Stingray Sushi

I did it! I went to one of the restaurants off my list of restaurants I was DYING to try, and it did NOT disappoint! I love my list too because when Alissa called and told me to choose a place for lunch, I just went to my list and suddenly had tons of ideas!

I had heard from others that Stingray Sushi was relatively expensive, but I am never really turned off by that because I love the Tootsie Roll (although I am pretty sure that more and more places are calling it the Crab Crunch Roll or Crunch Roll these days), and the Tootsie Roll can range anywhere from 7-12 dollars depending on location, and I am willing to pay anywhere in that range. I don't eat any sort of expensive fish or tons of it, so I am probably not the best judge of sushi, but I LOVED their rolls. We stuck with a Philadelphia Roll, Tootsie Roll (or Crunch Roll), and one amazing roll that was topped with jalapenos and served with a sweet chili sauce. GREAT combination of flavors!

Now, I have to admit my most favorite thing about the Biltmore location was the patio. I am not a huge fan of patios. I don't normally like to eat my food outdoors, but OMG, the over sized couches that served as "booth" like seating for the tables were soooooooooooo comfortable. I felt like I was just lounging at home talking to my friend Alissa. It was amazing. I was just happy we went before the big cool down because in my opinion it was the PERFECT temperature on the patio December 28th!

Hurry over to Stingray Sushi soon!

Gallo Blanco

A GEM! A true gem right in the middle of the business district on Central! Just a little south of Indian School is a street called Clarendon, at Clarendon and 4th Ave, there is a TREAT! The Clarendon Hotel has a restaurant in it that is called Gallo Blanco. If you get Phoenix Magazine, (which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU GET IF YOU LIVE IN PHOENIX-MY FAVORITE), you have stared at the Gallo Blanco tacos since their Best of Phoenix issue came out in early September! The picture is worth ONE THOUSAND WORDS!



So thankful that B Mok Revealed had a picture of the appetizer we started with-Chicharrón de Queso!



IT WAS AMAZING! The cheese was like the cheese that oozes out of the side of a quesadilla and browns, then they roll it into this tower and serve it with the jalapeno dipping sauce (also known as Aji aioli sauce, but since most of us don't really get a clear picture from that title, I like mine better!)-TO DIE FOR!!!!!!!!!!

Then, we should talk about their ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. . .we all enjoyed their FABULOUS margaritas, made with fresh fruit juices and fabulous tequila, but what should REALLY be talked about is the sangria with all sorts of fresh fruit cut up and marinated in the delicious concoction!!! YUM!

So I was finally given the chance to taste the tacos! HEAVENLY, and I love their presentation, they just put them in these taco holders, and the table has to remember what they ordered and divide them up! So cute and fun, very sushi like! I tried the carne asada, pork and fresh fish (ahi tuna)! They each had a VERY unique flavor, and I don't think I could pick a favorite. I am disappointed I didn't try the shrimp because my friend Andrea stated it was her favorite, but now it just means I need to go back!

Their green salsa is delicious and the closest thing I have found to my favorite breakfast taco place in San Antonio.

My friend, Tamara, had Ensalada Cortada which was the tossed salad with many ingredients, but the most important being the corn nuts. She gushed about the corn nuts with each and every bite. She said the corn nuts MADE the salad, and in my opinion, corn nuts are a GREAT addition to each and every dish! I LOVE CORN NUTS!

My friend, Shannon, had the Arroz Verde, and when I asked her to review it for me, this is what she had to say:

"The salsa had some kick to it so I don't think I finished all of it. It was
soooooo good balanced with the rice though. People who like a little more spice
than I do would truly enjoy it. Nice side item to go along with all the flavors
of the tacos. Yum!"

She also reviewed the lime tart she and Andrea shared for their birthday:

"The Lime tart was DELICIOUS. It was not too tart and just the right amount of
sweet. The fresh lime taste was so good. The whipped cream on top was homemade
and very light, and the graham crust was not overpowering. A bit different from
the key lime pie that I love so much. Presentation wasn't too exciting - almost
like I had baked it myself at home and plopped a square of it on a plate with a
dollop of whipped cream on top."

BUT WAIT, the review doesn't stop there, we happened to go on a Wednesday night, and the place was PACKED. That's because on Wednesday from 7-9 they have Flamenco dancers come and perform. It was great fun, and the dancers really have a lot of talent.

I know I will definitely need to go back because this place serves breakfast ALL DAY, and in my opinion, breakfast is the best meal of the day! Can't wait for my return trip!

I'm BACK!

Well, not with a food post, but with a post about WHY I disappeared for awhile! The economy has been a complete and total disaster lately! I began to feel really guilty about skipping from one place to the next, and I wasn't really interested in trying new restaurants. What I was interested in was supporting the local economy and continuing to return to the restaurants that I LOVED time and time again so that they would stay in business.

Restaurants are SHUTTING their doors left and right these days! However, some of the restaurants I reviewed back in the day are earning accolades and experiencing such AMAZING success, so it seems wrong to try a new wine bar when Bomberos was ranked one of the Top 10 Latin restaurants in America by USA Today!

Are there new restaurants I want to try? MOST DEFINITELY! Currently the list includes: St. Francis, Culinary Dropout, FnB, Local Breeze (formerly Palette) and Stingray Sushi. Will I make it to those restaurants, probably, but my new restaurant ventures are fewer and further between because I need to support my local favorites: Postino Central, Scramble, Maizie's, and El Bravo, and there are only so many days in the week!

Scramble

www.azscramble.com

On Valentine's Day, my darling husband took his girls to the newest breakfast spot in town, Scramble. Located at 7th St and Mountain View, it is a darling little place!!!

I got to try out their Eggs Benedict, YUM! And, you must try the Scramble hash browns that have bacon and cheddar mixed in them. The lady at the table next to me had one of their signature cinnamon rolls that looked amazing. My husband had the french toast which he greatly enjoyed. It looked thick-soft in the middle, crispy on the outside. AND, my daughter had some toast! They have great service. Much like Pei Wei, you place your order, find a seat, someone brings you your food. Self-service on the condiments and drinks, but overall a very fun place to try!

Over Easy

4031 N. 40th St.

Nestled in what used to be a Taco Bell around Indian School and 40th St, this breakfast joint is REASONABLY priced and yummy! The owner is quirky and friendly, the atmosphere is fun, and their kids menu is sure to be a hit!!! I had the Over Easy, brioche with spinach, a fried egg and bacon sauce. I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce, but the dish is a great idea. My mom had the Mushroom, Cheese and Scallion omelet that was incredible. Perfect combination of ingredients. My son had the chocolate waffle with powdered sugar. What kid wouldn't love that. Even mommy had a taste and gave it TWO THUMBS UP!!! Open from 6:30-11:30 daily make sure you hurry in soon!

Maria Maria

For those of you on the East side of town, I tried out one of the new restaurants at Tempe Marketplace yesterday, and let me just tell you that it did not disappoint. The ambiance was phenomenal, really cool and hips decos, but I have to say the chips are officially what did me in! It is a little pricier than your average Mexican food restaurant, we will call it fancy Mexican, but they have this GREAT covered patio with fans and comfortable chairs, flat screen TVs showing the Sunday football, and from the looks of their margaritas, I would guess they are yummy, I didn't try one, but throw in a laptop with wireless Internet, and it would be my PERFECT Sunday.

The chips have the rock salt, the guacamole has a serious kick, suddenly your mouth will be on fire, their salsa is thick and flavorful, and the meal could really end there. I did order a salad, and it too was wonderful, but I kid you not, I started to scoop my salad up with chips, I cannot even tell you how many of the chips I ate yesterday!! My friend had the quesadilla and thought it was delicious! Overall, I highly recommend this place!!! I will definitely return next time I head out east! Our server's name was Carissa, and while she was not the brightest and DEFINITELY could have moved a little faster. We all smiled when we heard her name!

The Roosevelt

Hip,swanky, YUMMY bar that my friends and I went to last night. From the owner/creator of Matt's Big Breakfast, comes the most delicious bar food EVER! We ordered the cheese plate which included this to die for cranberry bread, fig spread, organic apple, crackers, a spicy blue cheese, a creamy Gouda and a crumbly cheddar. YUM! I couldn't get enough. It was like CRACK! Also ordered was the hot pretzel with two types of mustard (BOTH DELICIOUS), a grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the chips and dip, served with two types of dip: onion and blue cheese. The chips were flavored, crunchy and wonderful. Very reasonably priced as well!
They have beer and wine on the menu, I had a Cabernet, while my friends opted for the house red wine and a cider, which was described as, "SOOooooooo good!" This place was amazing, and I cannot wait to go there again. It was pretty crowded for a Wednesday night. We sat in the back at a community table. All of the couches and over sized chairs were taken, along with almost every spot at the bar. If you go, be prepared to stand, but know that it is well worth it.