*******UPDATE ****CAFE BINK IS NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS********

Cafe Bink is a less formal version of Binkley’s Restaurant. Binkley’s Restaurant is very formal – created by James Beard Nominated Chef Binkley who has formerly worked at Chef Thomas Keller’s famous Restaurant – The French Laundry in Napa California. Talented Chef and Partner Chef Justin Olsen leads the kitchen at Cafe Bink in beautiful Carefree Arizona.

Cafe Bink is a small sort of classic looking restaurant with an outdoor patio that overlooks mountains and the desert.

Cafe Bink offers a small but quality menu whatever time of day you visit them. They are also well know for their legendary Belgium Fries that are twice cooked and come with three dipping sauces.

I got an email about the Tomato Dinner and I knew it would be something special so I made my reservation and went.

They started us off with a Welcoming Snack of Tomato Tartare , Beef Tartare, Toasted Bread  and Commanderie Bargemone Rose 2015.

The Tomatoes are amazing. My photo does NOT do justice.

The finest local small sized tomatoes painstakingly have had their skin and seeds removed and are cut into the smallest cubes. The cubes are about the size of pencil points.Who does such a thing? Even if I try I doubt I can make micro tomato cubes from tiny skinned and de-seeded tomatoes. You gotta have some serious knife chops and craziness to do such a loving dish for a dining room of strangers to just gobble it up.  The very tiny tomato cubes are simply dressed with balsamic, basil and cheese but are powerful with delicious flavor. The beef tartare was nothing to sneeze at either but the tomatoes were more special.

The next course was Heirloom Tomato Salad.

The Heirloom Tomatoes were combined with avocado, pickled ginger, Thai Basil, coconut milk, cashews, jalapeños, lotus root and tomato yuzu granite. Ooooh this plate was magical….every bite was a different flavor. I don’t know what they did to every thing to make it taste that good. It’s like they did something to every ingredient to make it taste better……than it really is……Just magical….I wish this could be on the menu…even if it was only a special once in a while. Very VERY first rate…..this dish would fit in at the finest restaurant anywhere. This plate was served with Unparalled Sauvignon Blanc 2015.

The next course was called Confit Tomatoes and came with a tuna lasagna, haircut vert and olives.

The tomatoes look almost like strawberries garnishing the plate but for sure are no garnish and are delicious slow roasted and are very naturally sweet and very rich with concentrated tomato flavor. We also received a small but enough rich and creamy Tuna Lasagna. the lasagna is served cold…..but seems right that way. The olives and haricot vert marry together well with everything and Spanish Paprika just adds a finishing touch and completes the dish. Chateau Campuget Red Blend 2015 was served with this plate.

Next we get Tomato and Leek Tart paired with Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Parmesan, Broccolini and Smoked Tomato Bernaise.

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The Tenderloin is simple, succulent, juicy and cooked to a perfect medium rare and topped with a piece of broccolini.  The Tart contains Tomatoes Cheese and Leeks and has a delicate thin tasty crust. On top of the tart is this very flavorful smoked tomato bernaise sauce.  The sauce is very rich, smooth as silk and flavorful. The careful amount of smoke shows the restraint and skills the chef has. The tart had a careful balance of flavors. It was a joy to devour as it was so delicious! Offering Red Blend 2014

Dessert was Vanilla – Tomato Cheesecake with basil -lime sorbet, pine nut crust and chantilly cream.

It’s odd and different but works and really was delicious….It creamy, rich, flavorful and tasty… It taste like cheesecake……I also really like the basil – lime sorbet because it’s light as air and is the flavor my mouth is craving.

They finished up the evening with Bing’s Coffee (with Irish Cream) Nut Froth.

It was an amazing dinner to remember…The Food, The Expert Wine Parings and the incredible service. I sure hope that magical Heirloom Tomato Salad and the Incredible Tomato and Leek Tart become some sort of summer special on the Cafe Bink Menu sometime again.

The Special Event – Tomato Dinner at Cafe Pink was CERTAINLY Worth a FORK!

www.CafeBink.com

Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.