Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails debuts new dishes & cocktails

I made my first visit to Downtown Phoenix’s Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails recently as it launched its new food & cocktails menus in late August. The signature restaurant inside the Hotel Palomar welcomed new Executive Chef Brian Peterson who created the new dishes with his culinary team. Peterson’s “New American Cuisine” offers Starters & Shareable & entrees that include a curated beef program.

“The menu is very approachable and made with the freshest, all-natural, quality ingredients that are seasonally sourced from the area’s best local farmers,” said Chef Peterson. “The vibrancy and energy of our downtown Phoenix location is exhilarating and we are thrilled that our neighborhood restaurant is in the center of it all.”

My dinner at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails

I started with a “Sicilian Summer Spritzer” from the Seasonal Cocktails menu to go with our Starters. The Maker’s Mark, Averna, Cardomano, Lemon & Soda libation reminded me of a Long Island Iced Tea from years past and I could had a second or third of this refreshing cocktail. One of the first to offer “craft cocktails” other signature cocktails include the Blue Hound Signature Old Fashioned, Buffalo Tears, Red & Smokey and more with an emphasis on bourbon & whiskey. Craft beer on draft & in bottle and wines are also available. My photos can be found on my Instagram, @SandyWass.

My dinner guest and I started with the Mushroom Pate with carrot jam, pickled onions & charred toast points. All was good with the carrot jam having the most flavor. We also shared the Beef Cheek Poutine with cheese curds, giardinerra & bone marrow gravy. The look to be house cut fries could’ve been a bit crisper but still  it’s a nice twist on a favorite from north of the border. Other dished that sounded good but not ordered on this visit were the Rolled & Fried Chicken Thighs and the Charred Octopus.

My guest ordered the Iberico Secreto (Iberico, the Wagyu of Spain ham, fatty shoulder meat) with bbq fennel, Pt. Reyes grits & cherry mustrda for his entree and he was happy. I went with Chef’s Cut of The Day which was a 16 oz. Rib Eye with Pt. Reyes Blue Cheese chips, spinach & mushrooms. A nice outside darkness and rare-medium rare middle was a filling piece of beef. Then BHKC burger sounded good as did the duck breast. We finished our meal with a dessert special of Homemade Pound Cake with espresso gelato and caramel sauce. The cake was thick and dense, not you mom’s pound cake.

Feeling adventurous then “Trust the Team” with a five course dinner on the whim of the culinary team. A wine and cocktail pairing can be had with this dinner option.

For more information and to see the menu visit the Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails website.

 

 

Liberty Market to host Dead Restaurant dinner March 21st.

Joe Johnson and the chefs at Liberty Market in Gilbert are paying homage to the “Dead’ (closed) restaurants that they honed their culinary skills at on Monday March 21st. The is a Community Dinner and the menu is as follows……

Dead Restaurant Revival Menu

Smoked AZ Grass-fed Beef Carpaccio, Roasted Peppers, Caciocavallo and Basil Oil (Cal’s, NYC)

Open Saffron Ravioli with Pan Seared Seafood and Red Chile Beurre Blanc (Cafe Terra Cotta, Scottsdale) Where I honed my restaurant skills & learned about food and wine.

Calamari Salad with Yuzu Dressing (Bloom, Scottsdale)

Duck Confit Shepard Pie, Creamed Corn and Truffled Pomme Puree (Feenie’s Bistro, Vancouver, BC)

Crochettes, Italian Almond Donuts with Trio of Dipping Sauces (Fiamma, Scottsdale)

The dinner is open to the public with sign up at the Liberty Market Strada Bar. Limited seating is available for up to 30 people.

Dinner will start at 6:30pm. Cost for dinner is $60 per person, and an additional $20 per person with our wine and cocktail pairing.

Liberty Market N. Gilbert Rd. (480) 892-1900 www.libertymarket.com