Tag: cafe

Foch Café & Bistro opens in Tempe

A new hip bistro opened in downtown Tempe recently serving American & European inspired cuisine and cocktails. Foch Café & Bistro pays tribute to the street in Paris that Fares Tarabichi’s grandparents used to live on. “I am so proud of my French education and visiting my grandparents in Paris every summer made me truly appreciate the beautiful French culture.” says Tarabichi, co-founder of Foch Café & Bistro. “Foch honors both the memory of my amazing grandparents, as well as French culture.”

Tarabichi and partner Chef Timothy Richardson are no strangers to the Phoenix restaurant scene as Tarabichi founded The Crêpe Cafe and co-founded The Bodhi and AZ Liquids. Arizona native Richardson attended Le Cordon Bleu where learned French cooking techniques. For 16 years since he’s worked in several different restaurants from cantinas to fine dining. Before opening Foch Café & Bistro he was senior sous chef at the Arizona Biltmore.

“As a chef, it has always been a dream of mine to open a restaurant and I am excited to share delectable French inspired cuisine with the wonderful residents and visitors of Tempe.” said Richardson, co-founder of Foch Café & Bistro. “Foch is an open, bright and happy space for people to gather and celebrate community once again.”

The bistro offers a full menu for dine-in of hot & cold paninis, salads, freshly baked pastries, a coffee bar and to-go items from Foch Market. Crêpes are featured on the menu and can be paired with unique flavors of gelato. The craft cocktail menu includes cocktails made with house made fresh juices along with local craft beers.

Foch Café & Bistro is at 21 E. 6th St. is open daily from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. and is dog friendly on the 600 square foot patio. For more information visit their website. Don’t forget to check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

Tourist Home All Day Cafe in Flagstaff overcomes its past

In its 93 years the “Tourist Home” in downtown Flagstaff has seen its ups and downs. The last 5 years have seen more of the ups than the previous 40 years. The Tourist Home All Day Cafe celebrates its 5th anniversary since it was opened by owners Kevin Heinonen and Chris Kemmerly.

Before the pair had bought the property the boarded up house sat vacant surrounded by a yard full of weeds. Originally built by Jesus Garcia, a Basque sheepherder and his mother Isabella in 1926 as a boarding home for sheep herders who came to Flagstaff for business and to re-locate their sheep as the seasons changed. Today the Tourist Home All Day Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and brunch to locals and out – of – towners. The cafe also serves as the kitchen for the Annex Cocktail Lounge.

Kevin Heinonen before the transformation

“Tourist Home is one of the most sought after destinations, and considered a downtown gem,” said Terry Madeksza, Executive Director of Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance.

“Not only does the menu offer exceptional baked goods, breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes, it is also a vibrant place for locals and visitors to gather,” Madeksza added.  “It is important to remember that before Tourist Home, the building was dilapidated and considered an eyesore for years. The vision and ongoing investment into Tourist Home has spurred revitalization of an entire area.” The served as a case study for the Urban land Institute as an example of private developers and city government working together for redevelopment and economic development for historic places in Arizona.

History meets modern times at Tourist Home All Day Cafe

Technology helps keep the cafe running smoothly and its historic charm  keep the cafe a relevant part of Flagstaff’s history. GM Lisa Valentine, Chief Culinary Officer Mike Schmitz and Master Pastry Chef Kat Biemann create menus and relationships with customers, staff and vendors to make the cafe successful.

“The business was and continues as an example of always meeting the changing needs of your customers,” said Heinonen.

The Garcia’s built a “Pelota” (handball) court next door for sheepherders to stay in touch with their Basque roots. Today it’s a performance stage for live music. The owners have added a fire pits, tables with umbrellas and a service window for the Annex to the outside.

The Tourist Home All Day Cafe is at 52 S. San Francisco St. Flagstaff 86001. Check out their website for more information.

 

 

Press Coffee to open cafe at Scottsdale Waterfront in August

Press Coffee announced last week they’re opening the 9th location of the popular coffee shop/cafe at the Scottsdale Waterfront in late August. It will be the roasters’ 2nd Scottsdale location since opening in the Scottsdale Quarter. 

“Old Town Scottsdale is a great neighborhood for locals and Arizona visitors alike and we’re looking forward to being a part of the community,” said Press Coffee co-owner Jason Kyle.

Coffee and more

When Press opens their Scottsdale Waterfront location customers will be able to order from a new breakfast and lunch menu made on site and pastries from Phoenix Public Market.

Egg sandwich. All photos courtesy of Press Coffee

Espresso, pour overs and cold brews will be available using Press’s award-winning coffee roasts.

Donating to Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Once opened Press the Scottsdale Waterfront store will offer its daily drip coffee for $1 the weekend August of 24-26th with all proceeds donated to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. “We’re glad we can start things off by supporting the amazing efforts of Phoenix Children’s Hospital at the opening.” says Kyle.

Flagship roastery in north Phoenix

The Scottsdale Waterfront announcement comes two months after Press announced it was opening a flagship roastery in Spring 2019 near 32nd St. & Shea Blvd. in north Phoenix.

Once opened it will handle all of Press’s roasting along with a cafe and plenty of meeting space. Co-owner Steve Kraus say’s “We are excited about the future of this iconic building. We wanted to go beyond just a production facility and create a space that allows us to share our love for coffee with the community.”

The new facility will double Press’s production and once opened the current facility will exclusively produce their cold brews.

The Scottsdale Waterfront location will be open 6:30 a.m. – 7 p.m Mon. – Thurs. 6:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday. Saturdays from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sunday from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

It’s at 7135 E. Camelback Rd. Scottsdale 85251 For more information check their website.

 

 

Singh Farms opens Singh Meadows in Tempe with big plans

I just got back from visiting the new Singh Meadows on the old Rio Salado Golf Course in Tempe where I got to meet and speak with Ken Singh farmer & owner of Singh Farms & Meadows. I first heard about this project a few years ago and have not heard anything until this week about its progress and phase 1.  Ken has spent the last few years completely re-soiling the once toxic dirt from the golf course to new fresh, organic soil that will grow much of his fresh vegetables & where kids can roll down the hills free of toxic pesticides.

 

His new market inside the old club house is where visitors find his growings from his farm not far away. A coffee bar with coffee from Press Roasters & bake shop offers people to linger and enjoy all the green lush landscape that has been restored from recent years. After the rains of yesterday water flows out of sight as part of the Indian Bend Wash where it empties to Tempe Town Lake a little ways down. Ken hopes to incorporate a park like atmosphere with paths is already under way as golf cart paths are still in tact and softer wood chip paths have start to be landscaped taking you down to the running water.

The cafe which currently has grab n go items and pastries is being run by 3 experienced chefs Frank Belosic, Jay Bogsinske and Dan Melden. In the future the cafe will offer house made pizzas, pastas and more from scratch. Dinners and farm tours will be available down the road.

Ken has lots of ideas but not sure what he wants to do with all 72 acres he has to play with. Having farmed his family farm for over 40 years this has become a grand endeavor to leave his son, a future farmer.  In listening to Ken he is the smartest person I know when it comes to soil, dirt and growing vegetables in it and listening to him I hear his passion in making sure we leave the earths resources it the right way for future generations.

The farmer’s market is open every weekend from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

I’m as excited as Ken Singh is to have this new farm & market community down the street near the Tempe/ Scottsdale border and look forward to helping keep Ken’s vision alive.

Singh Meadows is at 1490 E. Weber Dr. Tempe 85281