Chase’s Diner in Chandler is featuring a “Pie of the Month” for the hot summer months. Customers can get some relief from the triple digits from May 1st – August 31st with one of our favorite deserts.
During the month of May customers can enjoy a slice of Key Lime Pie. Peanut Butter Crunch is on the menu in June and July offers a cool refreshing Lemonade Pie. The featured pie in August is Chocolate Mint Creme.
Lemonade Pie
Grab a slice after your meal for $4.29 or take a pie to go for $13.29.
Chase’s Diner is at 2040 N. Alma School Rd. Chandler 85224. They’re open daily at 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sun. – Thurs. and 10 p.m. Fri. & Sat.
Ever want to have one of your homemade culinary creations on the menu at your favorite restaurant? Now’s your chance as you have until May 1st to submit your best milkshake recipe to Hotel Valley Ho’s “Battle Freak Shake” contest.
Once submitted online the Zuzu culinary team will review recipes & ingredients before picking the finalists on June 1st. The finalist will make their milk shake for them and the top shakes will go to “Battle Freak Shake”. The winner will….Have their shake featured as the Showstopper Shake in August, 3 night stay at hotel w/ upgraded guest room, Dinner for 2 at Zuzu and 2 90-minute VH Spa treatments. And of course bragging rights.
3 shakes will be featured at each of the hotel’s Chef + Farmer’s Market events. Guests and chef judges will vote for a winner who goes to the final market event of the summer to be crowned the winning shake.
Today owners Frank Schneider and Cat & Randy Frankel open their new Scottsdale restaurant Modern Oysterbar Chophouse. Combined they have almost a centuries worth of experience on the Phoenix culinary scene including Steak 44, Mary Elaine’s and Mastro’s Ocean Club.
The new 6,000 square foot locally owned restaurant takes over the space vacated by Sonata’s at Scottsdale Rd. and Gold Dust Ave. The modern look offers dark interiors, high top tables in the bar and plush seating for almost 300 people. A private dining room and outside patio can accommodate 30 people in each. The large oyster bar will be the center of attention and seats 12.
“This is not your average steakhouse,” said Cat. “Every detail is being considered to make this a true culinary experience.”
All photos courtesy of Christopher Cashak
On the menu at Modern Oysterbar Chophouse
Executive Chef Mike Bouwens brings his steakhouse experience at Fleming’s and The Capital Grille to Modern Oysterbar Chophouse. That experience will come in handy with 7 cuts of prime meats on the menu. Plenty of seafood including hot and cold seafood towers from the oyster bar along with grilled fish and Modern’s take on Bouillabaisse are on the menu.
Pastry Chef Samantha Frankel background includes Kierland Common’s Zinc Bistro and will show off her dessert and cheese charcuterie skills.
Dylan Frankel will be handling the beverage program at Modern that will include 4 wines, 2 specialty cocktails and beer on tap. Dylan honed his bar skills at Cold Beers and Cheeseburgers and Zinc Bistro.
“We are showcasing the best in meats, raw seafood and in house desserts. The cocktail component is equally as impressive,” said Randy.
The bar opens daily at 4 p.m. and dinner service begins at 5.
Modern Oysterbar Chophouse is at 10050 N. Scottsdale Rd. #127 Scottsdale 85253. To see the full menu and make a reservation head to their website.
Maggiore’s family restaurants dates back to the late 1970’s in Phoenix. Tomaso led the way with his iconic restaurant Tomaso’s Italian Restaurant at Camelback and 32nd St. and his son Joey has learned how to open successful restaurants. In mid February, Joey & Christina Maggiore and partner Flora Tersigni introduce their newest concept The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market.
All photos courtesy of Liz Lastra & Evolve Public Relations
The Sicilian Baker joins the groups Hash Kitchen and The Sicilian Butcher, favorites among Phoenix restaurants. The Sicilian Baker Cannoli Bar & Market will be located next door to The Sicilian Butcher in Phoenix.
Build-your-own- cannoli -bar
Sign me up for the build-your-own cannoli bar along with fresh pasta, meats and cheeses from the market. Master pastry chef Giovanni La Rosa, a cousin of Maggiore is working with them from Sicily to create specialized desserts and pastries.
The signature cannoli bar will feature 10 flavored creams for customers to choose from. Mix and match and choose your cannoli shell dipped or not we can have fun here. Small to foot long shells will be available.
“This is definitely something one-of-a-kind in the United States,” said Maggiore. “We’re bringing Sicily to the footsteps of Phoenix with what we’re building next to the Tatum and Greenway location.”
The spacious restaurant designed by Cristina features black porcelain tile, sliding barn doors and colorful food cases. Smell and taste fresh cassattas, sfinci (Italian treats) from pastry chefs as you linger between the 2 concepts.
Expanding the Sicilian Baker
The Maggiore’s have their eyes on 2 additional locations for the Sicilian Baker. The will open next door to the Sicilian Butcher in Chandler and have eyes on the west valley.
The new bakeries are planning for a 2019 opening with more to follow throughout Arizona.
The Maggiore’s should open The Sicilian Butcher in Chandler(3151 W. Frye Rd.) in March 2019 with the bakery to follow.
Fall arrived early here in Scottsdale and right on time for the new seasonal menus at Zuzu. The retro Hotel Valley Ho’s signature restaurant last week debuted a new menu for all three meals and dessert.
Burrata. All photos courtesy of Hotel Valley Ho
Executive chef Russell LaCasce created the breakfast, lunch and dinner menus and left the dessert menu for new pastry chef Lisa Graf. The new dishes offer ingredients for the Fall season and many ingredients are sourced locally.
What’s new on the menus
The new menus offer something for all diets and palates including spicy, sweet, meaty and those who like vegetables.
Korean BBQ Burger
Breakfast and brunch fans will enjoy Cereal Milk Stuffed French Toast, made with Fruity Pebble crumbs, cereal milk pastry cream, maple syrup and whipped cream.
Lunch offers a Korean BBQ burger, Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich and The John Berry. The latter is full of spaghetti squash, cherry heirloom tomatoes, spinach, pesto, pine nuts, 3 jumbo shrimp and Parmesan cheese.
Dinner serves up two new starters such as Burrata and a Baby Back Rib Stack with mango chipolte BBQ sauce.
60- Day Dry Aged Pork Porterhouse
Entrees include Jidoori Half Chicken, Braised Beef Short Rib and the 60-Day Dry Aged Pork Porterhouse. The Portehouse is brined with aji pepper & maple and comes served with brussel sprouts and candied kombucha squash.
Make sure you save room for dessert
This is pastry chef’s Lisa Grafs first menu since joining Zuzu. Diners will enjoy Butterscotch Creme Brulee, Baked Alaska and The Troubled German Chocolate Cake. The chocolate cake is made with chocolate sponge cake, German chocolate filling, graham pretzel crust, espresso cheesecake, buttercream and ganache.
Butterscotch Creme Brulee
The famous Showstopper Shake celebrates the arrival of the state fair for the month of October. A Twinkie shake base, a fried cheesecake ball, funnel cake and more make this dessert a fun for at least two people.
Zuzu in the Hotel Valley Ho is at 6850 E. Main St. Scottsdale 85251.
One the heels of the successful opening of The Sicilian Butcher, chef Joey Maggiore and wife Cristina of The Maggiore Group have announced a 2nd location in Chandler. The new location is scheduled to open in December and will be at Primegate at Fashion Center. The Maggiore’s were impressed with modern architecture of Primegate that fits with their classic Italian and modern concept.
“In addition to the incredible location, what really drew me to PRIMEGATE over other possibilities was that the architecture and setting was unlike anything else we’d seen. I thought about how positively that would reflect our brand too,” Maggiore said. “This is a rare project where we have the chance to create a banner location that will generate buzz in the community. We will be able to provide a top-notch neighborhood experience for our customers, whether they are lunching out, dining in or taking out, all in a high-end, high exposure destination.”
The Sicilian Butcher decor
The 4,600 square foot restaurant features roll-up doors that leads to a large outdoor patio for dining and lounge area. Water features and art create a lively and energetic atmosphere for guests stopping in for a drink or staying for a meal.
A signature Build-Your-Cannoli Bar
The Sicilian Butcher in Chandler will be the first to feature a build-your-own cannoli bar in the market. The line forms behind me because cannoli is one of my favorite desserts.
Similarly the northeast Phoenix restaurant is known for its fresh made in-house pastas and charcuterie boards along with craft meatballs. The food at The Sicilian Kitchen combines a modern twist with old world traditions. Guests can expect the same when the new restaurant opens in Chandler.
The restaurant will offer to-go meals and a marketplace and will serve classic Italian wines.
The Sicilian Kitchen is the fourth concept of the family owned Maggiore Group with restaurants in Phoenix & San Diego. The others are Hash Kitchen, Tomaso’s When in Rome and the Phoenix classic Tomaso’s which opened in 1977.
The Sicilian Kitchen at Primegate will be at 3151 W. Frye Rd. Chandler 85226. For more information visit their website.
Staying cool and comfortable is at the top of the priority list for the summer months. One of the best ways is to refresh oneself is to stay hydrated and Zuzu at the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale has several ways to quench your thirst and keep you cool this summer.
Chilled signature cocktails, Bloody Mary’s or Mimosa’s at the bar, frozen desserts and wine in the dining room are just a few of the ways Zuzu helps you beat the heat on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.
Show Stopper shake. All photos courtesy of Hotel Valley Ho
Chill out in the Zuzu Lounge
In the Zuzu Lounge guests can enjoy craft cocktails daily including the bubbly prosecco Fizzy Lifting Drink made with Aperol, club soda, Campari infused blood orange foam and carbonated blackberry.
Looking for a more tropical cocktail then the Second Star to the Right is for you. The tiki styled drink includes two types of rum, tequila, sake, guava nectar, passion fruit puree, orange & pineapple juices and pear-lemon marmalade.
Saturday’s & Sunday’s offers a Bloody Mary + Mimosa Bar from 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. during brunch for guests to build their own drink.
Summer in the dining room
Start your dinner of with a cold dessert as Zuzu pastry chef Audrey Enriquez continues to dazzle guests with her monthly “Show Stopper” shake. The large dessert combines a variety of house made desserts for the whole table to enjoy. Cinnamon Horchata is May’s shake of the month.
Starting June 4th, every Sunday – Thursday guests can get 1/2 all bottles of wine when you dine at Zuzu. Guest can enjoy this deal all summer thru September 16th.
Monday Night’s Chef Table continues through the summer with wine dinners. The monthly four-course dinner is prepared by executive chef Russell LaCasce and his culinary team that pairs with wines from around the world.
“Farmer in the House’ is the theme for the dinner on May 20th with Duncan’s Trading Company and JUSTIN Wines.
June 18th brings New Mexico’s Gruet Winery to Zuzu.
July 16th special rose dinner brings four wineries to the table. -Chateau Gassier, Ferrari-Carano, WillaKenzie and Veuve Cliquot wines will be paired & poured.
The dinners start promptly at 6:30 p.m. and are $75 per person plus tax and tip. Reservations can be made by calling 480-376-2600 or by going to their website.
If you’re putting all your efforts into the turkey, stuffing and all the fixin’s for Thanksgiving that’s OK because Tammie Coe Cakes is taking care of dessert with an assortment of fresh-baked pies and desserts. So good you may want to serve dessert first and hope to save room for the turkey and everything else.
Pumpkin Butterscotch Bread Pudding. All photos courtesy of Tammie Coe Cakes
You’ll have to hurry if you want your desserts from Tammie Coe by Thanksgiving as you need to place your order& pre-pay by this Saturday, Nov. 18th for Wednesday the 22nd pick-up at her downtown Phoenix location on Roosevelt.
Tammie Coe Cakes Thanksgiving pies
If you’re a traditional pie eater there is the Pumpkin Pie topped with caramel whipped cream ($24) for you and delicious pies including Toffee Pecan Pie topped with chocolate ganache and toffee bits ($24), Sour Cream Apple Pie made with Granny Smith apples and topped with streusel ($24) and the unique Pumpkin Butterscotch Bread Pudding made with croissant layered with pumpkin custard and butterscotch bits($15).
Pumpkin Pie
Tammie’s Fall leaves collection of cookies ($26) are available as are extras such as caramel whipped cream ($5) and caramel sauce.
Pie Pop-up
For the last-minute procrastinators like me Tammie Coe will be setting up a pop-up shop at The Henry on Wed. Nov. 22nd from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Henry is at 4455 E. Camelback Rd.
Most of us have a sweet tooth whether we have an everyday craving for chocolate, pastries or ice cream we need to satisfy the craving before it gets out of control. Local sweet shops are helping us give in to these cravings with limited time sweet treats and a new permanent menu item. So what’s new……
Le Macaron new Ice Cream Macaron
One of my favorite desserts is an ice cream sandwich as it satisfies my ice cream and cookie craving, so I’m glad to report that Le Macaron has created an Ice Cream Macaron as new menu option. These bite sized treats come in 5 flavors including Vanilla, Strawberry, Mango, Coffee and Green Tea for $3.75 each. Le Macaron is in the Scottsdale Quarter. http://lemacaron-us.com/scottsdale-quarter/
Sprinkle’s Rolling Stones cupcake
Sprinkle’s Cupcakes sweet treats
Through May 31st Sprinkle’s Cupcakes in Scottsdale is offering it’s Cookie Cupcake which came from a recipe in Candace Nelson’s cookbook. Made with chocolate chips & chocolate chip cookie crumble its tossed with yellow cake batter. Then it’s topped with brown sugar frosting before being rolled in more chocolate chip cookie crumbles. Yum!
Sprinkle’s is also offering a Rolling Stone topped cupcake through May 18th. The bands tongue & lips logo rocks the top of the cupcake. Sprinkles is celebrating the Rolling Stones exhibit at Chicago’s Navy Pier and offering these cupcakes nationwide.
A new line cookie flavors are also available including Snickerdoodle, Double Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Pretzel Chip. You can pick up your cupcakes or cookies from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mon. – Sat. and Sun. from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. To place an order call 480-970-4321 or visit 4501 N. Scottsdale Rd (NE corner of Scottsdale Rd. & Camelback) http://www.sprinkles.com/
North of the Napa Valley is Lake County where farms, fields and vineyards roll through the rural countryside. This is where in 1999 Mitch and Tracey Hawkins and David Boises started growing grapes & started producing wine in 2004. 18 acres planted to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawk and Horse Vineyards is certified organic(CCOF) and serves as a ranch in addition to vineyards and is located in the Red Hills AVA of lake County.
Making 2 wines under the guidance of well respected winemakers Dick Peterson and Scott Harvey, Hawk and Horse show off how good Lake County Cabernet Sauvignon can be.
The 2007 Cabernet is the 3rd release and is a burst of dried currants and cocoa. Aged for 18 months in French oak this wine is medium bodied and offers nice tannins with a long, lingering finish. With only 430 cases produced this wine is a great example of what a well balanced wine should be and should sell out at $65 so get yours soon.
As much as we loved the CS with our rib eyes, we almost went bonkers over their 2006 Latigo dessert wine. This delicious, amber wine is made with CS grapes and then fortified with brandy. The wine is aged for 26 months and when ready to drink is a mouthful of cherries, raisins and cranberries that is medium in body and consistency. Only 200 cases were made and is perfect for the upcoming fall and holiday season. Approx. $45 http://hawkandhorsevineyards.com/
