Tag Archive for 'eat local'

La Grande Orange Pizzeria and Grocery : Slice of Heaven Baked to Perfection

Virtually every small town, city, village or burg has its own slice of heaven, a favorite local pizzeria, mom & pop pizza joint, major chain or street vendor to grab a slice or share a pie. Whether you are dining in, carrying out or having it delivered it’s astonishing how much Americans love the taste of pizza, bordering on obsessive and psychotic (guilty as charge!). The obsession for a good slice is justified when you are on the quest for the best pizza and left to deal with crushing disappointments. Case in point, pizza where you couldn’t taste the difference between the crust and the cardboard box. We have had the unfortunate luck of dining at pizzeria’s where the pizza was greasy, dough was lifeless and the ingredients were something to be desired. Pizza connoisseurs bicker endlessly about where to find the best pies. While cities across America compete for the covenant bragging rights of best pizza. So, who will be The Godfather of pizza? Let the pizza wars continue!


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Arcadia Farms Cafe & Wine Bar: The Garden of Eatin’

After a long day at the Old Town Farmer’s Market last Saturday we were in the mood for a relaxing, laid back and delicious lunch. So, we sought a dining suggestion from a local, avid, neighborhood foodie who did not steer us in the wrong direction. A gem located in the heart of downtown Scottsdale, Arcadia Farms Cafe & Wine Bar is a house turned country cottage eatery and contains intimate indoor dining and outdoor patio seating. This chic restaurant is a popular breakfast and lunch spot for locals and offers divine upscale dining at affordable prices. Beloved for its quaint, casual, elegant, inviting cottage and garden atmosphere this restaurant has solidified a special place in our hearts. Ladies you may be tempted to break out your casual floral dresses and festive hats. If you have never dined at Arcadia Farms Cafe & Wine Bar please accept this blog post as a personal invitation.


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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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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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