Cooking Basic

Not so conviently located….but worth the drive. Scramble is an order a great breakfast at the counter joint. Yes, you first order your meal at the counter, they hand you a number to place on your table and in a short amount of time a server brings your food. It’s a little pricey but with the clean posh decore and deliciouness they call breakfast it is worth every penny. I highly suggest the eggs benedict-YUM! I have added their link to the main page, go check out their menu and let me know what you think.

I was waiting to write this review because I had to go back and try some more dishes. Dick’s is truly hidden away so if you don’t have the address written down you are going to have a hard time finding it. On my first time I went for breakfast- Huevos Rancheros and a Mimosa. D-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s! I would also recommend the Bloody Mary. The next time I went for dinner with a friend. We shared the Posole which is served in a lightly crisp tortilla. For the main course we both had the blue, red and white corn enchiladas. The portions are more than enough but perfect because you can go home with left-overs. Some people say if you have left-overs at a restaurant they didn’t do it right but I think Dick’s is the exception to this rule. The third time I went for dinner again and tried one of their appetizer specials that are written on a giant chalkboard-Spinach Dip with Chorizo, melts in your mouth, served with warm tortilla chips. For the main course, Garlic Shrimp. I will be sure to return in the future to indulge in this great New Mexican cuisine.

Let me first start out this review with a disclaimer that even though there is typically a long wait at Matt’s Big Breakfast, it is worth it! My advise would be to order the homefries, which are made with rosemary and just delicious. This restaurant focuses on basic dishes cooked to perfection with high quality ingredients. Matt’s Big Breakfast has been featured on Food Network and Yelp’s Top Restaurants in Arizona along with many food magazines like Bon Appetit. The Roosevelt in downtown Phoenix is also owned by Matt Pool and his wife Erenia. Word on the street is they are planning on opening a coffee shop in Central Phoenix.

I recently had the pleasure of enjoying soul food for the first time at Lo-Lo’s Chicken and Waffles. I know the concept is weird but the food is just delicious especially for those who enjoy a little sweet and salty. On my visit my eyes seemed to be much larger than my stomach but it they did allow for my to try a little bit of everything. First and fore most the Red Kool-Aid was everything I hoped it would be. Next served was a waffle and two chicken legs followed by a side of gravy, a side of mac & cheese and finally a piece of corn bread. Don’t worry I was sharing some of this with a few other people. All of it was cooked to southern perfection! Lo-Lo’s also has a sister store that I look forward to trying- Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Cafe. Come hungry, leave stuffed.

Before I started writing this review I wanted to see what my fellow Yelpers thought of it. I started reading a review from a girl named “Alicia”-whatever you do, don’t mispronounce her name or she will give your establishment a bad review-and decided some Yelpers have do idea what a good sandwich tastes like. Wake up and smell the coffee Alicia, Sacks has the second best egg salad sandwich I have ever had. Second to The Farm at South Mountain for those interested. Their potato salad topped with paprika is worth any price in my mind and the free cookie in your lunch bag is an added bonus. They have a large selection of gourmet sandwiches, yes I said gourmet so don’t go there expecting to pay for a Subway Sandwich. In the end it’s your call on where you want to eat for lunch. Keep in mind Sacks is not open on the weekends but they do have four locations in the Phoenix area.

While The Lost Leaf isn’t a restaurant I still felt the need to share my thoughts about it. This establishment is located in downtown Phoenix, just a short walk from Modified Arts. Their tasty treasures consist of a full laundry list if delicious beers best suited for beer advocates, a wine selection and, yes, even a flavorful list of non-alcoholic beverages. Lost Leaf is also a participant of First Friday Artwalk and continually features pieces by local artists. They don’t just feature Nobody.

I wanted to point out a new link I added-The Farm at South Mountain. I have had their breakfast at “The Morning Glory Cafe”,  twice now. Same dish each time, Gourmet and Wild Mushroom Omelette, served with home fries and a butter milk biscuit. That biscuit melts in your mouth, the omelette is perfectly cooked, topped with an Mornay sauce. Delicious!!!! For lunch at The Farm Kitchen, another place on the property,  I had the Egg Salad Sandwich , along with fresh lemonade and a lemon bar. Let me just say it is worth any price you pay, just be prepaired to pay for very high quality food, drink and desert. I will definately return for dinner at The Quiessences Restaurant and report back. Delicious food in the middle of no where.

Palatte at the Cavness House is a great brunch restaurant located in downtown Phoenix. Live music and a beautiful landscaped outdoor makes this a great place to stop, slow down with life and enjoy a great meal. With so many delicious choices on the menu this is a place I will be sure to return to. Dishes I recommend are:

• The Potato - Bacon, spinach, caramelized sweet onion, gouda and monterey jack egg scramble.
• The Dolores - Two fried eggs, corn tortillas, house made tomatillo and tomato salsas, black beans, queso fresco, avocado.
• The Bev - Sauteed spinach, tomato slices, avocado egg scramble.

Four out of five stars on Yelp.com.

Cornish Pasty Co. is a restaurant located in Tempe, Arizona. It’s off the NE corner of University and Hardy and if you aren’t looking you could miss it but that would be a big mistake. There are around 37 different choices for a pasty including a large selection for vegetarians. My favorites are The Greek, Lovely Bit a Salmon and more recently a new recipe, The Royale with Cheese. Save room for desert? If you can I highly recommend the Apple Carmel Pasty. Apples, cinnamon and caramel baked inside the pastry topped with ice cream and fresh whipped cream-need I say more? Yummy!

Coming soon! I will be posting reviews about restaurants, breweries and bars of all kinds. These will either be from Arizona or anywhere I travel.