surprise to see WorldClass co-founder John Bergman, who joined his team for his first experience at one of Prime’s wine dinners).

Check out this incredible line-up curated by Advanced Sommelier Troy Tranzow, including the bonus addition of Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades rosé champagne!

And as always, we had to have a nightap at the bar with rockstar cocktail expert Camille, who created the welcome non-alcoholic refresher Maracuya con Mead and the Pisco cocktails for the dessert pairing. And we found out Camille has more hidden talents - such as the amazing boozy chocolates we were surprised with.

Check back on my next Rubee Tuesday for visits to Course, a Visit Phoenix tourism bureau Happy Hour, STK Scottsdale, Arboleda, Pa’La Downtown, The Cave at Quartz, and Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken.

Comment
categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Arizona Biltmore, Arizona Resort, Kentucky Derby, Mowry & Cotton, Wrigley Mansio, Wrigley Mansion, A Taste of AZ podcast, Prime, Wine Dinner, Gila River Resort

RUBEE TUESDAY: Prime at Gila River Casino Resort, The Gladly, Dirty Dough, Second Story Liquor Bar, Fairmont Phoenix Hotel and Residences, STK, Little Pickle, Trevor’s Liquor

March 28, 2023  /  Christina Barrueta

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.

Tuesday, March 14: Spanish wine dinner at Prime at Gila River Resort and Casinos. Last year, Prime launched what is one of the state’s premier wine dinner series and I was back for the kick-off to 2023 featuring Spanish wines. We were greeted on the rooftop patio with stunning views, sangria, and pinchos before moving to a private dining room where guest Master Carver Fernando Ortega was carving acclaimed WorldClass Cinco Jotas jamón Ibérico.

It was the perfect introduction to a fabulous Spanish tasting menu paired with spectacular Spanish wines. As always, the talented team here knocked it out of the park, and before we left, we had April’s Italian wine dinner booked. Watch more HERE on my video Reel.

Wednesday, March 15: The Gladly (Central Phoenix). For a visiting friend’s last meal before heading to the airport, we were off to The Gladly. A perfect lunch for me was a Negroni Sbagliato (where the gin is swapped out for prosecco) and chef-owner Bernie Kantak’s famous chopped salad. It’s a dish I often make for out-of-town guests too - I share the recipe I use here.

Dirty Dough, Scottsdale. I had been invited to check out the new Scottsdale location of Dirty Dough, so we swung by after lunch at The Gladly. One visit and you’ll be hooked on these cookies too! Pictured below is the Brookie (a brownie cookie stuffed with cookie dough and caramel), Chocolate Chip, Caramel Apple Pie (sugar cookie stuffed with apple pie filling and topped with caramel and cream cheese frosting), Reverse with Reeses (peanut butter cookie stuffed with fudge and garnished with crushed Reeses). I also posted an Instagram video Reel HERE.

Thursday, March 16: “First Date” for the Fairmont Phoenix Hotel and Residences opening in 2025 (downtown Phoenix). It’s always nice to catch up with world-renowned chef Alex Stratta who will lead the culinary program at Fairmont Phoenix. Learn more via this Press Release, and click HERE for a video Reel.

Chef Alex Stratta and Christina Barrueta for Fairmont Phoenix

Alessandro “Alex” Stratta, a two-Michelin star and James Beard Award-winning chef, will lead the culinary program at Fairmont Phoenix.

STK Steakhouse (Old Town Scottsdale). Afterwards, we were off for the unveiling of STK Scottsdale’s beautiful new rooftop deck. They always know how to throw a party! Click the photo below for a full video.

Our last stop on this fun-filled day was Second Story in Old Town. If you haven’t been in a while (like me), it’s high time to revisit this gem. Chef Jordano Sessions is back and I’d recommend every delicious dish we tried. Our feast included crispy rice cakes with furikake, cured egg yolk, and gochujang; yellowtail crudo with lemon-chile ponzu; Korean pork belly roll with sake-soy glaze and pickled cucumber salad; trenne and jamón Ibérico pasta special; grouper with sake steamed rice and passionfruit sauce; jerk pressed chicken with charred pineapple fried rice and coconut rum jus. You can see more pictures and listen in on Chef Jordano describing some of the dishes on my Instagram here.

Rice cakes and yellowtail crudo at Second Story Restaurant and Bar in Old Town Scottsdale

Rice cakes and yellowtail crudo at Second Story Restaurant and Bar in Old Town Scottsdale

Friday, March 17: Little Pickle at The Esplanade. We’ve been friends with MercBar owner Rick Philips, whom we first met when he was owner of Bootleggers, and over the years we’ve been treated to the killer pastrami and lox he has been perfecting. So it’s no surprise that the opening of Little Pickle has been met with resounding success. He has a gift for coaxing melt-in-your-mouth tenderness and flavor from meat and fish to create superlative renditions of Jewish deli favorites such as pastrami, corned beef, and lox. We’re fans of the whitefish, latkes, matzo ball soup, and egg salad too - can’t wait to try more! Pro tip: Order ahead on-line to avoid a wait.

NOTE: Get there now as Little Pickle will close temporarily on April 7th before they relocate to a more permanent location (stay tuned for updates!)

Friday night: ZD Wine Tasting at Trevor’s Liquor in North Scottsdale. For our first visit to the beautiful new location on Mayo Blvd, a fun ZD Wine Tasting ($30 pp) was the perfect excuse. We were greeted with bubbly, treated to charcuterie boards, and owner and winemaker Brett Deleuze led us through tastings of ZD 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Pinot Noir, and a comparison of the 2019 and 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon (insider’s scoop: Trevor's owns all of the 2012 Cabs in AZ).

And if you haven’t been, the newest location is spectacular! Watch my Reel below to see Beverage Director Jordan Chandler lead me on a tour of the 15,000 square-foot space offering retail space including champagne and whiskey rooms, a dog-friendly patio, pizzeria, humidor, cigar lounge, indoor golf simulator, and more.

Check back next week as I share photo recaps of visits to Vecina, ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, Pa’la Downtown, Eden Bar and Blue Hound Kitchen at Hotel Palomar, and Anhelo.

And follow along on my Instagram for this week’s visits to: Mariscos Playa Hermosa, Arboleda, Keeler’s Steakhouse, First & Last and Little Debbie’s.

Comment
categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / Prime, Gila River Casino, Gila River Resort, The Gladly, Dirty Dough, Second Story Liquor Bar, Fairmont Phoenix, Alex Stratta, Wine dinner