The Greater Phoenix area, which includes Scottsdale, is a true foodtopia: home to 600+ restaurants, 64 wineries,
and Le Cordon Bleu accredited Scottsdale Culinary Institute. Phoenix is an up-and-comer with a strong adaptive
reuse program, meaning lots of great restaurants located in former houses, banks, and even a carnie union.
PHOENIX
FOR FOODIES
WRITTEN BY MARGIE GOLDSMITH
Carmel’s Breakfast House
Just a ten minute drive from Phoenix
International Airport is local hotspot,
Carmel’s Breakfast House, named one
of Phoenix’s best new restaurants. It’s
hard to miss this former little 1940’s
house with vintage VW yellow-orange
“Carmel’s Breakfast House” van parked
out front. Less than two years ago, TV
sportscaster Patrick Flanigan quit his
daytime job to open a breakfast house,
naming it after his mother, Carmel. Here,
Chef Miguel Pliego creates the best
panini sandwiches, open-faced tartines
and brown butter scones in Phoenix.
4233 East Camelback Road (Phoenix),
480-626-0020, carmelsbreakfast.com
Arizona Food Tour: A Taste of
Old Town Scottsdale
Here’s a way to have your cake and eat
it too: join a guided food tour in Old
Town. During a three-hour lunch or
dinner tour you’ll sample the fare and
libations of many top restaurants. The
Rusty Spur, Scottsdale’s last authentic
cowboy saloon, offers live music with
the tasting. Malee’s Thai Bistro offers
quintessential Tom Ka Gai soup made
with fresh lemongrass; sample Chef
Matt Carter’s cutting-edge American
fare at The House Brasserie’s; try wine
tastings at Su Vino Winery or sample
the products at Outrageous Olive Oils
and Vinegars; head to Iron Chef and
James Beard Awardee Chef Garces’
Distrito for guac and tacos (voted best
place to take a foodie); and finish up at
AZ 88 for Golden Gate butter rum cake
with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch
and fresh-baked Key Lime Tart.
Old Town, Scottsdale (location depends on
tour), 480-293-4096, arizonafoodtours.com
Nobou at Teeter House
Nobou Fukuda, James Beard and Best
New Chef award-winner, has created
a foodie-worshipper 5-star Japanese
gem where Western sensibility meets
traditional Japanese sushi. For lunch,
Chef Fukuda serves up offerings such
as warm duck salad and panko-fried
soft shell crab sandwich. Nights are
reserved for the chef’s legendary multi-
course omakase (chef’s choice) dinner,
perhaps the best on this side of the
Land of the Rising Sun.
622 East Adams Street (Phoenix),
602-254-0600, nobuofukuda.com
Proof
Facing Pinnacle Peak in the posh Four
Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon
North, this funky year-old hotspot is
called an “American canteen.” The
home-style hangout is ideal for friends
and families with games and table
shuffleboard. The ambience sizzles and
so does the food andwine (with choices
from throughout the USA), and more
than 50 microbrews. The décor is Wild
West, but no cowboy ever had it so
good. Lip-smacking favorites includes
ceviche, fried green tomatoes, chicken
and waffles with bacon and drenched
in bourbon syrup, and shrimp and
oyster po’boys.
10600 E. Crescent Moon Drive (Scottsdale),
480-515-5700, proofcanteen.com
Tuck Shop
Architect D.J. Fernandes disdains
pretentious chefs and thinks the
Phoenix food scene tends to be late
on culinary trends, so he’s created his
very own neighborhood comfort spot
named after UK snack stands where
one “tucks in” to the food. Favorite
starters include beer-battered cheese
curds and many dishes are meant to
be shared, such catfish and crawfish.
2245 North 12th Street (Phoenix)
s WWW TUCKINPHX COM
GREAT EATS
26
JOURNEYS magazine
Volume II, 2014
