Hand Cut Burgers and Chophouse is located in Scottsdale by The Scottsdale Fashion Mall. This is a full service restaurant with a bar that offers appetizers, sandwiches, salads, burgers, steaks, other dinners and more.
They offer high top tables, booths and bar seating. Three turntables are by the front of the restaurant for music. Sports are playing on big screen televisions.
From most seats you can view the open kitchen and the cold prep area.
Today we came for lunch and I went with a Chop Salad with added salmon ($10.00 + $7.00 subject to change and it it did just change……….just a few days ago they updated the menu and the chopped salad now does indeed differ some but is the same in price).
I received a plate of fresh greens, corn kernels, blueberries, goat cheese, pine nuts with blueberry balsamic dressing. All is OK here. (****NOTE the menu has changed slightly as of October 1st 2019)
My husband got the Steak Salad ($15.00 subject to change) (this one is still the same on the menu)
Here was fresh greens, sliced flank steak, blue cheese, garlic croutons, tomato, avocado with balsamic vinaigrette. All is ok here too.
Both salads were made with fresh greens and were made with a generous amount of delicious cheese.
That was my trip to Hand Cut Burgers and Chophouse in Scottsdale.
www.HandCutChophouse.com
Hand Cut Burgers and Chophouse is of the Riot Hospitality Group of restaurants that include Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, El Hefe, Farm and Craft and Riot House.
Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.
J&G Steakhouse is an upscale restaurant located in the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona. The Steakhouse menu offers much variety with slight Asian Accents done by French techniques. The menu is also offers a few dishes of the namesake celebrity chef Jean-George Vongerichten. At this time the current executive chef is French Trained Jacques Qualin who has worked with chef Jean-George Vongerichten.
The restaurant overlooks the beautiful resort grounds and golf course.
The seating is sort of set up orchestra style with different levels so everyone can have a view.
On this visit it happened to be restaurant week and J&G Steakhouse offered an ultra amazing detailed generous three course menu for $44.00 a person.
They start everyone out with hot fresh slightly salted Parker House Rolls and butter…..I’ve been here before so I knew we had to order the black truffle cheese fritters ($11.00 subject to change).
Six TINY marble sized balls of pure JOY! So easy to woof down…….One person could easily eat all of them.
They just taste SOOOooooooooooOOOOOOh FORKING GREAT! Yummy delicious comte cheese black truffles that actually taste like black truffles and this ultra thin crisp miracle shell that holds in so much treasure. These are just SO FORKING GREAT!
We both went with the restaurant week menu.
My first dish was the smoked salmon toast.
WOW! It stunning! Sliced smoked silky salmon, salmon roe, borage flowers, dill, shaved cucumber, creamy spread and toasted quality bread and the most amazing delicious micro herbs and sprouts. Take a closer look.
This was so detailed…the flavors in the micro herbs were OUT OF BOUNDS and were so FRESH……I forgot to ask if they grow them there because that’s what they tasted like.
My husband started with the longevity noodles.
This was a generous bowl of noodles with three grilled wild shrimp in a ginger broth with pea shoots , herbs and chili.
For my main I had the slowly cooked arctic char.
The arctic char was so creamy and mild it almost was like custard. I rarely eat the skin but it was delicious here and was seasoned to perfection. The green in the middle of the plate is wood sorrel and wood sorrel emulsion…..It’s sort of like green borscht on the plate and adds a nice interest between the fish and the rest of the plate. The other side of the plate are perfectly cooked chanterelles (what a treat like $50 a pound at AJ’s and always in bad shape). The little slices aren’t potatoes but are pan fried slices of lighter more vegetal kohlrabi. This was really a stunning dinner….This dinner alone was worth $44.00 that restaurant week cost.
My husband had the grilled PRIME sirloin cap.
This plate also came with roasted Japanese Eggplant, chimichurri sauce, wine sauce, fresh herbs and Fresno-garlic marmalade. Stunning plate with strong bold flavors.
Then we shared TWO desserts.
One was a poached pear covering amaretto ganache in a hazelnut frangipane with some sort of white chocolate puffs.
The other was a molten chocolate lava cake with caramel ice cream and a crunchy sweet laced edible snow flake.
By the way…This was FORKING GREAT!
J&G Steakhouse at The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale AZ was Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork! Worth driving across town for!
www.JGSteakhouseScottsdale.com
Every thing is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
Arizona Fall 2019 Restaurant Week runs September 20th – 29th and somewhere around two hundred restaurants are participating. They are offering three course special meals for $33.00 and $44.00. A few restaurants are offering TWO for $33.00 and TWO for 44.00 deals. Zinc Bistro is among the participating restaurants offering a special restaurant week menu ($44.00).
Zinc Bistro is a New York Style Parisian Restaurant in Scottsdale Arizona in the Kierland Commons.
The atmosphere is sort of an old fashioned look with a tin ceiling and classic fixtures and traditional seating indoors, or at the bar, on the patio or the courtyard.
If you have an appetite for shellfish an oyster bar and other shellfish is available in addition to the menus.
The traditional French Onion Soup has been featured on Food Network’s Best Thing I Ever Ate so I had to start with that since it was on the restaurant week menu.
It taste like a high quality gruyere with a little snip of chives. Ohhhhhh It’s DELICIOUSSSSSSSSSSS! I don’t know why so much cheese is melted on the outside of the bowl. A toasted piece of baguette holds up the cheese. The soup is so different…and amazing. It’s not at all what I expected……It’s so caramelized onion-ee It taste just like confit onions well maybe because they are confit onions. Those onions are melty and must have been slow roasted for around 8-12 hours with bay leaves, pepper, herbs and a big splash of something I’m not very familiar with maybe Pernod? Oh it’s delicious and Forking Amazing. WOW!
My husband started with the Escargot Bougugnon.
There’s an interesting spice blend on the escargot. It’s herbs de Provence, garlic, parsley, pernod and a little heat from Calabrian Chile. There is also a rich slice of brioche.
My main was the Blackened Alaskan Halibut.
It’s almost too pretty to eat! There’s flowers, pretty vegetables and special seasonings. Now I go to taste some fish. I never had anything blackened that tasted this delicious and complex before. It’s sort of spicy but lightly smokey and fruity with other flavors mixed in. The halibut is very tender, moist and flakes. Under the center piece of fish is a breaded green tomato in a pickled tomato remoulade. YUM! what a treat! There’s another dab of something green and creamy and chopped up onion and celery and a little tempura fried oyster. This plate was very detailed and Forking DELICIOUS!
My husband had the Compart Farms Pork Tenderloin.
All kinds of wonderful things were on this plate. There was escarole with ventreche (pork belly seasoned and with smoke), choucroute ( a type of French sour kraut) and caramelized apple hydromel (honey and water liquor that is fermented or mead).
Then we got to share TWO desserts!
One was the Upside Down Apple Tart Tatin that was topped with malted cascara ice cream. Other goodies here were luxardo cherries and cocoa nib crumble. YUM!
The other dessert was a Peanut Butter Eclair.
It had Nutella Pastry Cream and Strawberry Ganache with pretty flowers. It was suppose to come with Foie Gras Powder but I asked them to leave that off. I liked how this was so different and the strawberry ganache wasn’t too sweet either and had lots of strong strawberry flavor.
It was a lovely very detailed three course dinner that we both enjoyed!
Restaurant Week Fall 2019 at Zinc Bistro was worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.ZincBistro.com
Every THING is subject to change and your exsperience may or may NOT differ.
Dog Haus is a quick/casual restaurant located in Scottsdale Arizona in the Scottsdale Quarter. They serve beef hot dogs, nitrate free sausage, angus burgers, a fried chicken sandwich, plant based (burgers/sausages) on grilled King’s Hawaiian Rolls kind of place. They also offer craft beers and milkshakes. This is a growing California group of restaurants with over 30 locations in the United States.
You order at the counter.
Then you pay, grab a number, get your drinks and seat yourself inside or at one of the four small tables outside.
I was all set to get an Impossible Burger (meatless). I’ve tried Impossible Burgers from three different places and they all tasted different so I was curious on how an Impossible Burger from Dog Haus would taste …….. Then I saw the September Special and it sounded so much more interesting I had to get that.
The September Special is BUBU’s Hot Chicken Grilled Cheese by chef Eric Greenspan ($10.99 with $1.00 donated to No Kid Hungry). It sounded really special so that’s what I got but slightly adjusted for my taste.
OMG it’s so heavy and big I can’t pick it up. If I eat this whole thing I’ll look like Eric Greenspan.
I have to cut the sandwich in half. This sandwich has all kinds of sauces and chipotle mayo on it……so I cut out the cheeses for my taste because this is enough fat for me. DANG this powerfully flavorful. The chicken is very crispy, moist and meaty and has chef Greenspan’s hot chili oil all over it and his angry dust…..It’s a delicious taste. I taste bay leaves and other spices. It’s spicy but not too spicy. There’s LOTS of creamy cole slaw that cools things down just right with that sort sweet soft crisp grilled Hawaiian Rolls. That crisp pickle adds another pop. I do taste a small piece with cheese and I honestly think this sandwich is much better without the cheese sauce or cheese because you can’t taste all the delicious flavors as much with all that cheese. It’s a delicious sandwich. Chef Greenspan should sell his chili oil and angry seasoning…..It’ all yum here!
My husband enjoyed his Italian Sausage sandwich called The Fonz ($7.99). It’s an Italian Hot Sausage, pastrami and mozzarella cheese with caramelized onions and pickled peppers also on grilled King’s Hawaiian Buns.
We also shared onion rings ($3.49).
This is a very large portion…I wonder if they gave us extra? Anywho the rings seem like they are free of oil and are very crisp but not the most flavorful…..I’d try fries or tots next time.
That was my trip to Dog Haus in Scottsdale – Tasty enough to WOOF it down!
www.ScottsdaleQuarter.DogHaus.com
Everything is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
The Phoenician Tavern is a casual pub kind of restaurant located by the golf course at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale Arizona.
When you get to the gate keeper’s booth and stop…then turn right to get to the Phoenician Tavern. Next walk up the steps or hop on the elevator and you’re here.
Reservation or not the hostess will ask your name and you will be address by your name from your server.
We make are way to the dining room.
There are tv’s on the walls, dark furniture, matching wood trim and neutral colors and big windows around the room.
There’s views of the golf course from most of the windows.
They offer a lot of variety on the menu….There are all kinds of snacks like chips, dips, hot chicken and wings. There is fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, prime rib, burgers, salads, soup and more.
Today I went with the warm citrus salmon sandwich on toasted dill bread. ($17.00 subject to change)
Sandwiches are held together with cute golf tee picks.
The sandwich is STUFFED with LOTS of reasonably fresh tasting salmon that cooked around medium well but is still juicy.
Also in the sandwich is peppery arugula and a sweet heirloom tomato slice. The lightly grilled dill bread is also brushed with a lemon curry mayo. Sides that come with the sandwiches are fries, sweet potato fries and the pub salad that comes with mustard vinaigrette. I picked the pub salad and it’s light, tasty and refreshing. I notice that the cucumbers sure didn’t come from Safeway because these are crisp, sweet tasting and also are de-seeded.
My husband tried the smoked wagu tri tip French dip ($16.00 subject to change).
There is caramelized onions on the sandwich. There is also Camelback IPA mustard that my husband said is especially good. The smoked wagu tri tip is flavorful, tender and also is a generous amount. Au ju for dipping completes the French dip.
Service was efficient and friendly
That was my first taste at The Phoenician Tavern in Scottsdale
www.ThePhoenicanTavern.com/Phoenican.Tavern
Every THING is subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
Hush Public House is a small but slightly upscale restaurant located in a strip mall in the north end of Scottsdale Arizona. They offer a full bar and menu of mostly many sharing plates that might be slightly globally inspired but lean slightly towards Italian. They also offer a variety of dinners. On the night of my visit pasta, chicken, seafood and beef were all on the menu.
When you walk in you see a busy and also loud bar.
The music is also kind of loud.
When you are seated you see how this is really a tiny place.
The kitchen is behind half of the bar.
Here’s the other half of the bar.
We decided to start with something salad like but more interesting. We tried the grilled treviso.
It’s covered with finely shredded manchego cheese, cured egg and chives…..I taste some. It’s very bitter…..I knew it would be bitter because treviso is a bitter kind of fancy cabbage…..but this is really bitter. The cheese is very good and gives some relief to the bitterness. This dish is unique and interesting but isn’t for everyone because you have to have a high tolerance for bitterness. ($13.00 subject to change)
For dinner I tried the roasted half chicken.
My half chicken is missing the wing and leg. The skin is notably crisp and is served over Swiss chard, wild mushrooms and is in a rich Madeira laced stock that is stunning and delicious. The Breast is kind if thin for breast and is on the dry side but the thigh is much more flavorful and moist……there just isn’t much of it ($25.00 subject to change).
My dinner might not be typical of what they usually serve…..This dinner has been featured in our local newspaper, other publications and Yelp. I took a photo from Yelp so you can see what I saw from other publications.
www.Yelp.com
Any who-
My husband tried the Italian Beef Sandwich ($28.00 subject to change)
The brioche bun sandwich is served open faced. The slightly over toasted bread is soaking in a pool of rich beefy stock. There’s melted smoked provolone cheese, and a small amount of melty succulent tender beef that is topped with finely chopped giardinara. The plate is almost amazing except for one thing. This $28.00 sandwich only has about 3 ounces of beef on it.
We tried the peach toast for dessert ($16.00 subject to change).
The palisade peaches are especially flavorful and are delicious. House made ricotta is very creamy. There’s hazelnut dukkah, fresh mint and some local honey on a very sturdy toasted grain bread. It’s all delicious here…
That was my trip to Hush Public House in Scottsdale AZ.
www.HushPublicHouse.com
Every Forking THING is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.
Elements Restaurant is located at the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa. This resort is on the north face of Camelback Mountain on fifty three acres in the beautiful Paradise Valley Section of Scottsdale Arizona.
The executive chef is celebrity chef Beau Macmillan. He been be seen on many various Food Network TV Shows. The food served at Elements is mostly changing menus of seasonal Asian Inspired American and Global Foods. Upon arrival you stop at the valet and then make your way to the restaurant.
They offer formal dining seating.
They also offer booths on the end of the dining room with views of Paradise Valley that you still can see even when the sun screen is in use.
They started us off with delicious super crusty locally made MJ sour dough bread and seaweed seasoned butter.
Today I went with the Miso Scottish Salmon Bento Box ($26.00 subject to change)
I received a very tender grilled salmon with nice grill marks. The fish was very buttery in texture and just melted in my mouth. The miso glaze went really great with the quality salmon. Off in the left hand corner are steamed organic vegetables. I’m reasonably sure that some of the vegetables were an Asian Broccoli that has an edible stem similar to asparagus and it was mixed with a flavorful mushroom that tasted like shiitake to me. To the right was a cucumber salad that ran very acidic today for me. On the bottom left was Asian seasoned chewy brown rice.
My husband tried the House made Cavatelli with Duck Confit. ($22.00 subject to change)
Look at all those hand made cavatelli! They are mixed with duck confit, peas, pea tendrils, pearl onions, garlic and parmesan.
We shared a dessert because the last two we had here were very good.
Today we tried the Cherry Ice Cream Sundae.
I tell The Forking Truth and this dessert wasn’t the best for me because I am super picky when a dessert has chocolate in it…..This chocolate tower is sort of waxy like like a coconut oil coating. But The ice cream inside is unusual, not so creamy but more fruity also lighter and nicely flavored with the tart cherry compote that I like. Candied pistachios, fresh raspberries and a chocolate coated gold accented dark cherry adorned the plate.
From previous lunch visits we had-
Tea Brined ChickenFive spice beef tenderloin Lemon Meringue PieA different variation of tea brined chickenFive spice duckKey lime pie
Everything here was delicious and top notch in a great environment with the greatest service and amazing atmosphere.
Only a couple things weren’t perfect for me but for the most part Lunch at Elements is certainly worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.SantuaryCamelback.com/dining/Elements
Every THING is ALWAYS subject to change and your experience may or may not differ.
Agave del Scottsdale recently opened in the Mercado de Largo Plaza in Scottsdale Arizona. It’s difficult but not impossible to locate the entrance from the parking lot because the only sign is the one pictured above from the other side of the street. (at the moment subject to change) Agave del Scottsdale serves Mexican Cuisine. Everything is fresh made to order. They serve lunch and dinner and Mexican Breakfast on the weekend.
This is the entrance.
A few steps in here is what you see.
The main dining room features beautiful crystal chandeliers. Curio cabinets housing tequila, exposed brick, wooden tables and bright pinkish velvety looking benches.
A few steps latter you come across a tequila serving cart and a wall embellished with stone.
Around the corner is the bar, dining area and beautiful large patio with a nearby water fountain.
This is my view from my seat.
They started us off with three sauces and chips.
Theres tomatillo based salsa, in the middle is a warm bean sauce and on the end is a spicier sauce that’s made with Serrano peppers, habanero and chili de arbol peppers. The sauces seem like they have a slight creaminess or richness to them.
We started out by sharing the Tlacoyos (elongated masa ) de Huitacoche (corn smut also known as corn truffle).
How easy to share! They served us two!
We received TWO blue corn masa that was topped with beans, huitacoche, quest fresco, onions and cilantro. This is very flavorful and tasty. This huitacoche is the same as what I tried in Mexico. This is the real stuff. I think most places use bottled or canned….This is real. The blue corn is special…it’s a little sweeter than yellow..This really is a treat! This is excellent! All the flavors are marvelous. It’s better than how I ate huitacoche in Mexico…There most people just eat it in a tortilla…
For my main I had the Pescado Al Pastor.
I received three double shelled street sized tacos. The seasonal fish today was red snapper. It was marinated and served with pineapple, cilantro and onions. The tacos are well packed with food. The tortillas seemed like fresh made and ran sort of thicker than Mexican tortillas so I only used one tortilla. The tacos weren’t spicy but were tasty.
My husband tried the Huarache Con Carne Asada (elongated open faced masa tortilla).
It’s grilled beef on top of a masa tortilla with a little bit of beans, salsa verde, salsa roja, sour cream (left off at my husband’s request) and quest fresco. This is mildly seasoned. I think the beef would be more flavorful if it had a sear. This plate is for someone with a lighter appetite.
Our server was welcoming and friendly. She spoke English well and seemed well trained on the menu.
That was my trip to Agave Del Scottsdale in Scottsdale AZ.
www.AgaveDelScottsdale.com
Every THING is subject to change and your experience may indeed differ.
The Hotel Valley Ho is hosting a Chefs and Farmers Market Series on Saturdays 9am – 1pm July 6th and 13th. The admission is FREE but you are suppose to register on the Hotel Valley Ho Website. www.HotelValleyHo.com
June 29th the theme was Italian and called Bada Boom
It was crowded like the first week.
There was some mighty delicious foods to sample.
Chef Greg Otero of the Hotel Valley Ho prepared Pork and Fennel Cavatelli Pasta with Parmigiano Reggiano and Chili Flake.
Chef Matthew Taylor of Mora Italian prepared Smoked Eggplant Panna Cotta with Summer Squash Conserva, Basil, La Peral (cheese)
Chef Rochelle Daniel of The Fat Ox prepared Crab Culurgiones with smoked potato leek summer corn
Sadly my photo came out blurry and this picture doesn’t do this absolutely STUNNING stuffed pasta justice.
Can’t see all the beautiful folds this pasta had.
There was a milkshake competition where you can sample and vote for your favorite.
Live music
Complimentary Rose to try
Smoked Fish Dip from Chula Seafood…..(This was really delicious!)
Noble Bread
Tito’s Handmade Vodka
Local Chocolates
From Bly Sky Farms
There was all this and much more!
My purchases
Smoked Fish Dip with house made bagel chipsSweet Frying PeppersUnusual Pink Oyster MushroomsSquash BlossomsOne stunning Tomato
July 6th will be themed Grilling and Chilling. The last of the series is called Sweet Treats July 13th.
Parking might be challenging because the lot is small and the street parking might already be taken.
That was Chefs and Famers Market Series at Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale AZ June 29th 2019.
Boondocks Patio and Grill is located in Scottsdale by Old Town. This restaurant serves better or maybe just more creative more interesting and detailed bar food like duck fat fries, roasted corn on cob with Mexican tahini sauce, salads, half pound burgers, sandwiches and some entrees. When we arrived the atmosphere was energetic with classic rock and roll. Boondocks also offers an indoor-outdoor bar, inside dining and a massive patio that I wasn’t able to photo because the entrance to the patio was clogged with people today.
I noticed that most of the people arrived via several of The Arizona Party Bikes.
Boondocks offers community high top tables and booths in the dining room. There are several big screen TVs and Digital Darts inside. They also offer pool tables, bag toss, ping pong and more.
I ordered the Grilled Tacos Pescado.
I received three full sized tacos stuffed with grilled blackened (spicy) seasonal whitefish, lime shredded cabbage, tomato, big creamy wedges of avocado and these really tasty pickled onions on well made tortillas (I picked corn). I was pleasantly surprised….these tacos are actually better than most I eat out. The fish is meaty and very flavorful and spicy. Then combined with lime cabbage, pickled onions and creamy avocado they are very good! A large amount of very crisp corn chips and tomatillo salsa finish the plate.
My husband got the Sin Burger.
It’s a half pound of American raised beef, jalapeño marmalade, pickled cabbage, lots of avocado, a thick blanket of good pepper jack cheese, cilantro mayo (left off by my husband’s request), and a big roasted jalapeño on a big soft eggy bun. WOW! a perfect medium rare! (that rarely happens) My husband said that this is another of his favorite burgers. He picked potato tots as his side. They seemed free of oil and had crisp exteriors and were chunky and potato-ee inside.
Our meals last time were Worth a Fork! (same burger and another that was discontinued)
Our meals this time were also Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
www.BoondocksAZ.com
Boondocks Patio Bar and Grill Scottsdale AZ – Worth a Fork! BIG Patio -Lots of Games – Better Bar Food
Every THING is subject to change and your experience may or may NOT differ.
