It’s a slow Monday so let take a quick look back to EAZ Friday Table Talk.   And now the review:

If you’re asking yourself where to go for breakfast in Old Town, you’ve got two options: Breakfast Club and, well, Breakfast Club’s other half of the room – that is, unless you’ve heard about Dottie’s.

Dottie’s True Blue Café has been quietly open for about a little about two months and hasn’t really told anybody because the owners—Brent Abney and Joe Green—wanted to get their act together first.  Read full review after the break. »READ MORE

This week the EAZ crew brings to the table their latest review, a report on Praying Monk. To the highlights:

Praying Monk is as casual as can be. Lay back in shorts and flip flops on the couches by the bar, or dress up in the dining room. Or better yet, don the flip flops and tees in the dining room, or wear a suit while martini-ing in the bar.

The pig ears are a must, as we guarantee you’ve never had them this snacky and, well, this okay-to-eat anywhere else in town. The corndogs were a little short on the dog and heavy on the breading, but the breading was sweet and airy and amazingly delicious. You could add chunks of it to the club, the burger, anything really, and it would only enhance. We knew fries were coming with the sandwiches, but our server talked us into an order of the crispy potatoes (halves and quarters and random pieces) covered in shaved Parmesan and chives with an cloud-like truffle aioli ($9). Thank you, server, those potatoes are a must for future visits. And the aioli is good enough to bottle.

Another must: the first beer on the list of about 50 (15-ish on tap)–Blanche de Bruxelles, $6. It’s like a cloudy Hef mixed with a little sandy beach vacation and easy summer sippin’. Honestly, what a discovery. We highly recommend you give it a try. Betcha order two.

Praying Monk
7217 E. 1st St.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-398-3020

[via EaterAZ]

And so will guys too. What’s not to love at the new Arcadia eatery. Chick Rotisserie & Wine Bar, from the creators of The Grind, who kept us waiting for months and months, teasing us with rumored opening dates. Now, finally, Chick is open at 40th Street and Camelback for rotisserie chicken-loving foodies to dine in or take home. So here’s what I recommend to eat: Anything. Everything. »READ MORE

If you’re from Chicago, you’ve probably heard of Mia Francesca.

I’m not, and I hadn’t heard of the Italian restaurant with a cult (Illinois) following until a colleague invited me to dinner. And there’s one thing I learned — if Chicago transplants have a home away from home in Scottsdale, Mia Francesca’s is the place. The restaurant’s newest location in D.C. Ranch is jammed packed with Midwest accents all excited to have a slice of home in Arizona.

But forget Chicago dogs and deep dish pies. Mia Francesca’s takes the Windy City’s Italian culture and infuses it into its scribbled, err…handwritten, menu. We’re told the selections change every few weeks, hence skipping regular visits to the printer, but the look conveys a sense that chefs have a little creativity. And we liked how Mia Francesca’s rolls with the season’s ingredients instead of being bound by a menu.

However, we end up trying two of the few dishes that are mainstays — quattro stagioni ($10.99) and pollo arrosto alla romana. The quatto stagioni pizza, highly recommended by the manager, is served with proscuitto, artichoke, mushrooms, olives and an egg. Yes an egg! Now here’s the cool part. When the pizza is delivered piping hot from the oven, a raw egg is added to the top, tableside. The chef makes a cameo to the table to scramble the egg, which cooks itself solely from the heat of the pizza. Check our video below. The final presentation is perfection, and by far our favorite from the evening.

Pollo arrosto alla romana ($15.99), a roasted half chicken with garlic, shallots, rosemary, lemon and olive oil, is talked up to be a Mia Francesca classic but it unfortunately fell short. Salt dominated this dish and any hints of rosemary or lemon were lost. The server, however, did explain that a bite of dark meat tends to be saltier. True, but nonetheless, a bit too salty for our tastes.

We couldn’t resist trying one of the rotating entrees- salmon pagliacci ($22.99). Although it will probably be long gone by the time this is published, salmon pagliacci should be a staple, especially in the summer months. I always enjoy a colorful plate and this entree is just that. Jazzed up with some of the most surprising ingredients, the salmon is topped with avocados, cherry tomatoes and green veggies in a white wine and garlic sauce. Salmon pagliacci needs to find its
way to backyard summer barbeques, but until then, I’ll get my salmon fix (sans the boring lemon juice and dill that most restaurants default to) at Mia Francesca’s.

Mia Francesca’s in Scottsdale is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. Visit www.miafrancesca.com for the full menu and happy hour offerings.

Walking into the new Daphne’s California Greek at the Scottsdale Promenade, my first thought was “This is a Greek place?” It seemed like I had accidentally walked into a Rubio’s. I quickly learned that maybe that initially impression was not too far off base. Following an aggressive expansion that was caught up in the recession, a new ownership group took over and the former Daphne’s Greek Cafe underwent an Extreme Makeover: Restaurant Edition, coming out as a fast-casual restaurant, a “hybrid” of California-meets-Greek cuisine, with an emphasis on freshness.

Bright colors, hip music focusing on independent and up and coming artists, and a new menu prominently displaying calorie counts of the menu items combine to give Daphne’s a more modern feel. As CEO Bill Trefethen explained, “I like to use my 16 year old son (and his friends) as my focus group. If they don’t think it’s ‘cool’, maybe it’s not.” Of course, Mr. Trefethen listed mountain biking and surfing as some of his hobbies and counts pro surfer Kelly Slater as one of the partners in Daphne’s, so he might have some idea of how to get that ‘California vibe’. »READ MORE

Cask 63 is Gainey Village’s latest restaurant that hopes to dazzle diners with its chic, crisp look and American favorites with culinary twists.

Wine is obviously the focus at Cask 63 (a cask equals 31.5 gallons multiplied by two to represent the two business partners), but ironically, it’s the cocktail menu that’s the star. If the month of October were to be a drink, it would be the cider bellini ($9), a impressive blend of pressed apple cider, Courvoisier V.S.O.P., cinnamon, cava and apple crisp. The new fashioned old fashioned ($11) had a feminine touch but all of the expected flavors of this classic drink. Cask 63′s version is made with sazerac rye, a sugar cube, angostura bitters, crushed orange and brandied cherries. Already on the list to order next time: smoke and ginger margarita ($11) and Irish coffee cocktail
($9).

The food at Cask 63 almost lives up to the creative cocktail menu. The executive chef, Brian Feirstein, whips up an impressive menu that any red-blooded American would enjoy. You may remember Feirstein from his days at The Capital Grille and Eddie V’s Prime Seafood. »READ MORE

It’s Friday and that means time to check in with David Tyda and RP and see where they’ve been eating.  Up today is the sushi spot Sushi Roku located in the W Hotel Old Scottsdale.   Will this be a love, hate or comedy report?  Let’s go to the highlights:

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Housed in a natural adobe building originally built in the 1930′s, Lon’s at the Hermosa is the embodiment of classic southwest architecture, stunning desert vistas and amazing cuisine.

While a drink on the patio at sunset, like the Lon’s “Folly” for founder  Lon Megargee, one is left to behold the the beautiful colors of the Arizona sky and some of the best panoramic views of the Valley. If you are enjoying the open air ambiance and a hand crafted cocktail outside, why not stay for dinner and have some real cowboy grub? Every Sunday, Lon’s hosts a Chuckwagon BBQ that features a whole Berkshire suckling pig cooked over the ‘Cowboy Cauldron’ that doubles as a fire place and a conversation piece. Or why not wander innside… »READ MORE

The Cheesecake Factory, like other similar restaurants and many liquor companies, has jumped on the “skinny” bandwagon, touting healthier menus and dining options. We’ve seen it, you’ve seen it – low-cal, low-fat, skinny-licious – taking over menus and cocktails everywhere. And before you read on to what we thought of The Cheesecake Factory’s new Skinnylicious menu, understand this: There’s no skinnylicious cheesecake. Not a sliver. Not even one bite of the Original, Strawberry or Oreo Cheesecake from the cheesecake-licious bakery you are forced to ignore while walking to your table. But what you will find are skinny cocktails, appetizers, salads and entrees, nearly 50 items under 590 calories and six signature cocktails with 150 calories or less. Calorie-conscious, they may be. But taste-conscious, is a stretch.

Like I said, there’s been so many “skinny” menus popping up, I was willing to give one a try and TCF was willing to offer up their menu. As was my friend Adam Maielua, lead trainer at The Body Lab in Scottsdale which recently opened their second Valley location, who was willing to offer his time and tastebuds with me. Though there wasn’t anything on the menu that we absolutely loved, we agreed that overall, if a Weight Watchers diet or NutriSystem diet works for you, TCF is a viable option for eating out and keeping on track with your weighloss plan occasionally. Mostly, portions were cut to what we feel were more “normal” from their infamous platter-sized meals, so that helps save calories and fat right off the bat. Also, the Skinnylicious menu options are scaled and measured to the precise caloric content listed so you know the exact calories consumed, if you’re still into counting them. But overall, what was skinny, wasn’t necessarily “licious.” Here’s the skinny on what we tried:

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We’re on mission to eat our way through the Valley, fabulous meal at a time. Our challenge is simple: We’ll visit local restaurants that are appealing to all ages and report our findings stat. Next up, The Sushi Room, Chandler’s hottest sushi spot.

 Chandler has a fairly new restaurant that perfectly blends great food with a trendy atmosphere — The Sushi Room.

As a frequent happy hour visitor to The Living Room, The Sushi Room’s sister restaurant next door, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the new Japanese spin-off. I like my sushi best from hole-in-the-wall places where the guy cutting the fish doesn’t speak a lick of English. The Sushi Room doesn’t exactly scream authenticity, but at the end of the night, that didn’t matter to me.

I start the evening with an order of quail eggs ($1.50 for 2). It is my personal belief that the quality of quail eggs speaks to how good a sushi restaurant will be. Served raw, sans the usual fish eggs and inside the shell for easy shooting (think of how oysters are eaten), The Sushi Room’s version is smooth and tasty. Some restaurants make the mistake of dressing up the eggs too much with soy sauce, but this is not the case here. For quail egg novices, The Sushi Room is an ideal place to try this adventurous appetizer for the first time  because the portion size is small and much less intimidating than ones I’ve had before. »READ MORE

Here are the top stories of ALL TIME (aka last week) just in case you missed it.

We’re on mission to eat our way through the Valley. This week, our challenge is simple: How far can we stretch a budget of $20 without sacrificing flavor, portion sizes or the quality of our dining experience? We’ll visit local restaurants that are appealing to all ages and report our findings stat. And, in the interest of saving a buck, we’ll skip the cocktails this time.

Craving pizza this week and slightly overwhelmed by the choices of gourmet pizza joints in town, La Bocca Urban Pizzeria + Wine Bar makes the cut for my latest $20 dining challenge. Located on Mill Avenue, La Bocca is reportedly part of the new businesses that are breathing new life into Tempe. I frequented Mill Avenue back my college days, but hadn’t been back in years after a depressing afternoon years back when there seemed to be more vacancies than ever. Revisiting my old stopping grounds this week gave me newfound hope for the area, especially after visiting La Bocca.

At first glance, La Bocca doesn’t offer anything new or groundbreaking to the Valley’s dining scene. But, considering this is the only gourmet pizza/wine bar off the top of my head near the university, La Bocca targets what many college students and young professionals want: a sophisticated, fun environment that doesn’t break the bank. And the crowded dining room on a Tuesday night proved this concept was a no-brainer.

La Bocca’s straightforward menu offers selections of bruchetta, appetizers, salads, pastas, pizzas and calzones. I kick off the evening by ordering warm Queen Creek olives and artesian toast ($5). This is the only appetizer that fits within my budget — the other selections are bigger cheese and antipasto plates — and that’s fine with me. I love supporting local businesses, and Queen Creek Olive Mill’s olives are the best. The plate is simple: a small bowl full of juicy, pitted green and kalamata olives sprinkled with fresh herbs and toast slices for scooping. It’s little pricey for the serving size, but delicious none the less.

»READ MORE

We’re on mission to eat our way through the Valley. This week, our challenge is simple: How far can we stretch a budget of $20 without sacrificing flavor, portion sizes or the quality of our dining experience? We’ll visit local restaurants that are appealing to all ages and report our findings stat. And, in the interest of saving a buck, we’ll skip the cocktails this time.

Craving pizza this week and slightly overwhelmed by the choices of gourmet pizza joints in town, La Bocca Urban Pizzeria + Wine Bar makes the cut for my latest $20 dining challenge. Located on Mill Avenue, La Bocca is reportedly part of the new businesses that are breathing new life into Tempe. I frequented Mill Avenue back my college days, but hadn’t been back in years after a depressing afternoon years back when there seemed to be more vacancies than ever. Revisiting my old stopping grounds this week gave me newfound hope for the area, especially after visiting La Bocca.

At first glance, La Bocca doesn’t offer anything new or groundbreaking to the Valley’s dining scene. But, considering this is the only gourmet pizza/wine bar off the top of my head near the university, La Bocca targets what many college students and young professionals want: a sophisticated, fun environment that doesn’t break the bank. And the crowded dining room on a Tuesday night proved this concept was a no-brainer.

La Bocca’s straightforward menu offers selections of bruchetta, appetizers, salads, pastas, pizzas and calzones. I kick off the evening by ordering warm Queen Creek olives and artesian toast ($5). This is the only appetizer that fits within my budget — the other selections are bigger cheese and antipasto plates — and that’s fine with me. I love supporting local businesses, and Queen Creek Olive Mill’s olives are the best. The plate is simple: a small bowl full of juicy, pitted green and kalamata olives sprinkled with fresh herbs and toast slices for scooping. It’s little pricey for the serving size, but delicious none the less.

»READ MORE

Another year, another you. Nope, we aren’t speaking metaphorically here, with all the amazing food in the Phoenix metro area and beyond, it’s hard not to look at 2012 as a year to literally add on another you. If you haven’t broken your dietary resolutions just yet, let us help you along with this week’s food blog happenings:

If you are a Trader Joe’s fan, you know that going in there is like stepping into a mecca of meals so easily prepared, it would make Rachel Ray jealous. You can even pick up a few pre-made lunches while doing your regular shopping like this Spicy Lentil Wrap brought to you by Chow Bella. The post, entitled “Vegan in a Hurry”, is an ode to what could only be considered a gourmet lunchable and is enough to make you screech your wheels over there. Healthy, delicious and just $3.99, it kind of makes us want to swim in the side of tahini sauce in celebration.

Tempe’s favorite coffee spot (that doesn’t sport a Mermaid) is now serving alcohol, according to EaterAZ. Cartel Coffee Lab is now making a whole lot more things Irish thanks to the implementation of their new liquor license. They’ve expanded their hours to 10 pm allowing Tempe’s hippest a place to grab a craft brew before it’s socially acceptable  to head over to Casey Moore’s for the long haul. The other locations should be following soon. Read the full article to get hilarious insight on Cartel and what 2012 has in store.

Finally, who doesn’t love a good year-end countdown? We sure do, especially when it’s carefully crafted by the man who should write food encyclopedias as a hobby, Dominic Armato of Skillet Doux. Despite some mild frustrations with the Phoenix food scene this past year (some we whole-heartedly agree with), Armato’s list has grown yet again to include no less than 30 dishes he enjoyed in 2011. Classics like Pizzeria Bianco’s ‘Sonny Boy’ Pizza (pictured top) made the cut, while several dishes from lands far and wide (Chicago and Las Vegas) smattered the list and made us care a little less. Anyway, it’s worth reading so you can head those restaurants and try what once made a food blogger smile.

Pen & Fork also had a great countdown on her blog last week. Ten Food Trends in 2011 is a well-thought out l look at what we would like to call “the floppy hats of food” or maybe “the colored denim of the culinary world”. Check it out.

Until next week, stay strong, my friends.

We’re on mission to eat our way through the Valley, one affordable meal at a time. Our challenge today is simple: How far can we stretch a budget of around $20 without sacrificing flavor, portion sizes or the quality of our dining experience. We’ll visit local restaurants that are appealing to all ages and easy on the wallet and report our findings stat.

Thai food is by far my favorite of all Asian cuisines. I can’t get enough of the depth of flavor, fresh herbs, light sauces, sweet/spicy contrasts, crunchy veggies, etc. The list goes on and on. So, when I heard rave reviews of Yupha’s Thai Kitchen in Tempe from different circles of friends, I knew I had to check it out.

With $20 in hand, I head to Yupha’s on a weeknight to see if the restaurant can impress this budget-conscious diner. Tucked toward the back of a high-traffic shopping center, Yupha’s is only about one-third full at 7:00 p.m., but I notice several Thai families dining (always a good indicator of authenticity and quality). »READ MORE