*****UPDATE NOW CLOSED FOR BUSINESS*******Little CAY Latin-Caribbean Kitchen is a casual full service Latin-Caribbean Restaurant located in Scottsdale Arizona. They have patio seating, traditional seating, booths, and seating at the bar.
Patioinside
You can order appetizers like various empanadas, shrimp in tostones (plantain) cups, plantain latkes, conch fritters and more.
Jerk Chicken Empanada & Plantain Latkes with ketchup and curry saucesmaduros (plantains)
You can get pressed sandwiches such as the famous Cuban sandwich, some of the other pressed sandwiches are the Sloppy Jose (picadillo ground beef), and a jerk chicken and Swiss sandwich. Other sandwiches offered are breadless and use Tostones (plantains) instead of bread.One is called Jibarito of churrasco and red chimichurri. The other two are grilled eggplant and grilled chicken. A few salads are offered but the main dig might be the Chop Bowls or the Classic Dinners.
Many different varieties of Chop Bowls and Classic Dinners are offered. I usually get the Kokomo bowl because it’s a FORKING YUM-Dinger!
From Little Cay in Phoenix I got the Kokomo Chop Bowl the flavors are great but you must add the special sauce o the table to it to get the whole experience.
It’s made of salad, grilled marinated chicken, yellow rice, black beans, curry mayo, rum soaked cranberries….and this is all great but then it gets even better when you add the Pique hot sauce. (or the. xtra hot pique that was offered to me on my last visit)
Seasoned Puerto Rican Hot Sauce called Pique
My husband usually gets the Dos Cays (Classic Dinner).
Dos Cays
The Dos Cays is a plate of Ropa Vieja (slow cooked beef), Lechen pork (slow cooked), yellow rice, pink beans, tostones, ajillimojilo sauce.
Tried the Pink Sands Grilled Maui Maui with added avocado as my server suggested.
The flavors of everything are wild and delicious. The flavors pop even more when you add the pique sauce. This also is a very large portion of food and might be two meals for some people.
Same story as most of the dishes…..Everything taste delicious and gets even better when you add the pique sauce…….The only thing different here is that the steak is slightly over cooked but it taste really good.
A few times we had dessert here.
Once we tried the guava empanada special.
guava empanada special
We also tried the Maduros Foster.
Another time we had the Key Lime Tartlet. So far this one was our favorite but we haven’t tried everything yet.
Key Lime Tartlet
That was a Bigger Taste of Little CAY Latin-Caribbean Kitchen in Scottsdale Arizona.
Bacanora Is a small but very well received Sonoran Mexican Restaurant and Bar located in Phoenix Arizona. They have been named by Esquire one of the best new restaurant of 2021 in America. Our local food critic said in her latest review said the Bacanora is an instant classic.
The restaurant really is very small with less that 10 tables inside, a few bar seats, and a few tables outside.
Most of the insidebar areaa few outside tables
All the cooking is done on one wood fired grill that. is very close to the bar.
the kitchen
Did you know that Bacanora is the same name as a Mexican clear alcohol from agave plants from the town of Bacanora? Speaking of alcohol Bacanora (the restaurant) offers an interesting cocktail menu. Some of the cocktails that they offer are margaritas, an Oaxacan old fashioned, something called chicken milk with mezcal and all kinds of things, micheladas, and an over the top option called Con Fuego of adding hot coals and smoking aromatics.
Oaxacan Old Fashioned (LOOK at the ice cube) and Special of the day Margarita with Tamarind
Just lke the vestibul sized restaurant the menu also isn’t the largest. They offer elote (charred corn with seasoned spiced creama and cotija cheese) as an appetizer and special of the day appetizers. The special of the day appetizers today were cucumber salad, a butternut squash appetizer and halibut aguachili.
Halibut Aguachili Special Appetizer
The main digs that they offer are a carne asada burrito, A Sonoran style (fried in fat) carne asada tostada, pollo asada and daily specials.
Pollo Asado
Today’s specials were a. shrimp and chorizo entree and a tomahawk steak.
Shrimp and Chorizo Special
I’ve been wanting to come here for a long time but read about waiting around ninety minutes for a table. I recently found out that Bacanora now takes reservations. When I made my reservation they were already booked up for a month on the days I wanted.
Everything we tried was delicious with unique flavors that you won’t find anywhere else. The food wasn’t upscale but was homestyle….meaning that you had to peel the shrimp yourself. You also had to peel the chicken skin off because it wasn’t edible. The proteins today were prepared reasonably well (slightly over (shrimp & chicken breast) and slightly under (chicken thigh & leg))) but had very good flavors. My hands smelled delicious all night long.
That was my trip to Bacanora Restaurant in Phoenix AZ.
Rags Real Chicken and Waffles is a small casual restaurant located in Youngtown Arizona. Incase you didn’t know…….Youngtown is a small-town of around six thousand in Arizona. It’s located between El Mirage and Sun City. Rags Real Chicken and Waffles offers a limited of menu chicken and waffles, fried chicken dinner, rib dinner, fried (catfish) fish dinner, fried shrimp dinner, kids meal, and a few more choices. Soft beverages are included with dinners. They do have a B.Y.O.B. sign on the wall so you can bring in your own booze. It’s not a fancy place. They have a mix of homey mix matched furniture. It’s also small and they have only three community tables and four seats at the counter. In the corner of the restaurant is a band area and dance floor.
The open kitchen is also very small. They don’t have room for a steam table so they use chafing pans on the counter to keep the sides hot. The chicken and the waffles are prepared to order so expect to wait at least fifteen minutes.
We try a dark meat chicken dinner and a white meat chicken and waffle. The White meat breast is Dolly Parton sized.
White meat chicken and waffle
The chicken in both platters is fried to perfection and both dishes the has a light crisp coating of corn meal. They are minimally seasoned so that you mostly only taste chicken. You can add salt and pepper to spice it a little more or used some hot sauce for a little zip……They also have BBQ sauce but I think it was too overpowering for the chicken…maybe it really goes with the ribs. Somehow the waffle didn’t get crushed as you would expect under that heavy breast. The waffle stayed light and fluffy. The chicken breast is really good and a very large portion. It certainly can be two meals for many people.
dark meat chicken dinner
The dark meat does have even more chicken juice and chicken flavor. It’s fried so expertly well that it doesn’t even seem fried. It’s also a large portion. The sides are like a neighbor or relative might have made them…..home style.
That was a little taste of Rags Real Chicken & Waffles in Youngtown AZ…You should be licking your fingers now!
Clever Ramen is a fast/casual Ramen Style restaurant located in the ASU part of Scottsdale Arizona. Clever Ramen is a sister restaurant of Clever Koi, Fellow Osteria, and Across The Pond. These restaurants are by Born and raised Hospitality. Clever Ramen offers Pre-Built ramen bowls, build your own ramen bowls (confit chicken thigh, lemongrass chicken breast, karaage chicken, bulgogi steak, pork belly, tofu, and soy egg), a variety of fries, extra vegetables like Korean spinach, and grilled bok choy. Extras like crispy shallots and nori. They also offer steamed buns of pork belly, Korean hot chicken, and kimchi cauliflower. They also offer soft beverages and sake cups, and canned beer and wine. We ordered and paid at the counter.
We got our drinks and sat ourselves.
It’s modern and sleek inside.
It was a nice day so we walked threw to the patio. Within only a few minutes someone runs our food to us.
We started out by trying a couple of steamed buns.
Crispy (not crispy) pork belly & Korean Hot (but not hot) chicken steamed buns
They are small so you can eat one and fit in some ramen. The better one today was the Korean hot chicken. The chicken was developed with flavors and was tasty fresh and juicy. It was good with the tasty house made pickles. It wasn’t hot it was just tasty. They put only a scant amount of sauce on mine today….it was almost dry so I hardly got any taste of Gochujang.
It wasn’t the best day for anything pork…Instead of crispy pork belly today it was mushy and chewy. Maybe it’s usually better?
I thought the Pre-Built Bowl of spicy kimchi ramen with confit chicken thigh was pretty good!
The broth is well made and taste developed with flavors. The chicken is tender and delicious. I taste kimchi but it’s not over-powering. Chili crisp is there to heat things up. The soy egg is ok but is missing that ramen taste that only mirin can give……..The only thing that can really improve are the noodles. The noodles are slightly over cooked and don’t have the chew that ramen noodles are known for. The noodles here are more like collage noodles.
My husband tried the pork ramen. Today wasn’t the best day for pork.
The crispy pork wasn’t crispy today and was mushy and chewy. The broth was weak today and the mushrooms were soggy. Maybe tomorrow this dish might be better?
That was my trip to Clever Ramen in Scottsdale AZ.
The Dish Fest is a food and drink festival based on the January/February Phoenix Magazine article naming the one hundred and one best dishes picked by Phoenix Magazine editors. This festival was held February 27/2022 at the Clayton House in Scottsdale Arizona. Ticket holders were entitled to unlimited bites and sips (hard and soft) from participants. This was an indoor and outdoor event with food trucks. Some of the proceeds benefited the Joy Bus Diner.
Here is most of what I came across in no particular order, I did skip most of the libations because the point of being here was tasting today. I couldn’t taste everything but I did sure taste a lot.
Chef Christopherfrom Christopher’sPitchBlack SheepPostinoinsideWeft and WarpWeft and WarpWeft and WarpChula SeafoodValentineObonObonOakCitizen Public HouseCitizen Public HouseCaldwell County BBQCasa De FalafelAimees Swine HouseFlavors Of LouisianaSuperstition MeaderyPA’LACasa CorazonIsland Boys Jerk HutSalsa BitesAioli BurgersRandom AFTempura takeover
That was a little taste of the 2022 Dish Fest at The Clayton House in Scottsdale AZ.
Dining out with Dogs in Metro Phoenix AZ is just a “Fluff” story about taking my dogs out to eat. It all sort of started with my dog Louie. He was elderly and diagnosed with aggressive cancer. We were told to only expect him to live 3 months more or maybe up to six. Louie couldn’t do a lot but he always enjoyed. eating and also enjoyed going out to eat so I took him out to eat as often as I could. Instead of the 3-6 month diagnosis Louie made it another 17 months. Today I take my current dogs out to eat when I can.
There are many things to know about dining out with dogs. One thing is that not all patios are dog friendly. You usually see a “Dog Friendly Patio” sign. If you don’t see a sign you must call the restaurant to find out if it is ok to bring your furry friend. It is also best to dine at off times and avoid as many people and other dogs as possible. It’s best to avoid people because some people out there really hate dogs and other people might be allergic to dogs. It’s best to avoid other dogs because dogs like to bark at each other and this can be a disturbance and you might be asked to leave.
When dining out with dogs here in Phoenix you have to consider the temperature because your dog is not as heat tolerant as you. Dogs wear fur coats, they can’t sweat and dogs also absorb heat up their paws. All people and dogs have different heat tolerances. In general 90 degrees F and higher is. too hot to dine out with dogs. When there is any doubt it is always better to keep your furry friend heathy and leave them safe at home.
Do you know that most food and drink that you consume can be harmful or even TOXIC to your dog? You need to get a list of safe foods and foods to avoid from your veterinarian. Usually a small lean piece of un-sauced meat is a safe bet. You should also bring a doggie water bowl with you so your dog can have some water.
Now that you have made to the restaurant patio with your dog you need to know that there are rules to dining out with dogs. Dogs must be close and by your side at all times. Dogs are NOT permitted to sit on restaurant furniture or eat off of restaurant plates.
Wraps ‘N’ Curry is an Indian fast food but made from fresh casual located in North Phoenix. They offer wraps on fresh made to order wraps, fresh baked other breads, and Indian dishes. They recently got a community patio at the strip mall near the restaurant so we took the dogs there.
Today I got the goa fish curry.
I think it’s tasty. I lick the sauce off of the fish for the dogs because some of the spices might not agree with them.
My husband had a spicy chicken wrap………sort of……He asked them not to put the sauce on…….but they did anyway.
It was dressed with mint mayo (and my husband won’t eat mayo) so he only picked at it and left the fresh made bread because of the mayo. (he ate something when we got home)
www.WrapsNCurry.business.site
4221 W Bell Rd PHX AZ
602-866-1907
Another restaurant that we went to was The Craftsman Cocktails and Kitchen in North Scottsdale. They are a craft American kitchen. They have a very nice dog friendly patio and the food is very good there. They also are a distillery too! One of their dishes that my husband LOVES there is the muffuletta and had it several times already. It’s served on house made herbed focaccia and he got it with their tasty house made potato chips.
I had the fish and chips….but without the chips and substituted a salad.
The Craftsman vodka crust on the fish is shattering crisp and fresh cod is the flakiest cod that I have ever had. The dogs enjoyed the cod ass well as some parts of the muffuletta.
www.TheCraftsmanAZ.com
20469 N Hayden Rd Scottsdale AZ
480-401-1102
We also went to Cucina Tagliani in North Glendale. They are an. American Italian Restaurant. They offer sandwiches, salads, build your own pasta dishes and offer more vegetable sides than most places that are similar. They also offer pizzas, pork ribs, a few steaks, some other entrees, and more.
I got a strawberry chicken salad.
The chicken was a little dry today but my dogs didn’t mind.
“Wining!!!!” “We get MORE chicken when it’s dry!” “WHOOHOO!”
My husband got the Stromboli today.
“Stromboli is always a good choice.”
“We are ready for some more chicken!”
www.CuucinaTagliani.ccom
17045 N 59th Ave Glendale AZ
602-547-2782
We also took the dogs to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They specialize in serving the Banh Mi Baguette sandwiches and offer around a dozen different varieties. They also offer other Vietnamese favorites except for pho.
Today I got the curry chicken with rice.
My husband got the beef banh mi (the beef really is very good here…….It’s tender like filet mignon but it is really ribeye)
Portions are very large (and prices are low) so we have plenty to share.
We always enjoy going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.
www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com
2340 W Bell Rd PHX AZ
602-843-3637
Well that was Dinning Out With DOGS inn Metro Phoenix for February 2022. We hope that you’ve enjoyed and we hope to see you next month!
The Forking TruthIn Memory of Louie 5-5-2001 – 3-3-2017
Harumi Sushi & Sake iis a small casual sushi restaurant that recently opened in North Peoria Arizona. They also have their first and original location in downtown Phoenix. Their sushi is a bit unique and differs some from most other sushi restaurants. It’s made with healthier purple forbidden rice that does have a slightly different taste. The big deal here is that the fish they select to use is from fresh and was never frozen. This kind of fish gives you that melt in your mouth texture…… They use shipped overnight Scottish salmon and Nova Scotian tuna. They top most fish with fresh wasabi that is not from concentrate. Sushi is a treat here!
Inside is small and tight.
We were packed in like sardines.
The tables were so close that we couldn’t get out until the table behind us got up.
Depending on where you are sitting plates might be flying over your head.
We started with a specialty roll called The Hot Havana.
It is hot but is made with the kind of fish that melts in your mouth. I like that they make the rolls with a thin layer of rice so you don’t get too stuffed. This Hot Havana Roll was made with yellowtail, cucumber, avocado, jalapeños and mango habanero sauce.
The yellowtail collar (hamachi kama) was fried and served in ponzu sauce with lemon.
Today this was overcooked and dry….Usually this is the best part of the fish because the collar is the most flavorful and succulent part……We weren’t checked on.
Our last plate was the blue fin tuna nigiri and seared salmon nigiri. (my husband said that he checked Toro and un-seared salmon……???)
Both nigiri were were melt in your mouth fresh.
Service today wasn’t the best. In addition to not asking how the collar was and possibly serving fish different than what we ordered…….the Forking Truth is that nobody even considered clearing out our three rounds of plates.
Service can use improvement but the sushi is what you come for here and really was melt in your mouth fresh.
They were still constructing a patio on our visit that might be ready by now?
First & Last at this time (Feb/22) is a newly opened modern American restaurant located in downtown Phoenix Arizona. They serve an ever changing seasonal menu of starters plates and vegetable plates, fresh pastas, and interesting and different entrees, cocktails, local beers, small production wines and more!
Innside might be shotgun style. The restaurant is mostly long and narrow but also is open and airy. There is a high ceiling with hanging plants and lanterns.
In the picture below if you look at the middle of the picture above the bar you might be able to see that they also have some seating above the bar.
They also have a small patio with a few smaller tables.
Tonight we sat inside.
We started out by sharing a vegetable plate of butternut squash.
Butternut squash
The butternut squash was adorned with a little heat from chilis, some sweetness from grapes, some yum from pine nuts and was tied together with a ras el hanout (Moroccan spice blend) vinaigrette. This was interesting and different and not too heavy.
But my GOSH!! The WINNER WINNER was the Chicken Dinner called Chicken Et Crouton. It was FORKING FANTABULOUS!
This chicken was developed with delicious flavors and was so tender and deliciously juicy…….It just was a YUM! DINGER! Chilis, crispy Swiss chard, sweet tomatoes, lemon and rosemary pan sauce just enhanced everything and there also was this fresh made focaccia in there that just soaked up all the goodness. I do have to say that this was one FANTABULOUS dish.
My husband tried the grilled quail dish. We both were a little worried that it would be dry because almost nobody knows how to prepare quail.
No worries here! This quail was moist and delicious! It came with a little spinach, goat cheese, truffle salt, farro porridge in a brown butter jus.
I made sure that I save a little room to try dessert. They only had one dessert tonight and it was a cheesecake. Generally we both are not fans of cheesecake but we were assured that the cheesecake here wasn’t the typical cheesecake that is heavy and dense (and taste sour to me).Tonights dessert was a lemon ricotta cheesecake with a little fig jam.
It’s not a beauty but……….
It was embellished with fresh whipped cream and a little sharp tasting fig jam. The cheesecake is LIGHT and fluffy, not too sweet, with a really great cheese taste……..(It taste like my own home made ricotta)………I have to ask about the cheese and I was right. The chef made the cheese too for this dessert. I can taste it. WOW! what a great dessert this was!
First & Last Restaurant Phoenix AZ – Fantabulous Modern American Cuisine – Worth a Fork!
Worth A Fork!
First & Last
www.FirstandLastPHX.com
1001 N 3RD AVE PHX AZ
602-975-8297
Parking may or may not be difficult because it is in downtown Phoenix. They have a few parking spaces by the entrance and there is a small free parking garage across the street.
Chilli King is a tiny postage stamp sized family ran Asian Take out restaurant located in Glendale a couple miles from Old Town Glendale. This restaurant is mainly for take out but does have four small tables inside that are for dining in. They offer a mostly American – Chinese Take Out menu with some other Asian additions like Thai coconut curry, Korea spicy chicken, Singapore rice noodles, fried eggs and tomato, and spicy boiled beef or chicken. Soft bottled and canned beverages are available. There is also a children’s menu of orange chicken and honey sesame chicken.
pretty much the whole inside
We ordered and I was told that I can upgrade my steamed rice to fried rice or chow mein. So. we picked one of each so we could try them…….Latter I read on the menu that steamed vegetables are an upgrade too! We paid at the front desk and sat ourselves at one of the tables.
Shortly our food arrived safely packed.
We tried the crispy chicken dumplings.
They were tasty and didn’t seem greasy at all and came with dumpling sauce for dipping.
My husband tried Szechuan beef.
The beef is tender and is developed with flavors…..It is a little spicy but not nearly as spicy as the Korea spicy chicken.
This is very spicy and delicious…..(also an ultra large portion………)
Here is the fried rice and chow mein.
The chow mein is extra mild so it can go with everything. The fried rice has a good amount of egg in it and is accented with a few peas here and there…..it’s a little different…..maybe a little tomato-ee?
We went back and ordered some take out.
Take out has some rules here that might not be explained to you………..They don’t start making your order till you pay……That means if you are are doing take out you need to pay by credit card…..Or you will have to wait a half hour or so if you pay by cash when you get there.
Everything was very flavorful and delicious!….The portions were extra-super large…….You. get two thru more servings…………The spicy boiled chicken was very spicy and really great! It was far better and far more spicy than the last one I had at Mekong Plaza somewhere. (But I think the owner at Mekong mellowed it down when he looked at me……IDW that happens… but that kind of thing has happened to me several times)……I guess I just look like a person that can’t handle spice and heat…..Or maybe the type of person that would complain about spice and heat???????????
I have to say Chilli King Asian Food is Worth a Fork! Everything was very flavorful and they offer the Ultra Spicy! Prices are low and portions run extra large.
Worth A Fork!
www.ChilliKing.US
4721 W Olive Ave Glendale AZ
623-440-1900
I do note that hours on their website and hours on menu do differ both are different and do differ from actual hours….It seems that they did change their hours a few times. I recommend to call them for their hours. At the time of my visit they open at 1:00 every day.
Wren & Wolf Restaurant is located in Downtown Phoenix Arizona. It’s a very swanky spacious restaurant that serves craft cocktails and food.
It’s a mix of fancy and rich inside accented with taxidermy and paintings of wolves and wren and has a sort of retro feel.
We try craft cocktails called Fredricksons.
It has one single large ice cube. This is really strong but very smooth and not sweet. It’s the type of drink that might make you sprout hair on your chest. It’s made of rye, vermouth, Alpine & French liqueurs, saline, and citrus smoke.
For dining we started with the full bread service and stuffed peppadew peppers.
On the top tier are small puffy cheesy pao de queyo breads (Brazilian cheese breads). They are nice and light and go with the truffle butter in the fancy egg shaped container. I’ve had Brazilian cheese breads before and these are much puffier and lighter. There also is sweet chili butter in the ramekin that goes with the bing bread (flat breads……the bing bread today is a little too greasy for me) On the lower level and on the right side is a generous amount of fresh grilled local Noble Bread that is very good. This really is too much for two people but it’s a treat and we don’t mind bringing the leftovers home.
The stuffed peppadews are really great with all kinds of flavors and textures dancing around in your mouth. The peppers are stuffed with local Crow’s Dairy goat cheese. Charred romesco, Marcona almonds and local citrus enhance the plate.
For dinner I tried the wild Tasmanian salmon.
The salmon is prepared a tad over done but is reasonably well prepared. It’s a little different with bitter arugula, curry finagling potatoes and finished with serrano lime glaze. They must have accidentally gave me extra potatoes….They sure are way more than I can eat. I didn’t mind bringing them home for another time.
My husband tried the dry aged meatloaf and they were nice enough to let him substitute their mac’n’cheese for the buttermilk mashed potatoes that are normally served wit it.
Great Swap!!!! That macaroni and cheese is really very good! I was told that the meatloaf had a really great sauce one it……but it was an off day for meatloaf because my husband said that its was the driest meatloaf that he has ever tried…….The management apologized sincerely and made things right with us the best that they could.
Tonight I really. didn’t have room for dessert but. the manager insisted that we try one. The house specialty dessert is a bourbon butter cake with lots of ultra rich toppings, like cream cheese frosting, bourbon caramel, bananas foster, and candied pecans…… that might be delicious and did sound hard to pass up…….We tried the lime tart that seemed a little lighter and refreshing.
This lime tart really is VERY GOOD and is among the better lime tarts that I have tried. It’s not too heavy or too sweet with a nice bright lime taste. It also has a very tasty pecan crust.
That was a little taste of Wren and Wolf Restaurant in Downtown Phoenix AZ
www.WrenandWolf.com
2 N Central Ave Phoenix AZ
602-562-3510
You can get validated parking at Renaissance Square Garage on 1st Ave
