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.

Sunday Market Brunch at T. Cook's

November 04, 2015  /  Christina Barrueta

Phoenix (Nov. 4, 2015) – Sunday brunch is a celebrated weekend ritual among many and T. Cook’s new Sunday Market Brunch by Executive Chef Todd Allison promises to be at the top of the best brunch spots in the Valley. 

Located at Royal Palms Resort and Spa, A Destination Hotel, T. Cook’s has been at the pinnacle of legacy restaurants in Phoenix for more than two decades. The restaurant’s new Sunday Market Brunch highlights local, seasonal ingredients with an array of brunch specialties. Signature items include Chef Todd’s signature paella, culinary action stations, whole-roasted carved meats from the fireplace, charcuterie boards featuring T. Cook’s famous pesto, griddled favorites, made-to-order omelets, chilled shellfish and “From the Bakeshop” selections such as house-made bread, pastries, donuts, cinnamon rolls, cakes, cookies and mini desserts. House-pressed juices and brunch cocktails round out the offering.

“T. Cook’s is well known for lunch and dinner, but our new Sunday Market Brunch will easily make T. Cook’s a favorite among the brunch crowd,” said Allison. “The brunch menu will directly reflect items that are local and seasonal, which will keep the menu fresh week-after-week and keep guests and brunch enthusiasts excited.”

 T. Cook’s has recently expanded its on-site harvesting by growing herbs and vegetables from a now-larger garden on the north patio. Oranges, lemons and grapefruits from the resort’s citrus grove are used for marinades. Pink Peppercorn Trees that are sprinkled throughout the grounds are harvested for spice rubs.  

Most of the restaurant’s ingredients like cheeses, proteins and olive oil are sourced from Spain, France and Northern Italy. Locally grown and sustainably raised foods are used whenever possible from local farmers including McClendon’s Select, Singh Farms, Noble Bread and Hayden Flour Mill.

After joining the restaurant in May, Chef Todd has reinvigorated T. Cook’s Northern Mediterranean roots with cuisine that celebrates the regions of Spain, Northern Italy and Provence. T. Cook’s culinary philosophy of magnifying the purity of fresh ingredients is a celebration of its treasured legacy. Tucked away within the lush landscaping and Mediterranean-inspired architecture of Royal Palms Resort and Spa, the restaurant offers a captivating environment in every sense with stone fireplaces, al fresco dining and unique design elements.

The Sunday Market Brunch is from 10 am until 2 pm every Sunday and $49 per person (ages 6 to 12 are $26 per person, children 5 and under are free). To book a reservation, call 602-808-0766 or visit tcooksphoenix.com.   

About Royal Palms Resort and Spa, A Destination Hotel
A member of Historic Hotels of America, Royal Palms Resort and Spa, A Destination Hotel, is a AAA Four Diamond resort located at the foot of majestic Camelback Mountain. Combining the graciousness and sophistication of a Mediterranean villa with the intimacy and privacy of a secluded retreat, Royal Palms offers: 119 custom-appointed guest rooms, intimate clusters of casitas and villas; regal Spanish Colonial architecture; over 20,000 square feet of estate-like meeting space; Tuscan-style gardens; exquisite tapestries, antiques and stone fireplaces throughout. Designed around the original historic private mansion, Royal Palms is home to the award-winning T. Cook’s restaurant, the Mix Up Bar, Forbes Four Star Alvadora Spa, a Mother-of-Pearl-tiled swimming pool with private cabanas and croquet lawn. Just minutes from Scottsdale’s shopping, galleries, golf, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and the Camelback financial corridor, Royal Palms is an ideal retreat for business, pleasure and special occasions, offering luxury, privacy and convenience. For more information, please visit www.royalpalmshotel.com.

About Destination Hotels
Destination Hotels (Destination) is a collection of luxury and upscale independent hotels, resorts and residences across the United States. Offering authentically-immersed and enriching experiences, each property is individual at heart, yet connected by a commitment to drawing upon the best of each location. Highly distinct, the Destination experience is always memorable and matchless; guests will feel the locale in a genuine way through each property and during the engaging moments cultivated both in and outside of them. Continuously growing with more than 40 properties from coast to coast, the award-winning portfolio features 20 renowned golf courses, 19 indigenous spas, and 110 exceptional bars and restaurants. Destination Hotels are true to our place; diverse by design. For more information, visit www.destinationhotels.com. Follow us on Twitter: @Destination. Like us on Facebook: DestinationHotels.

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Flourish Restaurant Coming To Scottsdale

November 02, 2015  /  Christina Barrueta

(Scottsdale, Ariz.) - Flourish, a sustainably sourced all-new restaurant located on the grounds of The Audrey Hotel (the soon-to-be-unveiled resort formerly known as CopperWynd), is set to open Friday, November 6, 2015 in the mountains above Fountain Hills and North Scottsdale. Operated by the Scottsdale-based Enchantment Group (a luxury collection including Enchantment Resort and Mii amo a destination spa in Sedona), Flourish will be the signature eatery at what will become a best-of-class luxury wellness retreat known as The Audrey. Led by executive chef, Mike Winneker (Cowboy Ciao), Flourish will feature an ever-changing menu of farm-fresh, healthful yet crave-able eats served for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Flourish also tempts with bar menu and weekday happy hour served in the stylish lounge and outdoor dining terrace, including an expansive selection of organic wines, craft beers and signature cocktails made with cold-pressed juices and artisan spirits. Housed inside a free-flowing and seamlessly indoor-outdoor space, Flourish pairs each meal with nearly 360 degree vistas of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and the distant Four Peaks wilderness.

As with Enchantment Group's restaurants in Sedona, Flourish will incorporate a similar focus on fresh, sustainably sourced ingredients and imaginative, sophisticated menus. Think bold, flavorful starters such as Vietnamese Style Crepes (black trumpet mushrooms, pork belly confit and arugula); or seasonal Chef's Kettle soups (parsnip & poblano bisque, chorizo hush puppies, toasted walnut oil). Start your morning off right with Leige Waffles (last summer's kumquat jam, balsamic syrup and basil), and the Dutch Baby (oven roasted apples, root beer butter, Vermont maple). Or savor lunchtime favorites such as a Tuscan Kale Caesar salad and sandwiches such as Sumac & Ginger Rubbed Ahi or the Blackened Butternut Squash Sandwich. At dinner, enjoy a selection of hearty entrees such as Smoked Duck Breast (rillettes with huckleberry mustarda) and Espresso-Rubbed Coulette Steak, or keep it light yet flavorful with the Simply Protein selections. Plus, enjoy the Valley's most scenic happy hour at the stylish lounge and outdoor dining patio, where the menu allows for guilty pleasures such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken Open Faced Sliders or Poutine topped with foraged mushroom pork gravy and cheese curds.

Flourish will greet guests with a stylish mix of warm woods and sleek steel and stone accents, as well as seating options ranging from romantic nooks to a cozy communal table. Led by General Manager and SoCal transplant, Charlie Floyd (San Diego's Noble Experiment, NYC's Milk & Honey), Flourish combines an elevated bill of fare with a very approachable, welcoming service style. "With world class amenities and the most scenic views in town, Flourish will always be a dining destination. What makes Flourish unique is that, much like our menu skillfully blends healthy and more decadent offerings, Flourish is as much fun for a casual happy hour as a romantic dinner."

Flourish restaurant at The Audrey is located at 13225 N. Eagle Ridge Dr. in Scottsdale, AZ 85268. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner service. www.flourishaz.com  

About Enchantment Group
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Enchantment Group is a leader in managing luxury resorts, hotels, spas, golf clubs and residential communities. They bring extensive experience in positioning, branding and developing customized management services to each project with a focus on maximizing performance and return on investment. Award-winning properties managed by Enchantment Group include Enchantment Resort, Mii amo and Seven Canyons Golf Club, all located in Sedona, AZ; Copperwynd Resort and Club in Fountain Hills, AZ; the Tides Inn and Golden Eagle Golf Club in Irvington, VA; and The Cove Eleuthera, in the Bahamas. Enchantment Group is a division of Dundee | 360 Real Estate Corporation, a real estate and hotel development company based in Montreal, Canada.

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