Monthly Archive for April, 2010

Hana Japanese Eatery – Authentic Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Done Right!

As die hard sushi aficionados we are always in search of amazing sushi restaurants on our travels and in our local area. In Arizona there is definitely a fair share of sushi bars to choose from, however – quality, fresh sushi that tastes like it just swam in from the shores can be hard to find. So, you can imagine our excitement when the ladies at Sweet Republic recommended we try Hana Japanese Eatery (they didn’t have to twist our arm or bribe us with a scoop).

Hana Japanese Eatery is a family owned restaurant that serves authentic and traditional Japanese cuisine and sushi. There aren’t gimmicky rolls or hibachi tables, just the freshest sushi, sashimi and Japanese cuisine you will ever eat. Hana surely did not disappoint and delivered on service, the yum factor and a comfortable atmosphere that left us craving more. Trust us – once you acquire the taste for high-grade sushi, it’s hard to go back to eating the mediocre stuff served up at countless sushi bars across the city.

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Satisfy Your App-etite : iPhone Apps Foodies Should Never Dine Without

If you are a hardcore tech geek (present!), uber foodie nerd (yes!) or chef then your smart phone is probably attached at the hip. Do you have a love affair with your iPhone? As self confessed iPhone addicts we take our phone everywhere and use it for everything imaginable, a gazillion things to be exact. Our  iPhone serves as an alarm clock, calender, address book while allowing us to stay connected with friends and surf the web (and our favorite food sites). Not to shabby!

Whether you are a foodie, amazing cook or amateur chef, we all  can’t resist delicious mobile apps that make cooking, finding restaurants and ingredients much easier. With such an array of iPhone apps that cater to our love of food we can now browse menus, read restaurant reviews (the good and bad), use the gps to find a nearby eatery or trendy hot spot,  make reservations, check in, calculate tips and find a plethora of scrumptious recipes. Grocery shopping, recipe hunting and discovering new restaurants has never been so effortless. We have all seen the commercials of Apple touting “there’s an app for that” , well we would have to agree. If you don’t have an iPhone yet this is surely gonna make you wish you had one.

Mobile devices like the iPhone are making the dining in or out experience even tastier. Hungry? Hosting a dinner party and need a menu? Just pick up your iPhone. The app store is dishing out some amazing app-etizers to get your dining experience off to a good start. In order for us to accomplish our mission to find good eats we have enlisted the help of our iPhone and some of the best foodie apps for guidance. There are so many amazing, fun, user friendly and FREE apps out their that we use on a daily basis to help ease our hunger pains. Well, we don’t want to be stingy and want to share them with you. Trust us there is enough to go around. Satisfy your “app-etite”! Dine a la carte and download a few of our foodie favorites until you are full.

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Food Tattoos: Seriously Tasty Ink

In a recent food blog we did about a mobile crepe company @TruckinGoodFood we couldn’t help but realize we’ve been noticing more and more chefs & foodies with food tattoos. Come on – a Nutella tattoo is pretty awesome! If you love a food that much getting inked shows some serious dedication.


Nutella Tattoo >> Photo Credit: Bloggin’ Good Food

With our interests peaked we decided to surf the interwebs to dig deeper into this tasty food tattoo trend. It didn’t take long to find a plethora of food blogs chronicling the ink’d food trend.  You can read them here, here, here, here and here.

Rather you like savory or sweet there seems to be a food ‘tat for you! So what is your flavor?  – A Chicago dog, grapefruit or sweet cherry pie. The detail is amazing – some serious time and talent when into these.


Credit: flickr.com/butterfat

Fruit, sweets and produce seem to be a very popular option.


Credit: flickr.com/myjuly

We are partial to the pork products and fresh veggies. mmm…Okra & Beets.


Credit: flickr.com/marcwcarroll        /emilycamilla                         /luckyplanet

Food tattoos aside one of the next most popular trends are kitchen appliances and utensils.


Credit: flickr.com/bennettedwards                             flickr.com/sylviels

We hoped you enjoyed our culinary tour of food tattoos as much as we did. Please leave a comment below and let us know…if you got a food tattoo – what would you get?

Now we are off on another foodie adventure, so taste buds stay tuned!

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THX, Adam & Wendy

Truckin’ Good Food- Serving Up Curbside Mobile French Crepes

Our love affair with food trucks started with Kogi BBQ, a mobile eatery serving up Korean-Mexican fusion tacos that ignited the food truck revolution. With the mobile food truck trend it is no surprise that mobile food vendors are being touted for their amazing cuisine. Some are even being mentioned in the same league as some of the top fine dining restaurants and chefs. You know times are changing, when food truck vendors and their mobile cravings become household names synonymous with fine cuisine. Well, that time has arrived! It is not usual to fine hungry foodies lining up for hours, in droves all across the country, just to taste these innovative, street food-inspired creations. Unfortunately you can’t make reservations, so get in line early to beat the starving crowd and lunch rush. Because these mobile eateries are constantly buzzing with activity and hungry fans.

Catering to everyday hungry construction workers, pedestrians, office worker bees (like us) and college students is what these mobile food artisans do best. There is something about mobile food that makes eating on the curb or copping a squat on the grassy knoll for a spur of the moment picnic so appealing and fun. We will be the first to vouch for that! You see…if you look hard enough, you can find really good food, dished out on the street in unexpected places. As a hungry couple on a mission for good eats we are here to prove just that.

As if gourmet mobile food couldn’t get any better, think again, imagine crepes as the ultimate street cuisine. As hungry busy bodies we tend to eagerly gravitate toward the familiar, grabbing a slice of pizza, meat on a stick or hot diggity dog.  For to long crepes have been given a bad wrap in the food world, kept at arms length and often stereotyped by average joe’s (guilty as charged) as to sophisticated, uppity, dainty for our palates and only for the snobbishly wealthy. Well, think again! Word on the street (you heard it hear first) is that Truckin’ Good Food is kickin’ the mobile food craze up a notch with their  non-pretentious, down to earth, curbside, made -to- order French inspired crepes with a modern twist. Not to mention offering specialty desserts and drinks. They are making us rethink the crepe experience by getting us reacquainted one crepe at a time. You see crepes aren’t just for the French anymore! Truckin’ Good Food is serving up high end, no fuss fare while gallivanting their mobile crepe stand throughout Arizona at local farmers markets and festivals. There flavorsome, accessible menu is inspired by childhood favorites, global comfort foods and the unexpected.

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Semi-Homemade Tandoori Naan Pizza

We were craving something quick and simple for dinner and immediately thought pizza. But, then we realized we did not have any pizza dough, so instead we opted for the  pre-made Tandoori Naan flat bread we had in our pantry. You can purchase Naan at your local grocers. Using Indian Naan bread as the crust instead of traditional pizza crust makes this fun, quick and delicious! Whether you are a meat lover, vegetarian or cheese only guy or gal pizza should be personal and delicious, so don’t be afraid to try new ingredients & toppings.

Our Toppings:

Ham
Bacon
Provolone
Baby greens
Fresh yellow tomato
Marinara sauce
Basil
Oregano

Directions:

  • Preheat the oven to 4oo°F. Lay the naan on a lined baking sheet or pizza stone.
  • Spread the marinara sauce over the naan, sprinkle with the chopped cheese and add all of your toppings.
  • Cook in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and melted and the crust is crisp & golden brown to your perfection.
  • Slice and serve. Be careful not to burn your mouth.

Enjoy!

Would you try this recipe? Leave a comment below and let us know what you would top your naan pizza with.

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Thanks!
Adam & Wendy

The Sweet Life Less Vanilla-Sweet Republic Artisan Ice Cream Shop

Looking for a sweet escape or some sweet satisfaction amidst the hot Arizona climate? Well, look no further, we have just the thing to sweeten your day. Indulge your sweet tooth and cool down with a refreshing & sensational scoop of Sweet Republic’s artisan ice cream, fruity sorbet or yogurt flavors. Voted the best in the Valley, Sweet Republic is not your average neighborhood ice cream shop, but is in a league of it’s own. When our parents came to visit we were so excited to take them to our favorite ice cream shop that we did not just hop & skip but ran to Sweet Republic for our just desserts. No longer can we contain our excitement that we have to blog, tweet and scream for ice cream.

If you have out of town guest (like mom or dad) or planning a trip to visit the Valley of Sun don’t forget to add Sweet Republic to your to do list.  You  might even be tempted to move here just for the ice cream. For all you Arizona natives who have a love affair with ice cream make your way down to this sweet spot, in more ways then one. Located in North Scottsdale at 92nd Street and Shea Blvd enjoy a delightful scoop or two. If you aren’t ice cream obsessed now, then think again!

Ice Creamologist Helen & Jan (pic by Phoenix New Times)


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The Tinderbox Kitchen : American Comfort Food – Redefined

The Tinderbox Kitchen in Flagstaff, AZ is our latest fork ( or shall we say “spork”) in the road, an unexpected late lunch detour on the way to the Grand Canyon. In this case “T” marks the spot and trust us it does not disappoint.

So, what is in a name? Tinderbox is a small container containing flint, steel and tinder used to strike a spark or kindle a fire. Well, the Tinderbox is re-igniting a flame amongst Flagstaff locals and revolutionizing the wine and dining experience in a non-pretentious way. At the same time, breathing new life into average hungry foodies like us, who want no frills (hold the over-the-top garnishes please!),  just good food and hearty portions that satisfy. The chef and kitchen staff are truly pioneers in the kitchen, changing it up and thinking outside the box with a creative menu that is causing quite a buzz in the food world. The menu is a nice surprising departure from the norm, focusing on a refreshing spin on classic dishes by ushering traditional family favorites into the 21st century with lots of flavor. Cooking what is in season and embracing the old with the new is what makes this restaurant a diamond in the rough, an extraordinary and memorable dining experience. Who said classic had to mean boring? Well, the Tinderbox is rewriting all the rules and cookbooks, making every delicious bite unbelievable and blog-worthy. You might forget your manners and be tempted to lick your plate clean.

Top Chef at Tinderbox Kitchen

The restaurant located in downtown Flagstaff embraces the historic Southside district with its charming, fine casual dining. Although considered fine dining, when you first drive up to the restaurant, the first thing that comes to mind is ” a hole in the wall” with its modest restaurant sign and exterior. If you did not have on your foodie spectacles this restaurant could be easily missed as you drive by, so be fair warned you might want to slow down. Once you enter you are quickly greeted by down to earth staff eager to serve. You are soon caught off guard by the amazing contemporary design, painted black tin ceiling, black and white photography, edgy & urban industrial decor, exposed brick walls,  cozy seating, bar, and upbeat atmosphere.

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Life on the Farm Just Got Tastier and Fresher at Joe’s Farm Grill

Life on the farm just got tastier! What do you get when you pair kitschy 60′s modern flair, picnic tables, charred grilled juicy burgers topped with fresh arugula, affordable prices and a line of hungry foodies? Well, you get Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert, AZ. Trust us this is not your average burger and fries joint, it is so much more. Joe’s Farm Grill is fast food with a fresh mouthwatering spin, a departure from the mundane and ordinary.

Sink your teeth into this! If you are a no frills, obsessed carnivore in the mood for a kickin’ Arizona, naturally raised beef burger with all the fixings then you’ve come to the right place. Complete with a self serve condiment and beverage bar, you won’t find any bus boys here. Joe’s Farm Grill focuses on traditional menu of classic burgers, hot dogs, pizza and fries with a modern twist, which meshes well with its fun & original decor. The mature tree’s, outdoor & indoor eating area, backyard Agritopia urban farm and delightful retro bathroom adds to the ambiance, making this quite a dining experience.

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Top food trends for 2010: Eggs are the new bacon

We were recently reading several blog posts about top food trends for 2010. They were written in 2009 and we wanted to see so far in 2010 which ones rang true. (In our opinion)  Some of the predicted trends were spot on and others were way off. You can read the plethora of 2010 food trend posts here, here, here, here and here.

Food Trend: Eggs are the new bacon. This one couldn’t be more spot on. Case in point our last blog post about a pulled squash sandwich topped with a fried egg. We are seeing fried eggs being topped on everything from burgers, sandwiches and pizzas. Biting into a sandwich topped with a sunny side up “dippy” egg is just so perfect – warm goodness running everywhere and mixing with all the flavors. #NomNomNom

Now is bacon a dead trend? We don’t think so but it had a good run – deep fried bacon, bacon chocolate, thick cut bacon on a stick….hey we love bacon as much as anyone does but bacon everywhere is getting a bit much.

Some of the other trends we feel are spot on are:

  • Local, Local, Local

Locally grown, locally sourced and produced. People are seeking out local restaurants and eateries that are small & family owned. You want to know where your food came from and how it’s made and who made it.
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Pulled Squash Sandwich – Spaghetti Squash BBQ Sandwich

Pulled Squash Sandwich
During a recent visit to Bryan’s Black Mountain BBQ in Cave Creek, AZ we got inspired…and FULL!

Our inspiration for today’s Bloggin’ Good Food @Home came from their delicious Pulled Squash Vegetarian BBQ Sandwich. (with or w/o an egg)

So let’s Begin – Preheat the oven to 375 – You will need the following:

  1. One spaghetti squash
  2. Salt & Pepper
  3. Olive oil
  4. 2 eggs (optional but suggested! YUM!)
  5. Hamburger buns
  6. BBQ Sauce of your choice

Pulled Squash Sandwich

  1. Place spaghetti squash on cutting board.
  2. With a sharp knife cut length wise all the way through.
  3. Cut halves – Get a spoon and a bowl for seeds.
  4. Remove all of the “guts” and discard

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