Must Visit New Bar | Bar Cena
Dom Ruggiero is a beloved restaurateur in the Phoenix area. After years of praise at Hush Public House Dom opened up Fire at Will, his second food concept. Recently, Dom and the crew at Cast Iron Concepts reimagined their beer bar The Vanilla Gorilla (located right next to Hush) into a cocktail bar serving delicious bites and plates named Bar Cena. Enjoy your cocktail or mocktail while you munch on dishes like prosciutto and parmesan or Sonoran Pasta Co. pappardelle with wild mushroom bolognese.
Must Visit Brewery | Smelter Town Brewery
In the quaint historic town of Clarkdale, Arizona, sits one of the state’s most surprisingly awesome breweries. Smelter Town Brewery is situated just up the road from Old Town Cottonwood and down the hill from Jerome. Within a few short years, Smelter Town has become a mecca for Arizona beer lovers, and a hot spot for locals and visitors in the area. Beers like the Modern Miner Milkshake IPA, a range of sours, and fantastic lighter options suit any palate. During our last visit, standouts included a pineapple upside down cake sour and a crisp cream ale.
Hole in the Wall | Kay Sushi
Over the past several years Arizona has developed an impressive lineup of sushi restaurants. That includes a long list of high end spots, but even more locations serving up affordable rolls for the average joe (like me). One of the spots we have frequented lately is Kay Sushi in Scottsdale. Our favorite roll is definitely the Tuna Tataki.
Local Snack | Doctor Hummus
Doctor Hummus has the cure for your hunger: a variety of locally made dips and hummus made from non-GMO organic ingredients. Founder Sabeur Rouin was born into a food focused family, which meant he had a list of his grandmother’s recipes he could tap into. After crafting some of his own vegan dips and spreads, he went to market. 19 years after Doctor Hummus first went into business, the products are now available in stores and across farmers markets in Arizona. Believe us when we say you’ll make a couple extra daily stops to the fridge when you’ve got these snacks stocked up!
Affordable Bottle | 3 Amigos Tequila
Blanco, Reposado, Añejo. Whatever your pick, 3 Amigos has a delicious and affordable bottle for you. Based in Jalisco, Mexico, this Arizona family owned tequila has a direct connection to the farming of their agave. While the brand is new, the folks behind 3 Amigos have been tending to their agave farms for generations. That has led them to release an outstanding, additive-free tequila to agave spirit lovers across the state. From planting the agave to pouring the tequila, this product is made by hand through a process that takes 7+ years.
Canned Cocktail | Chaco Flaco
We love a good cocktail, but we don’t always love the effort or the mess. When that’s the case we turn to Chaco Flaco, whose canned cocktails are not only tasty, but are award winning and all natural. Flavor options include strawberry daiquiri, mango margarita, vodka berry mule, and prickly pear paloma. Their simple but quality focused mentality means that when you crack a can you can be sure you’re getting great spirits combined with real mixers. No high fructose corn syrup here!
Tasty Tacos | Gordos Tacos
Who doesn’t love a delicious taco? Are you a fan of Al Pastor? Chicken Tinga? Carne Asada or Quesa Birria? We will take them all at Gordo’s Tacos in Scottsdale! Located inside of an unassuming strip mall, the tacos at this Mexican spot make it well worth the visit. Our favorite was the Carne Asada which was loaded with meaty flavor, but super tender. After every visit, we opt to indulge in any of the tres leches options they’ve got available including strawberry or Oreo!
written by: luke irvin | photographed by: luke irvin