What the cluck! Koi Poke now offers chicken for its bowls

Poke the trendy bowl with raw fish, rice and assorted healthy toppings is getting a makeover. At least at Koi Poke as they’re now offering chicken as a protein instead of fish at their 5 Phoenix area locations. Guests can add grilled white meat chicken in three portion sizes to their white or brown rice or spring mix base, Small (4 oz.) $9, Medium (6 oz.) $11 and Large (8 oz.) $13.

Fresh lobster, Yellowtail, shrimp, Hawaiian tuna and more fish toppings are always available.

After adding your protein you can top it with any or all of the toppings available. A few of the toppings include kale, Brussel sprouts, cucumber, jalapenos, cilantro and more. Looking to “sauce it up” you can add teriyaki or house made Sriracha aioli to your bowl and finally garnish it with crispy onions, garlic or other options.

Koi Poke has locations at……

DC Ranch 18221 N. Pima Rd., #100-105, Scottsdale 85255 480-209-1137

Arcadia 4280 E. Indian School Rd., #108, Phoenix 85018 602-368-2222

The SHOPS Gainey Village 8977 N. Scottsdale Rd., #500, Scottsdale 85253 480-306-8440

The Plant 4041 S. Gilbert Rd., #1, Chandler 85249 480-361-6533

Scottsdale Waterfront 7135 E. Camelback Rd., #175, Scottsdale 85251 480-454-4957

For more information check out their website.

VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen spices it up in Tempe

Restaurateur Ron Lynch is no stranger to opening restaurants having opened over 100 Tilted Kilt’s across the country.  Having left Tilted Kilt, Lynch has opened VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen. The restaurant on Elliot Rd. near Costco serves up Cajun, Creole & Caribbean cuisine.

VooDoo Daddy's Steam Kitchen
Jambalaya. Photos credit Janet Zhou-Wilt

“We are excited about our location and have really put a lot of work into this menu,” said owner and founder, Ron Lynch. “If there’s one thing to know about Cajun food it’s that the dishes have to be just right. Our patio will be a place for families to people watch, sip some custom blended ice teas, porch wines, nitro cold brew coffee or a craft beer and enjoy a nice bowl of gumbo or jambalaya.”

Lynch brought with him James Heyl to prepare the menu full of savory and spicy dishes. Heyl brings with over 25 years of restaurant experience. Dishes include Po’ Boys, gumbo, red beans & rice and pan roasts from the restaurants steam kettles.

The bright yellow 3,150 square foot restaurant is decorated with murals of late night jazz players dancing on piano keys. Dark wood floors and brick walls adorn the inside of the fast casual restaurant.

VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen official grand opening

VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen is now open but will have an official grand opening on Thursday May 16th at 11 a.m. That day a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Tempe Diablos. The 501-c non-profit civic organization enhances and promotes the Tempe community. In 2018 the Diablos donated $900,000 to Tempe area charities for scholarships, teacher awards and needs based services.

VooDoo Daddy's Steam Kitchen
Pork Po’boy

“The recipe for a great restaurant is incredible food and drinks, a perfect location and rich atmosphere,” said Lynch. “VooDoo Daddy’s has all of that and more. We couldn’t be more excited for this launch.”

VooDoo Daddy’s Steam Kitchen is at 1325. W. Elliot Rd. Suite 106 Tempe 85284. The restaurant is open Sun. – Thurs. from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. & 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Fri. & Sat. For more information see their website.

The Bodhi is packed with healthy food & information

Fast casual and healthy eating continue  to be priorities in the local restaurant community heading into 2018 and the newly opened The Bodhi in Tempe checks both boxes.

For those looking to extend new year resolutions to eat healthy as long as possible this restaurant can help you extend it.

Steak and eggs bowl. All photos courtesy of The Bodhi

In the heart of downtown Tempe on College Ave. will serve more than the  ASU crowd with its organic vegetables and vitamin rich foods at an affordable price.

The Bodhi provides

Whether you’re building a bowl, having salad or taking a cold pressed juice on the run all ingredients are crafted for a healthy and nutritious diet with research to see which ingredients and combinations work best.

Their blog provides information and facts on nutrition and healthy habits for its customers.

521 S. College Ave #112 Tempe 85281. Full menu and more! (480)699-0409Bodhi

 

Chicken is the main ingredient Chick-In on the ASU campus

Chicken is the #1 food trend for 2018 according to Nation’s Restaurant News which is great news for the local quick casual concept Chick-In. Located on the ASU campus in Tempe, Chick-In uses chicken as the main ingredient in its Mediterranean inspired cuisine with an emphasis on authentic Israeli dishes.

Owner Yariv Elazar is from Israel opened Chick-In in May of this year with head chef Maayan Glass who wanted to bring authentic dishes of his homeland to the ASU campus.  Israeli cuisine is #3 on the list of top food trends of 2018.Chicken The versatility of chicken as a protein and its affordability are two of the reasons it placed at the top of the list released in early November.

That versatility and affordability are evident on the menu at Chick-In with an assortment of sandwiches, platters, bowls along with vegan options as well. The restaurant also keeps kosher. All meals are made fresh to order and Grab & Go salads are made fresh daily.

Chick-In is in Wilson Hall at 24 E. Orange Mall Tempe 85281. 480-665-2185.  For hours and to see the menu visit their website.

 

Fast casual Thai Chili 2 Go coming to north Scottsdale

Fast casual dining continues to pick up momentum on the culinary scene with poke, pizza, salads and burritos. Now you can add Thai cuisine to the fast casual menu of eateries as Thai Chili 2 Go will be opening its 5th valley location at The Promenade in north Scottsdale in late November.

Thai Chili 2 Go has 4 east valley location and this will be their first location west of the Loop 101 as they expand westward.

“With our other restaurants, we have made a name for ourselves by offering customers authentic Thai recipes, exotic flavors and freshly made cuisine in a quick-serve setting that allows guests to come in, get a great meal and go about their day,” said owner Akshat Sethi. “We feel that Scottsdale’s diverse clientele of daytime professionals and residential diners with sophisticated palates are primed for a Thai Chili 2 Go in their neighborhood — and we’re excited to bring it to them.”

Thai Chili 2 Go menu

The user friendly menu offers affordable and delicious that are fresh-to-order and help to introduce Thai cuisine to the masses. Starters such as dumpling and Spring Rolls,  Thai Hot & Sour soup and traditional Thai entrees that include Spicy Eggplant, Red Curry, Pad Prig Pao, Drunken Noodles and Thai Chow Mein and more.

If eating at the restaurant  isn’t part of your plan Thai Chili 2 Go has several options including partnering with UberEats, Postmates, Door Dash and Grubhub to deliver food to your door.  To save time you can order online or on the mobile app in advance so you can pick up you food and skip the line.

Grand opening specials

To celebrate the opening of the Scottsdale location a month long celebration in December will offer guest discounts and free food. Follow Thai Chili 2 Go on social media to find out  specific dates and promotions in the coming weeks.

Thai Chili 2 Go will be at 16203 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 105. See their website for other locations and to keep up with them.

 

 

 

Farm & Craft to open along 7th Street restaurant row in Phoenix

Scottsdale’s Farm & Craft is set to open its 2nd location in the spot recently vacated by The Herb Box at The Colony along the popular 7th St. corridor in north central Phoenix. Riot Hospitality Group, owner of Farm & Craft and other local restaurants and bars plans to open the new location in early 2018 after the renovations are complete.

Photos Captured by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography

Farm & Craft offers guests a healthy and sustainable food and drink menu all in a fast casual atmosphere during breakfast and lunch and a full service restaurant experience during dinner.  The menu will be similar to that of  the Scottsdale location and guests will notice a different design to the Phoenix location as the neighborhood it serves is different and the owners like to adapt to those differences.

“We are very excited to open another Farm & Craft in the Valley,” says Ryan Hibbert, CEO of Riot Hospitality Group. “We saw an opportunity to bring this unique concept to The Colony and we plan to continue to grow the brand.”

Farm & Craft
Photos Captured by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography

The Wellness Menu offered at Farm & Craft focuses on optimal health through four specific philosophies, “anti-inflammatory diet”, “increasing pro-biotic levels”, “maintaining a high level of anti-oxidants” and “reducing overall stress”. This is done by working with local suppliers to create a menu that uses ingredients that are local, gluten-free, hormone free, organic and sustainable.

Photos Captured by Peter Speyer | Speyer Photography

Farm & Craft offers a juice program that features cold pressed juices and “Kombucha Cocktails”. Signature “Cold Pressed Cocktails” use organic spirits are available at the indoor/outdoor bar as are local beers and unique wines poured from the tap.

With the 2016 opening of the Scottsdale location and the anticipated success of the Phoenix location, Riot Hospitality plans to continue to expand the Farm & Craft brand locally and nationally.

Farm & Craft will be at 5538 N. 7th St. Phoenix 85014.

Blaze Fast- Fire’d Pizza to open 6th location in Glendale

Glendale will be the home of the 6th Arizona location of Blaze Fast- Fire’d Pizza come Friday June 23rd.

The Irvine, California-based fast casual artisan pizza maker will call the northeast corner of Bell Rd. and 79th Ave home to its 1,700 square foot restaurant that will seat 68 people inside and on the patio.

Blaze Fast- Fire'd Pizza
Blaze Fast- Fire’d Pizza assembly line

The Blaze Fast- Fire’d Pizza difference

The chef driven restaurant has a menu of pizza and salads created by executive chef and Culinary Institute of America graduate Bradford Kent, “The Pizza Whisperer”. What makes the Blaze’s pizza different is the dough which needs 24 hours for fermentation in order to give it a light and crispy crust. Most of the ingredients use no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and fillers. The restaurant also offers gluten-free dough and vegan cheese.

Signature pizzas are available as are a :create your own” option with all pizzas use fresh ingredients before being baked in a hot oven for just 3 minutes. All pizzas cost about $8 and beer and wine is available.

“Our mission at Blaze is really simple – we’re taking pizza back to its roots, “said Jim Mizes, president & COO of Blaze Pizza.  “By making dough in-house, carefully sourcing ingredients, and cooking by fire, we’re giving guests a great way to enjoy artisanal pizza without the wait.  It’s changing the way people think about and eat pizza.”

Grand Opening

When the doors open at 11 a.m. on June 23rd all guests that come in until 10 p.m. and follow Blaze on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook will receive a FREE “create your own” pizza. A DJ will be providing entertainment starting at 4:30 p.m.

Commitment to Pizza, People and Planet

Blaze’s attention to details is not just for its pizzas but for their almost 200 restaurants across the United States and Canada. Each restaurant is constructed with recycled and sustainable materials, uses eco-friendly packaging and uses energy-efficient lighting.

Their commitment to the community extends to its donating 20% from fundraising events held at the restaurants as it partners with local sports clubs, schools and  other organizations as they host fundraisers. http://www.blazepizza.com/