Filtering by Tag: downtown Phoenix

RUBEE TUESDAY: Rough Rider, The Mexicano, Arboleda, Fabio on Fire Panini and Gelato, Trevor's on Mayo, Buck & Rider

June 20, 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.

WorldClass Devesa ribeye topped with chiltepin butter, al pastor marinated bone marrow with elote, queso fresco and salsa macha, and tortillas at The Mexicano in Scottsdale

Monday, June 12: Rough Rider (downtown Phoenix). I was invited to join Frey Ranch Farm and Distillery co-founders Colby and Ashley Frey for a special farm-to-table dinner to celebrate the distribution of their award-winning whiskeys in Arizona. We learned that Colby’s family has been farming in northern Nevada since 1854 and their 1,500-acre farm east of the Sierra Nevada represents this legacy, with the grains for all of their bourbon and rye whiskeys sustainably grown on site. You can also see a video recap by clicking here.

Ashley and Colby Frey, founders of Frey Ranch Farm and Distillery

In collaboration with the bar team at Rough Rider, Beverage Director Alex Montoya introduced expertly-crafted cocktails that were inspired by his childhood flavors and nostalgic flavors. They incorporated not only Frey Ranch spirits, but also their honey and grains, as well as Arizona-grown ingredients.

Welcome Cocktail: Frey Ranch bourbon and rye, tropical tea, wildflower honey, lemon, and pineapple.

Chefs Ian Herschberg and Michael Swift, who had been invited to stay at the ranch, shared their experience, with executive chef Ian telling the crowd: “We had an amazing time at the ranch. It’s one of the best experiences I’ve had as a chef, being able to go out to the farm itself. Every single course features something from the farm to emphasize the ingredients.”

Chefs Ian Herschberg and Michael Swift of Rough Rider in downtown Phoenix

The menu:

Smoked trout rillettes with pickled celery on top of housemade rye cracker using Frey Ranch rye flour.
Cocktail: Oasis of Nevada with Frey Ranch bourbon, Frey Ranch honey, cinnamon, soda, and lemon.

Alfalfa sprout salad with greens, fennel, and blueberries tossed in a dressing made with Frey Ranch honey produced by bees which feed off of alfalfa flowers.
Cocktail: Dust Maker, my favorite cocktail of the night. It combined Frey Ranch Rye whiskey, Frey Ranch malted barley-infused Maraschino liqueur, lemon, orange bitters, and Alex’s fantastic amaro made with Arizona citrus, honey, and chamomile flowers (which some of us asked to try on its own - wow!).

Shrimp and grits (with Frey Ranch cornmeal) with chipotle cream sauce.
Cocktail: For The Land, made with Frey Ranch bourbon, herbal amaro, sweet vermouth, bitters, Frey Ranch toasted oat-piloncillo foam.

Risotto made with Frey Ranch wheat berries, bone marrow, and saffron topped with braised and pressed short rib drizzled with Bordelaise sauce.
Cocktail: Slow Grown, a clarified oat milk cocktail with Frey Ranch bourbon, vanilla, Frey Ranch cornmeal tejuino with piloncillo, blueberry oleo, and Nixta corn liqueur.

Chocolate cake with layers including malted barley cake and cream cheese-chocolate frosting,
Pairing: A pour of the exquisite Frey Ranch Cask Strength Single Barrel #1404, with notes of butterscotch, creme brulee, and caramel.

Tuesday, June 13: The Mexicano (North Scottsdale). I’m working on an assignment for The Tasting Panel magazine about a not-yet-released Spanish beverage called Spicy Wings. You can read all about it in the September issue, but until then, here are some behind-the-scenes shots of our fun afternoon. You can also watch the video reel by clicking here.

Chef Fidencio Alatriste of the Mexicano in Scottsdale — Chef Fidencio Alatriste of The Mexicano with a platter of WorldClass Devesa ribeye

Stop two for my Tasting Panel assignment was Arboleda.

Richie Moe at Arboleda in Scottsdale Quarter

That night, we stopped by for a sneak peek preview of Fabio on Fire Panini & Gelateria which officially opened the next day in Sunrise Promenade near Lake Pleasant Parkway and Happy Valley Rd in Peoria. I’ve been in love with Fabio Ceschetti’s Fabio on Fire Italian restaurant since it opened, and I’m just as excited about his second spot offering a deli for imported Italian ingredients, panini on wood-fired puccia, and the BEST gelato. You can see more on my video reel by clicking here.

Fabio on Fire Panini and Gelato — Toscano panini: Wood-fired porchetta with Parmigiano cheese spread, provolone, and fried zucchini.

Chef Fabio Ceschetti of Fabio on Fire Panini and Gelato

Wednesday, June 14: Trevor’s on Mayo (North Scottsdale). This was a quick stop to visit Beverage Director Jordan Chandler for the final part of my Tasting Panel magazine feature. Thank you Jordan!

Afterwards, we had lunch across the street at Buck & Rider (North Scottsdale): The burger for my husband, and fish and chips for me.

Check back on my next Rubee Tuesday for visits to Cafe Monarch and a Hotel Valley Ho staycation with the 2023 kick-off Sip and Shop market and a celebrity chef dinner with Chef Lindsay Autry.

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categories / Rubee Tuesday
tags / downtown Phoenix, Arboleda, Rough Rider, The Mexicano, Fabio on Fire, Fabio on Fire Panini and Gelateria, Trevor's, Buck & Rider, Buck and Rider

Lom Wong in Downtown Phoenix

April 01, 2023 / Christina Barrueta

In the April/May issue of SOMM Journal I have two articles. My latest Sonoran Scoop column sings the praises of chef-owners Alex and Sunny Martin of Lom Wong in downtown Phoenix, 2023 James Beard nominees for Best Chef: Southwest. I also share four of my favorite resorts and the talents who helm their food and beverage programs in Savoring Sedona. You can read both in the current issue on the SOMM Journal website (page 22 and pages 84-87). TIP: Sign up for a free subscription if you are in the wine industry.

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categories / Somm Journal articles
tags / Lom Wong, Thai Food, Somm Journal, downtown Phoenix

New Restaurant Alert: Carcara at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown

May 07, 2022 / Christina Barrueta

Last night, we were invited to check out Carcara, which opened in March at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown. Drawing its beautiful design inspiration from the lush vibrancy of citrus (one of Arizona’s five “C’s”), it encompasses 7,000 square feet of dining space including a 2,000-square-foot outdoor patio.

… a central focal point of the space is a 14-foot tall Chestnut Oak tree growing through the wood trellis in the center of the dining room. This custom tree has a 21-foot diameter canopy and collection of glass and metal lanterns hanging within the branches to add a soft glow. Outside, the perimeter of the patio is lined with Cara Cara orange trees, the inspiration and namesake for the restaurant. - PRESS RELEASE

Look for a Sonoran desert-inflected menu at Carcara led by Executive Chef Chaz Frankenfield and Chef de Cuisine Angy Dykstra (which feaures Arizona purveyors such as Ramona Farms, Yuma Farms, Crow’s Dairy, and Schreiner’s sausage) and great cocktails too!

Here’s my photo recap (BONUS - check out my Instagram video Reel here):

Soldier Pass (Aperol, Fernet, and mint syrup) at Carcara at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown

Loaded Guacamole (cotija cheese, roasted pepitas, pickled onions and jicama) with charred tomato salsa; prickly pear-glazed ribs with jalapeño slaw (gluten-free); guajillo chile tortilla soup; and the Carcara Burger on a brioche bun with pepper jack cheese, tomato, pickled red onions, avocado, arugula, smoked garlic aioli, and herb and parmesan potatoes:

Striped bass with spring pea puree, riesling-leek pilaf and herb salad

For a sweet ending, we ordered the strawberry-rhubarb crumble with ginger gelato (which I paired with the North Rim Old Fashioned with Azunia Reposado tequila, ginger syrup, demerara and chocolate bitters). and complimentary cotton candy.

Carcara is currently open 3-11 pm Tuesday through Saturday (dinner served until 9:30), with future plans for lunch. Happy Hour is 3 pm to 6 pm with $4 draft beers and $6 house wines. Tip: It’s a convenient pre- and post-event spot in walking distance to venues such as the Phoenix Convention Center and Phoenix Suns Arena. Located on the southeast corner of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown, it can be accessed through the ground floor lobby as well as the 3rd Street entrance.Phone: (602) 817-5400 Reservations: opentable.com

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tags / downtown Phoenix, phoenix, sheraton, sheraton downtown phoenix, phoenix hotel

Grand Dining and Libations in Downtown Phoenix

June 04, 2017 / Christina Barrueta

Strawberry-Basil margarita (all photos by Jenelle Bonifield of Food & Lifestyles) — Strawberry-Basil margarita *(all photos by Jenelle Bonifield of Food & Lifestyles)*

Last month I toured The Grand in downtown Phoenix with owner Steven Rogers and learned about his vision for this amazing venue. Open 24/7, it is a coffee shop, restaurant, bar, market, and entertainment space. Click on the photo below for Part I to learn how he created The Grand's eclectic style with Harry Potter and train stations in mind.

This week, follow along as I explore the menu and learn more about the beverage program.

Rogers has created warm and welcoming spaces to pull up a seat and sip and savor, including an expansive patio inspired by German biergartens and an inviting interior anchored by a curvilinear bar and coffee counter.

Also known as the Grand Central Coffee Company, the coffee bar within is open 24 hours and offers a variety of pastries, cakes and cookies, along with tea and coffee beverages including cold brews, cappucinos, macchiatos, and cortados.

The kitchen is open around the clock, and Chef Jacquelynn Allen discovered her culinary talent at a young age. "I grew up with a single parent, my dad, who worked late, and so at 8 years old, I would watch cooking shows, get into the kitchen and start experimenting," she shares. Her cooking philosophy is rooted in ingredient-driven dishes with lots of flavor. "I would say it's based on Italian food, cooking with rustic and simple ingredients that make a masterpiece. I was always enthralled with that, so that's where my inspiration comes from." Read through The Grand's menu, and you'll see soups, salads, sandwiches, snack plates, entrees, and daily specials. "We want to make sure that we have something for everybody. Our Hound Dog Press [a pressed sandwich with bacon, peanut butter, banana, and honey] is sweet and savory and inspired by Elvis. And our buffalo caulifower was created for vegetarians, but a lot of meat-eaters get that as well."

A must-order, the addictive Avocado Fries are lightly cloaked in a tempura batter and served with a spicy habañero ranch.

The Buffalo Cauliflower is another best-seller and it's easy to see why. A battered cauliflower steak is doused in buffalo sauce and layered with carrot ribbons, cucumber slices, and blue cheese dressing on an airy brioche bun.

The Kale and Blackberry Salad is a fresh and colorful combination complemented by roasted eggplant, red onion, toasted hazelnuts, and lentils tossed in a honey vinaigrette. "I normally don't like fish but this is my favorite," Chef Allen says of the Fish Naan'Boy. Order this, and you'll find a round of puffy naan slathered with Cajun aioli and folded around crispy tilapia garnished with cabbage slaw, diced tomatoes, and crumbles of tangy cotija cheese. "We used to serve it as a po'boy on a baguette, but I like the naan a lot better," she explains.

Stop by for breakfast from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily and enjoy morning favorites such as a Market Scramble with goat cheese and seasonal vegetables; egg, bacon, and cheddar biscuit sandwiches; quinoa oatmeal with dried cherries, flax meal, and maple syrup; cinnamon buns with bacon-maple glaze; or avocado toast with a chunky smash of avocado on Noble Bread topped with sliced hardboiled eggs and nutty sunflower sprouts.

Avocado toast The Grand downtown Phoenix

Brunch dishes available Saturday through Monday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. include crowd-pleasers such as a Marinara Egg Bake with fresh tomato sauce, herbed potatoes, grated pecorino-romano cheese, and a side of toast for dipping, or Short Rib Eggs Benedict with red wine-braised short ribs shredded and stacked on toasted Noble Bread and topped with poached eggs and hollandaise.

The main menu is served 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with a limited late-night selection available from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Night owls won't be missing out, however. A 10-item menu shows breakfast scrambles, sandwiches (including the popular Hound Dog Press and Buffalo Cauliflower), burgers, short rib poutine, house fries, and mac 'n cheese. Tip: Order the rotating "Mac of the Moment" which on a recent visit was a deliciously satisfying bowl of creamy penne pasta studded with chunks of smoky bacon and crowned with shredded brussels sprouts and a fried egg.

To wash all this down, there is wine (red, white and bubbly) and a 25 craft beer selection."I had to put in a new walk-in just for the beer," Rogers notes.

Your cold beer of choice will be especially good paired with the juicy Grand Burger made with ground short rib and topped with melted white cheddar, arugula, tomato, and bacon-shallot gastrique.

"I'm really involved with the cocktails," says Rogers, who in a former life was bar manager at the renowned celebrity haunt Mr. Chow's in New York City.

At The Grand, you can sip on timeless libations such as some personal favorites, a Negroni or Death in the Afternoon (Rogers is an absinthe aficianado), or explore modern classics like the refreshing Strawberry-Basil Margarita with reposado tequila, and the Strange Brew, a Death and Company creation. "This one is interesting because it's made with gin, IPA beer, and pineaple juice, which you would never think goes together, but it's really good." I agree - it's a perfect warm-weather Phoenix sipper.

The Grand is located at 718 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85004 and open 24 hours, seven days a week. Hours: Coffee 24 hours. Bar 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Breakfast 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Main menu 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and late night 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The Grand also has a happy hour 7 days a week, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and reverse happy hour 10 pm to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday offering $4 craft beers, glasses of wine, and well drinks, and $3 for all craft cans.

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tags / The Grand, downtown Phoenix, Phoenix, 24 hours, coffee shop, craft beer, cocktails

Downtown Phoenix: The Grand

May 22, 2017 / Christina Barrueta

All photos by Jenelle Bonifield of Food & Lifestyles

A 24-hour coffee shop, restaurant, bar, event space, music venue, speakeasy, and soon-to-open food market - The Grand on N. Central Avenue in downtown Phoenix encompasses all this and more. I recently spent an afternoon touring this remarkable space with owner and designer Steven Rogers, PR maven Jane Gordon, and artistic collaborator Sean Lopez of Synergistic Studios, who does the social media including videography and photography, and also books The Grand's live performances.

"This whole block had always been clubs, and I wanted to do something much more communal," says Rogers, a succesful nightclub entrepreneur who has owned the block of businesses for 21 years. "As a nightclub owner, I'm all about the ambiance and the experience. The reason I did the train station motif in here is because a train station is always open; there are always people coming and going. I wanted to create a gathering place and then have everything available in that place."

He parlayed his business savvy into this new venture, recognizing the growth in the downtown Phoenix scene, The Grand's proximity to the ASU Phoenix campus, and current trends. "You can't just copy a trend" he notes. "You look very closely and see what the force is behind the trend so you can take it to the next level, and that's what I did here. I saw all the different trends. I saw the craft beer, the coffee trend, I saw how integral the internet is."

Thus, you'll find a spacious patio and large indoor-outdoor bar offering wine, cocktails, and 25 craft beers.

Inside The Grand, also known as The Grand Central Coffee Company, the coffee shop is open 24/7 and serves coffee, tea, espresso, lattes and a variety of baked goods. "We also have liqueurs for our coffee drinks," adds Lopez. "One I like is called Grind. You add that to your iced mocha and now you have a coffee cocktail. And when's the last time you've had a latte with a kick?" he asks with a chuckle.

The wi-fi password is conspiciously placed at the entrance, and upstairs is the Study where you'll find people settled in on cozy sofas and desks with plenty of outlets.

Rogers has transformed the site of what was once his Club Amsterdam into a convivial neighborhood spot inviting all to sip, dine and relax. It's strikingly unique with two floors decorated with items from Rogers' personal warehouse of collectables. "Sometimes things don't work, but sometimes things are surprising and those are the best things," he explains as he likens the process to set design. "I work with one guy, Brian, who's like a master constructioner and can build me anything I need. There was no crew, the design is just us, and when you see all this, it's coming from the mind of one person. I've gotten more and more quirky over the years and I design for comfort. So it's just like a movie. When you have a movie made by one person, it really is a personal statement."

"The more I do this, the less of a purist I am. I'm getting into things that are more fantasy and surreal. I’m almost stuck in Harry Potter land in a way. I love Charles Dickens. I love turn of the century. I love the old train stations. I love those old libraries with stuffed animals and freaky things. I love all that stuff."

His background is just as interesting as the decor. As the bar manager in the 1980s at New York's Mr. Chow's, he tells of meeting stars such as John Lennon, James Woods, Francis Ford Coppola, and Richard Gere. He shares stories of time spent frequenting Studio 54, attending Elizabeth Taylor's birthday party, visiting Andy Warhol's house, and spending an evening dancing with actor Debra Winger. He also attended film school. "That's why this place looks more like a set, because of Steve's background," points out Lopez.

His design skills can also be seen in the Grand Ballroom and connected patio, which is available for events such as weddings and concerts. "It's more set design than interior design," notes Rogers.

This attention to imaginative detail is displayed prominently in the speakeasy Sanctum which can also be rented for private parties. Tucked away in the back of the second floor, portholes lend a bird's-eye view of the bar and coffee shop. The clandestine atmosphere is bolstered with plush furniture, tapestries, intimate hightops with velveteen stools, a vintage sound system with tube amplifiers, and a bar complete with absinthe fountain.

When Sanctum is open, entry will be gained by pressing a hidden doorbell and uttering the secret word through the antique speakeasy door grill. It was a special treat to not only be among the first to see this inner Sanctum, but to also enjoy excellent cocktails made by Rogers served in gorgeous glassware - absinthe in a Belle Époque-era uranium glass, Calvados Sidecars, and one of my favorite absinthe cocktails, Death in the Afternoon.

We ended our tour on the shaded patio as Lopez showed us The Grand stage booked by Synergistics Studio where singers and artists who sign up on the website can perform. "We want people to come to The Grand and have a grand experience. Ideally, we would like to have live music every day. There are going to be open mic nights, we're going to have improv nights, there's Vintage Wednesday. It's a great indie space and stage. And once people get a big enough following to charge a ticket price, guess what? We have a home for that too in The Grand Ballroom."

"It's not just a coffee shop, it's not just a restaurant, it's not just a bar," emphasizes Lopez. "It's equal parts all those things, and a place where you can go to see a live band play. It's a beautiful spot where people can come in and interact. It's just..grand."

The Grand is located at 718 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85004 and is open 24/7.

Click the photo below for part two to learn more about the restaurant's menu, craft brews, and cocktails.

Buffalo cauliflower sandwich and the strawberry-basil margarita

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tags / The Grand, Grand Central Coffee Company, downtown Phoenix