Word of Mouth Phoenix.com

Postino's On Central

One of my favorite trendy places to eat is Postino's.  But did you know they opened another location?  It's located just north of Camelback Road on the west side of Central. 

Remember the old Katz' Deli?  Well, Postino's took over that great location.  And they are open seven days a week. 

I've had several opportunities to visit and I can say I still love Postino's.  The menu is the same as the one on 40th Street and Campbell and that's fine by me.  I can never resist their bruschetta.  And yes, it seems every time I go ...I always have to share the bruscetta. 

Take a look at the cool bicycles at the rear entrance to Postino's.  I think I used to have pink bike as a kid.

There is limited parking up front on the Central Avenue side.  But you'll probably have to park in the back and use the free valet service.  Of course, there's always that tip involved. 

But if you go on the weekends, there are actually more parking spaces because the nearby office parking lots are open. 

I took several photos inside so you can get an idea of the decor.  It has a very open feel to the place with tables and a few booths.  The bar occupies a large portion and there's also an outdoor patio that has misters for the summer heat. 

I find the people who work here to be very friendly and helpful.  The service is quick if you're on your lunch break.  But if you have plenty of time, nobody seems to rush you out.  I like that, especially when I'm catching up with my friends.

Postino's has a variety of salads and I think I've tasted every single one of them.  And they're all good. 

As I mentioned earlier, I always seem to share a bruscetta with my dining friends.  You get to chose up to four toppings so everyone can choose something they especially love.  My all time favorite is prosciutto, figs and mascapone cheese.  Yummy!

As you can see from the photo on the left, we also chose brie and apples, smoked salmon and tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese.  Everything went very quickly!

So, if you want a place to relax with friends ...Postino on Central is a great choice!  I highly recommend it.

Radio Milano

If you're looking for a casual place to wind down after a busy week, Radio Milano just might be the place you're looking for.  Located on the northwest corner of Campbell and 40th Street, it's the newest addition to the LGO Hospitality Group.  They also own La Grande Orange Grocery and Cafe, Postino and Chelsea's Kitchen. 

My husband and I entertained a business associate and his wife who were in town.  It was the first time we'd been to Radio Milano but we were quite familiar and pleased with their other restaurants.  So, we figured it was a safe bet and ...we were right!

The ambiance is modern and kind of retro in look and feel.  We were promptly seated at a table for four.  Our wait staff was very friendly, knowledgable and helpful.  There were a number of chalkboard specials that changes daily. 

For starters, the menu includes a variety of salads including a chopped, celery caeser, and caprese along with a few appetizers.  I love calamari so of course, I had to order their crispy calamari with spicy red sauce.  It was wonderful!

Pasta and risotto favorites are included on the menu.  I ordered the grilled wild salmon which was cooked perfectly.  My husband ordered the filet mignon medium rare and I had a bite to taste.  It was delicious!  Our friends ordered a risotto and seemed to enjoy it.

They offer a full bar and you can order wine by the glass or by the bottle. 

I would definitely recommend Radio Milano to my friends.  The prices range from $15-27 for entrees. 

Kids are welcome and they have a special menu for them that includes spagetti and meatballs and mac 'n cheese. 

There is complimentary valet parking.  That is the one problem with that corner of restaurants; not enough parking.  So, I would recommend that you use the valet to avoid wasting time.

Radio Milano is located at 3905 E. Campbell in Phoenix.  The phone number is 602-956-6600 and they accept reservations.  They are open daily from 5-11. 

Have You Been to Humble Pie?

Humble Pie is a place to go for unique pizza, salads and sandwiches.  Of course, they also have wine and spirits but since I went there for lunch my iced tea was more appropriate. 

It's located in the Hilton Village just south of the intersection of Scottsdale Road and Lincoln.  It's in the same general location as The Good Egg and Houston's and right behind the Chase Bank. 

By the time I got there, it was bustling with the lunch time crowd.  The main dining room is very open but there's also seating on a covered patio.  I think it's still too hot for that but I'm sure once the weather gets a bit cooler, it would be a good place to eat.

Humble Pie refers to a variety of pizzas.  There were many choices that included one that had all organic local vegetables with a choice of red or white sauce.  Other pizzas included prosciutto, pears and gorgonzola and grilled chicken with pesto, oven roasted tomatoes with crispy fried onions and mozzarella.  Yummy! 

Since my friend and I were going to share we decided on a chopped salad and the Margherita pizza.  There was more than enough for the two of us with leftovers to take home.  The pizza was delicious with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil. 

Humble Pie is open for lunch and dinner.  They are open Sunday through Thursday from 11am until 10pm and on Friday and Saturday from 11am until 11pm.  They also have curbside pickup if you call ahead with a take out order.  That number is 480-556-9900.  Check it out; the food is good.

Arizona Restaurant Week

Arizona Restaurant Week is coming up soon!  Never heard of it?  Well, it's a week long event from September 20-26.  Many of the more expensive restaurants in Phoenix and the surrounding cities give you the opportunity to experience their culinary cuisine.  And the best part is... it only costs $29 per person or $58 per couple.  Now, that's really a good deal!

There are more than 100 participating restaurants.  The list includes places like Olive & Ivy, Roaring Fork, Roy's (all locations), Z'Tejas, Tutti Santi and Tarbell's.  And that's just to name a few.  You can access the full list here. 

Here's how it works.  First of all, make your reservation as far in advance as possible.  I'm sure this will be a very popular promotion.  You have your choice of a special prix-fixe menu (full three course meal) or choose a al carte from the traditional menu.  The $29 per person price excludes beverages, tax and gratuity. 

There are many Valley sponsors that include the Phoenix and Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureaus, the Arizona Restaurant Association, the Arizona Republic and others.  Open Table is an online reservation system that is also a sponsor.  You can link to them and make your reservations.  Their website includes more details about each of the participating restaurants.

This is a great opportunity to try out many popular Valley restaurants...and at a great price too.

Pan Asian Food in Phoenix: Moto

Moto has great pan-Asian food.  I had lunch there today with a friend.  The service was friendly and fast and the food was delicious. 

Moto is located on the southeast corner of 16th Street and Glendale Avenue across from Blockbuster Video.  It used to be a Shanghai Express and the owner is the same person.  Vince Heppler studied sushi in Japan and claims to be the only Anglo sushi chef in Arizona according to the history on their website.

The interior was much nicer than expected and yet had a neighborhood feel to it.  The menu included an assortment of pan-Asian items including fish tacos, a variety of noodle dishes, chicken terriyaki bowls, sushi and great appetizers that can serve as a main meal.  My friend and I both chose items from this section of the menu. 

Don't these Asian nachos look delicious?  My friend ordered this and of course, I had to taste.  It was a combination of grilled chicken and fried wontons covered in a cheese sauce.  Sour cream and guacamole topped it off.

I chose the Asian quesadilla.  Check it out! It had spicy grilled chicken and mozzarella cheese wrapped in a flour tortilla.  It was a nice Asian twist on the typical Mexican quesadilla. I love spicy food, so this was perfect.  A spicy chipotle sauce and guacamole were served on the side. 

Even though both of our items were listed as an appetizer,they were very filling as an entree, especially for lunch. 

I would recommend this place for either lunch or dinner.  I noticed that they have all the sushi you can eat on Saturdays from 11-2:30.  That may worth another visit.

La Grande Orange Grocery

La Grande Orange is a great place to go any day of the week.  It always seems to be crowded and parking can be a nightmare.  There are a few spots reserved in front for short term parking and they also have valet available.  But if you know all that in advance, it's a fun place to be.  On a Saturday morning, you'll see all kinds of people sitting inside and out sipping coffee and eating many of their innovative breakfast items.  I love it!

Several of the breakfast items include Croque Madame which is a broiled open faced sandwich with ham, tomato, egg and guryere cheese.  Yummy!  I've also come to love their Birchermuesli.  Don't ask me to pronounce it because I can't but it's healthy and tastes good to me.  It's actually a chilled Swiss oatmeal with organic yogurt mixed in.  They're located in the Arcadia district on the southwest corner of 40th Street and Campbell. 

It's worth it dealing with the parking issue between the food, the ambiance and even the music they play.  Maybe I'll see you there on a Saturday morning.

AJ's Fine Foods: A Gourmet Delight

I've been a fan of AJ's Fine Foods since they first opened in the Phoenix area.  AJ's is a gourmet lover's delight.  If you can't find a particular ingredient or spice for some of the Food Network TV show recipes, I can assure you - you'll find it at AJ's.  There are many locations throughout the valley but I usually go to the Camelback and 44th Street or the Central and Camelback store.  Both are conveniently located for me.

Each store has a wonderful bakery section with the most mouth watering sweets displayed.  Of course, it's one of the first things I see when I enter the store.  I think they do it on purpose just to tempt me.  The florist section has so many varieties from which to choose and they always have someone to help arrange them for you.  The butcher shop carries many qualities of beef, including prime.  I know it's more expensive but it tastes so good.  They even carry Kobe burgers.  The produce section is visually pleasing too. I've found every fruit and vegetable, even when they aren't in season.  

They are currently having a sale on many of their wines as a summer special.  Many varieties are priced between $6.99 to $12.99.  This is a great deal!  So, if you drink wine this is a time to buy it.

I've used their catering services in the past too.  Their food is prepared and can either be delivered or picked up.  Everything they make tastes good and they use the best ingredients. 

If you don't want to cook for any major holiday, you can order a dinner for one or two or even 20.  For Thanksgiving, I often order their dinners for convenience sake.  I pick up the order that morning or the day prior and all of the reheating instructions are included.  And everything tastes great, including all of the traditional sides.  They offer this service for just about every holiday including New Year's Eve, Easter, Christmas and many more.

I would highly recommend AJ's Fine Foods for their variety of unique and hard to find foods.  Check out their website for all of the locations.

Safeway Grand Re-opening

I am excited about the grand re-opening of the Safeway grocery store on the northeast corner of Camelback Road and 32nd Street.  They have been open throughout construction all summer.  But the staff has tried to minimize the inconvenience as much as possible.  However, I'm so glad they're finally finished and the store looks great.  Everything looks so inviting, including the hardwood floors in the produce section. 

I received a booklet in the mail with all kinds of additional savings.  You have to use your Safeway Club Card.  The special savings are for Saturday, August 16th but many of the coupons extend beyond that day.  If you didn't receive the booklet in the mail, you might be able to obtain one at the store.  To receive many of the discounted items, you must have the coupon to obtain the special price.  You can also check their website for their weekly circular. 

What's For Dinner?

Trader Joe's is a great place to shop.  There are numerous locations throughout Phoenix and the surrounding cities. 

I find so many options for inexpensive ideas for meals.    One of my great finds was the Mandarin Orange Chicken.  You can find it in the frozen food section.  It only takes about 20 minutes to make in the oven.  I add 10 minute rice and I've got a great meal.  It is also fairly low in calories.  And it tastes so good!  Even my husband loves it. 

Here's how the package looks.

   

And here's how it looks after cooking it.  It really does taste good.

So, if you're looking for a new idea for a quick and healthy dinner, go to Trader Joe's. 

Paradise Bakery Opens at Biltmore Fashion Park

Paradise Bakery is a favorite of mine.  The first time I heard of them or  tasted their food was at Scottsdale Fashion Square many years ago.  I used to take my lunch break from work and sit in the food court eating their fabulous chicken walnut salad on the freshest bread.  What a taste treat! 

I also love their salads, especially the chopped barbecue chicken.  But my favorite thing on their menu is their lemon poppy seed muffins!  The sign on the display used to read "lowfat lemon poppy seed muffin" and that's what got me started eating them.  One day the sign was gone and a friend of mine asked the manager about it.  He said they recently found out it didn't meet the nutritional guidelines for lowfat so that's why they changed it.   Well, good for them and their honesty.  But I was already hooked.  So, I still love to eat them, at least once in a while.

The other day I was driving past the Biltmore Fashion Park and I happened to see the familiar Paradise Bakery sign.  Was it finally coming to a location closer to where I live?  Yes indeed, it was. 

I couldn't wait for an excuse, so early this morning I made a muffin run.  Of course, I had to take a few pictures so I could write all about it.  Here is my favorite muffin of all time.  The lemon poppy seed muffin.  What do you think?  Doesn't it look good?

I especially love the sugary glaze on top.  My friend Terri, who is also a former New Yorker and loves to watch Seinfeld reruns, always saves the tops for last.  If you remember, there was a Seinfeld episode where Elaine loved eating only the tops of muffins.  So she and Kramer have this great idea of opening up a muffin shop that only sells the tops.  Unlike Elaine, I never throw out the bottom.  I eat the whole thing.  I have the tendency to eat the part I love the most first.  So, my muffin tops are gone very quickly.  Gosh, it seems like all I write about is food and I want to lose a few pounds!  I'd better get on my treadmill so I can work off some of the Paradise Bakery calories.

Do me a favor if you would?  Add a comment and tell me what your favorite muffin is and where you buy it?  I'd love to hear all about it.