Desert Pony Tavern Bar & Pub recently opened in the NEW North Scottsdale Arizona Hilton at Cavasson. They are a Southwest Style gastropub that also offers breakfast and happy hour. On the all day menu they offer snacks like bacon fat popcorn, appetizers like wings, nachos, and poblano hummus. You can also get salads, sandwiches, kids meals, desserts, and entrees after 5pm.
They offer indoor and outdoor seating with views of McDowell mountains and the pool.
The bar is an indoor/outdoor bar has wide screen TVs.
It looks like the glass walls might open on nice days.
We started out by trying the Four Peaks Beer Fondue.
It’s suppose to come with pears, smoked sausage, and soft pretzels.
The cheese taste very similar to processed American cheese. It might be made with a little splash of beer.
Today the sausage is dry…..The cook forgot the pears and the server didn’t seem trained to know that this dish is suppose to come with pears. We asked for pears and we got some. The pears were really great. Good thing we asked for the pears.
I got the Native Chopped Salad.
This salad contains, achiote salmon, native grains, corn, dried cherries, manchego cheese, arugula, and avocado dressing. I do have to say that this is a really great salad. The salmon is cold but much better than I expected it to be. It’s light moist, and fresh tasting. All of the bloodline was removed too. It’s also enhanced with delicious flavors.
On the other hand burgers don’t seem like a specialty here.
This is the Tavern Stack Burger. It’s suppose to be American Cheese, Aged Swiss Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, grilled onions, slab bacon and either fries or onion rings.
The request for the burger was medium rare and it came out medium well……..
An orange colored sauce was on the burger that wasn’t in the description. Our server thought it might be thousand Island Dressing? My husband sent it back because he doesn’t eat creamy dressings. I tried one onion ring. It was extra heavy with batter. Almost the texture of a cake doughnut that tasted like it was fried in very used oil.
Newly Opened
Desert Pony Tavern – Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson
A found a recipe in Cook’s Country Magazine for Miso Black Cod that was developed from Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa. He has 40 restaurants worldwide and also writes cookbooks so I thought that this should be a good recipe. I don’t have good fresh fish by my house so I picked up a bag of frozen sea bass that I hope is ok. It looked and smelled better than most frozen fish that I try. The Cook’s Country version broils the fish but I have an electric broiler that doesn’t cook evenly so I’m just roasting the fish. I also used less soy sauce because liked the flavors and wanted to cut the salt a little.
Ingredients for around 4 servings
1 cup white miso
2/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup mirin
1/4 cup sake
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1 Tablespoon roasted sesame oil
4 6-8 oz filets of fish – preferably with skin
optional – pickled ginger for serving
optional – sliced scallions for serving
Directions
Whisk the miso, sugar, mirin, sake, soy sauce and oil together in a medium bowl. Pat the fish dry and place the fish in a gallon Ziplock bag. Pour the miso mixture into the bag with the fish and squish the fish around the miso. squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Refrigerate 8-24 hours and turn bag occasionally.
Set oven to 350F on a middle rack cook fish until it’s at least 125 degrees F (around 15 minutes.
Or you can broil fish skin side down on a lightly oiled pan. 8 inches from broiler for 8-12 minutes.
You might want to finish with pickled ginger and scallions.
Miso Marinated Sea Bass
A Special THANKS!!!! To Cook’s County Magazine so I could come up with what I got here.
I came across Milk Chocolate Honey Graham M&M’s at my local Fry’s Supermarket today so I thought I’d give them a try.
I glance at the ingredients and nothing seems too terrible.
Next I take a big sniff from the open bag…..It smells like chocolate. I’m thinking….maybe they might be good?….
Then I spill some out.
The M&M’s are extra small and all of them are deformed in shape. They almost look like current sized but wrinkly like raisins.
If they are good there is no way in the world that this is a serving.
Anyways I give them a try.
They are sweet. Maybe too sweet for some adults. The sweet is something like a honey taste. You also get a savory taste………it’s closer to cereal mixed with malt than a graham taste that is also mixed with a little bit of chocolaty taste.
If you let them melt in your mouth you get different flavors. The candy shell is the normal sweet candy shell that you expect……Then you do get a honey sort of taste that mixes and dilutes the chocolate taste. Then you are left with small cereal nuggets….
They are better if you just eat them.
It’s too hard ti eat just one serving.
For me they don’t really taste like honey graham but I do like the light texture and flavors that they have. I think that these Honey Graham M&M’s would be best as a Sundae topping.
Those were my FORKING thoughts on Honey Graham M&M’s. I do note that your Forking thoughts may indeed differ.
This is a slight twist on the tuna salad that I make most often. I put it together real fast and didn’t really measure but it extra easy to prepare. I didn’t have anything fresh green at home so I thought my Italian Chili Crisp would be really good here and WOW it really works! BTW- The Italian Chili recipe I used is on my site but I did notice that some jars of Italian chili crisp might be found in some stores these days. I made 4 servings.
2 – 6oz bags of drained light tuna
1 medium onion – skin removed, cut in half, sliced extra thin
1 medium apple – remove core, cut in wedges, slice each wedge extra thin
1 lemon – the fresh squeezed juice and fresh zest
1 small jar 6oz artichokes drained light chop if needed
small handful of olives (10-12) remove pits if there, rough chop
2 Tablespoons capers
1 slightly heaping teaspoon Italian chili crisp
1 can (around 15oz drained and rinsed three times beans (today I used canolini)
good splash extra virgin olive oil
good splash balsamic vinegar
Some scallions or chives – sliced thin
Directions
Everything goes in a large mixing bowl. Mix and serve!
Italian Chili Crisp Tuna Salad with Artichoke Apple & Beans
Hummus Republic is a fast growing chain of fast-casual Mediterrean Restaurants. They offer many vegan and vegetarian options and do offer enough meat to please meat eaters. The restaurant is set up “Chipotle Style” and you build your wrap, pita, or bowl going down the line. They also offer extras like a vegan burger, sweet potato fries, and pita chips.
the line
We tried an order of falafels.
We got six falafels. They have shattering crisp exteriors and were moist and slightly herby inside. You have to order tahini sauce if you want that with the falafels.
We both tried bowls and they came out very different.
Base of mixed greens, couscous, garbanzos, lemon chicken, regular hummus, eggplant hummus, harissa hummus, beets, cucumbers, onions, stuffed grape leaves, fried vegetables, hot Moroccan saucecouscous, garbanzos, spinach, pickles, fried vegetables, onions, feta cheese, Moroccan steak, olive hummus, harissa hummus, feta whip, green chili sauce
Both bowls came out tasty. The lemon chicken bowl was only $12. and it filled me up and I couldn’t eat dinner latter. Steak is $1.50 extra. I liked the lemon chicken more than the steak. The steak did have a good flavor to it but was slightly chewy. They also offer many interesting sounding beverages and lemonades.
Worth a TRY!
This chain is doubling their locations this year so they might be somewhere near you soon.
Hummus Republic
16205 North Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale AZ (in the Scottsdale Quarter)
Food Truck Friday West is a weekly gathering of Food Trucks from all over the Valley. This happens Friday nights 5pm-9pm at 18551 83rd Avenue in Glendale Arizona. See www.GetLocalArizonaEvents.com for current Food Truck Lineup.
We tried King’s Mini Pancakes because the chicken bites with mini pancakes did sound like a tasty treat. They offer several varieties of mini pancakes and also offered several different flavors of sauces for the chicken.
Mr. King himself suggested the hot honey sauce so that’s what we went with.
We got chunks WHoOops! I mean BITES of tender breaded chicken breast covered in a tasty spicy/sweet sauce with a little kick to it. They are good but what is really great really are the MINI PANCAKES. The pancakes seem light as air and just melt in your mouth! They really are GREAT!
Kings Mini Pancakes – 480-529-1485
You can find them on Facebook and Instagram
We had to go to Good Eats Only Mexican Kitchen because last time I was super impressed with the chicken taco I tried. It really was among the best chicken tacos I’ve tried in Phoenix. They offered a limited menu of Mexican Foods like tacos, burritos, plates, and fries.
Today I had another chicken taco and a carne asada taco.
The tortillas are delicious and are fresh hand made! Both the chicken and steak are tender, charred yummy, and infused with flavors. The taco also came embellished with grilled onions, cilantro, and a scoop of guacamole and a side of hot sauce. VERY GOOD TACOS! Among the better ones out there!
My husband tried a quesobirria and a side order of beans ……not photoed…..next to the quesobirria is consommé.
All Good Eats here!
Good Eats Only Mexican Kitchen – 623-521-8473
You can find them on Facebook.
I had enough but my husband can eat a little more so he tried Coney Shack Grill. They offer Coney Island Style food but with a Midwest Twist. They offer things like wings, sliders, pitas, and Coney dogs.
He said it was a very good hotdog!
Coney Shack Grill – 12325 W McDowell Rd Avondale AZ – 602-882-6032
www.ConeyShackGrill.com
At Food Truck Friday West they also offered many activities for children.
Children’s Train Ride.
A bounce house.
A bounce car ride
And a child’s petting zoo. I also saw some novelty children’s balloons being sold there.
Food Truck Friday West
18551 83rd Avenue Glendale AZ (between Sam’s Club and Walmart)
Friday nights 5pm-9pm
See www.GetLocalArizonaEvents.com for current food truck line up
I came across a recipe for Persian Jeweled Rice. I thought that sounded interesting so I looked up 6 or 7 more recipes for Persian Jeweled rice and none of them were the same. But I did get ideas from all of them and I thought I could make a vegetable taste sort of like the Persian Jeweled Rice. I picked out the flavors that I thought would work the best with amounts that I guessed were good. One recipe called for rose petals. I happened to have rose water so I used a little bit of that instead. Somehow I guessed the amounts right because this came out really tasty. This recipe makes around 6 servings give or take.
Ingredients for around 6 servings
1 cabbage – remove core and rough chop
1 onion – rough chop
1 green bell pepper – remove stem and seeds – rough chop
1 red bell pepper – remove stem and seeds – rough chop
2 carrots – peel if not organic – slice on diagonal around 1/4 inch slices
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon rose water
1/2 teaspoon saffron (if you don’t have substitute ground turmeric )
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon cardamon seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 Tablespoon date syrup
3 garlic cloves – ground to paste
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup salted roasted pistachios – lightly crushed
1/4 cup dried barberries
1 Tablespoon dried mint (fresh is better but I didn’t have any if you use fresh mint mix with some fresh parsley to mellow out the strong mint)
1 orange – just the fresh grated zest
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large mixing bowl combine the cabbage, onion, bell peppers, carrots and set to the side.
In a small bowl that you will lightly microwave or in a sauce pan that you heat on medium heat on the stove combine the butter, oil, rose water, saffron, cinnamon, cardamon seeds, date syrup, garlic, salt and pepper. Heat gently till the butter is melted and the contents are fragrant. (about a minute)
Pour the small bowl of liquid over the vegetables and mix till the vegetables are coated. The vegetables go on sheet pan(s) preferably on the middle rack. Roast until slightly charred and so the carrots are fork tender (about 25-30 minutes).
Finish with pistachios, barberries, mint, and orange zest.
Dining out with DOGS in Metro Phoenix 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 he was diagnosed with aggressive cancer and was expected to only be around for another three months or 6 months at the most. Louie couldn’t do a lot at that time but he always enjoyed going out to eat. So I took Louie out to eat as often as I could. Louie made it another 17 months instead of the 3-6 month diagnoses.Today I take my current dogs out to eat when the weather is right and when I can.
You need to know a little bit about dining out with dogs. Do you know that just because a restaurant has a patio doesn’t necessarily mean that you can bring your dog to dine there with you. You need to see a dog friendly sign or call the restaurant and ask first. Weather is also a factor. Dogs are not as heat tolerant as people (remember that they wear fur coats) 90 degrees F and above is too hot to dine out with dogs. Also much of the food and drink that you enjoy can be harmful or even TOXIC to dogs. It’s best to educate yourself about safe and non-safe foods for your dog from your veterinarian.
We regularly go to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery in North Phoenix. They are a Pho-Free Vietnamese Restaurant that offers around a dozen different Banh Mi Baguette sandwiches, rice plates, salad noodle bowls, and more! Portions are always large and prices are very reasonable.
Today my husband got a grilled pork rice plate.
The dogs also got to enjoy some of the pork.
Look how happy she is!
He is also happy to eat.
I got the small lotus root salad and the chicken potstickers.
potstickerslotus root salad
I don’t eat shrimp so the dogs get all of the shrimp.
“Here it comes”“So good”
The dogs always LOVE going to Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery.
Banh Mi Bistro Vietnamese Eatery
602-843-3637
2340 W Bell Rd PHX AZ
www.BanhMiBistroAZ.com
We also made it to Cucina Tagliani in North Glendale. They are an American Italian Style Restaurant that has been in business for over thirty years.
They are usually extra nice to dogs here. They served my dogs a bowl of water to start out with.
Today I got the strawberry and goat cheese salad with chicken. Our server said that it came with soup. I didn’t want soup today so my husband volunteered to get the minestrone soup.
Then the nice waitress offered a plate of cheese for the dogs.
My smaller dog inhaled the cheese so fast that you can’t see anything. I think his favorite food might be cheese……
Next they get chicken from my strawberry and goat cheese salad.
Both dogs enjoyed the chicken.
My husband had a Stromboli today. He gave some sausage to the dogs and they enjoyed that too!
Not one but TWO other dogs dined out on Cucina Tagliani’s Patio today….My dogs kept eating and stayed quiet.
We did OK at Cucina Tagliani
17045 N 59TH Ave Glendale AZ
602-547-2782
www.CucinaTagliani.com
We were off to Twisted Italian…..We got there just as they were opening and BOTH of their two outdoor tables were already taken….So we had to go somewhere else…..We drove threw a Salad and Go and went to eat it in a nearby park.
Salad and Go Drive Threwsteak and chicken Greek saladThai salad with chicken
Both dogs enjoyed the chicken and most of the chewy steak.
Salad and Go
2006 W Pinnacle Peak Rd PHX AZ
(no phone# listed)
www.SaladandGo.com
This week we made it to Twisted Italian in North Peoria. They offer their spin on Italian Foods that is a little different. They offer things like pierogis and Italian rellenos. Whatever you get they start you off with warm bread and olive oil embellished with balsamic.
The dogs are always excited to try some bread.
But when the meals come out they get more excited.
My husband got the Italian Relleno (stuffed poblano pepper with house made Italian sausage, provolone, mozzarella, sauce, peppers, onions, with jumbo fried ravioli covered in tomato cream sauce)
The dogs got to eat some ravioli and a little bit of sausage here.
I got one of the lunch specials…The salmon with grilled vegetables and a side of angel hair pasta.
It’s really too much food for lunch but my dogs don’t mind helping me with this plate.
This dog is smiling. The dogs got to eat some of the salmon and all of the zucchini.
We did well at Twisted Italian
9940 W Happy Valley RD Peoria AZ
623-537-4000
www.EatTwisted.com
That was Dining Out With DOGS in Metro Phoenix for March 2023. 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
Carolina’s is a family owned group of four Mexican Restaurants that are considered to be a staple of Phoenix. The original location has been in business since 1968. This restaurant might be most famous for their daily made fresh flour tortillas.
Some of the other offerings are breakfast burritos, 16 combo platters, burros, chimi’s, tacos, tostados, tamales, a children’s menu, soft beverages, and more.
This is a casual restaurant.
You order and pay at the counter, grab a number, and seat yourself.
We started out by sharing a cheese quesadilla.
The flour tortilla is really great. It’s light and thin and melts in your mouth. The cheese adds a little something to it…….I think I should have ordered a fried jalapeño because that would have been tasty here.
I tried three different tacos. They came wrapped up like this.
Potato taco, shredded chicken taco, and a shredded beef taco with sides of guacamole, green salsa, and hot sauce.
The meats are both finely shredded and are tender. The taco shells are good and tasty and were fresh fried to order…….I don’t know if my visit is typical or maybe I hit them on an off day but the potato taco and the beef taco are both flavorless. Only the chicken taco today is infused with flavors. The beef taco and the potato taco are better when you add the green salsa to them. The green salsa is actually very good and full of flavors. I thought that the hot sauce had a taste that is similar to tabasco sauce.
My husband tried the burro 3 way combo platter.
The burro is 3 way because in the middle are beans and on one end is stewed beef in a red chili sauce and on the other end is beef in green chili sauce. The platter comes with Mexican style rice and refried beans. He said that the beef in red sauce was very good……but the green chili side was next to meatless.
Summing things up….From the Glendale location
Get the shredded chicken
Get the beef red chili
Get the green salsa
Take out some flour tortillas
That was my trip to Carolina’s Greenway Location in Glendale AZ
Cask 53 Whiskey Bar and American Sports Grill has recently opened in DC Ranch in North Scottsdale Arizona. They offer over 600 whiskeys from all over the world, lots of big screen TVs and food menus with lots of variety. They offer lunch, happy hour, and dinner. The lunch and dinner menus are very similar.Not all but some of the appetizers offered at lunch and for dinner are several flavors of chicken wing dishes, crab cakes, sliders, and Buffalo chicken stuffed potato skins. They also offer 9 kinds of salads with add on options like grilled chicken, verlasso salmon, shrimp, and prime flat iron steak. Also on the menus are burgers, sandwiches, side dishes, and entrees like Moroccan style salmon, Idaho trout, pork tenderloin, baby back ribs, pasta dishes, desserts, and more!
inside
We starting out by sharing a Caesar salad. They were nice enough to split the salad on two plates.
caesar salad
It’s a little different. It’s topped with some crispy kale and toasted lightly seasoned croutons. The dressing was house made and they added shaved parmesan.
For mains we shared the Moroccan Salmon and The Idaho Red Trout.
Idaho Red Trout with seasonal vegetables lemon butter basil sauceMoroccan Verlasso Salmon with quinoa salad, local heirloom tomatoes, avocado, organic baby spinach, sherry vinaigrette
Both dishes were prepared reasonably well. Both fish ad crispy skin. The Trout was good but the salmon was well done but melted in your mouth with very nice flavors. It really didn’t seem Moroccan to me ……like preserved lemon, olives,…… but it was delicious anyway. The Moroccan Salmon ate more like a salad than an entree. The vegetables were very nice that went with the Idaho Trout.
All Good so far and reasonable prices too.
I’d say-
Cask 53 Whiskey Bar and Sports Grill is
Worth a Fork!
Worth a Fork!
Cask 53 Whiskey Bar and American Sports Grill 20751 N Pima Road Scottsdale AZ
