No matter what happens to us in life...less money...less time...most of us never lose our love affair with good food, and it seems we can always find time and money to treat ourselves to a great dining experience. To me, one of the most enjoyable and relaxing things in life is to go to an excellent restaurant with a friend and sit down and enjoy a great meal.
Since moving to the Phoenix area seven years ago, I've been fortunate to share great dining experiences with other amateur food critics who like to try new places and existing ones -- those restaurants that go beyond the norm in conjuring up great dishes using only the best and freshest ingredients -- with well-trained staffs and atmospheres that add to the entire dining experience. So when it came down to "which is my favorite restaurant in the Phoenix/Scottsdale" area, it was like having two many good wide receivers on a football team and deciding which one(s) to cut.
After much thought, I have narrowed my top choice to Zinc Bistro in the charming Kierland Commons area in Scottsdale.
I have so many favorite dishes at Zinc that it would go beyond the designated blog length to mention all of them, so I will pull out my top selection in each category -- but when you go there, I encourage you to try all the mainstays and everything else on the menu as well.
Okay let's get started. For an appetizer, I choose the roasted dungeness crab and mushroom crepes in its creamy, soft mushroom sauce with sweet tomato and fennel. For lunch, my favorite is the basiled chicken and brie sandwich on poulet grille with sauce aux champignons; the way the brie melts on the pesto-flavored chicken is to die for! As a dinner entree, I prefer the Scottish Salmon, butter poached with asparagus and a mouth watering braised mushroom and truffle emulsion. I find that good chefs prepare unique and tasty sauces, and they add spices and herbs to enhance but not overpower the food, and that's one of the things that makes Zinc's food so appetizing!
For dessert, I have to go with the Zinc Valrhona Chocolate Souffle with Grand Marnier Sauce. You can also get it with chocolate or mint sauce, but I like the zesty orange flavor and thick cream consistency of Grand Marnier. If you're going to Zinc and planning to order this warm, delicious treat, keep in mind that is takes 30 minutes to prepare. But it, like Zinc, is worth the wait. Top things off with their French-pressed coffee and you will go home feeling warm and happy inside! And I haven't even gotten into their great list of martinis, but I will tell you that the French Twist, supposedly created by one of their bartenders, is at the top of my list.
One thing I have noticed about Zinc over the years is that the staff is always pleasant and knowledgeable and there seems to be little turnover. The ambiance is calm and cozy and you are never rushed. You can sit inside in the wood and dimly lit bar or inside dining area, outside on the patio along the main drags of Kierland Commons or be seated in the inner, open air patio surrounded by plenty of green. The light French music adds to the charm and delight of this French-style cafe and restaurant in the middle of the desert. If you try it, let me know what you have and what you think.
Just for the record, Bloom in Gainey Ranch Village and Binkley's in Cave Creek were my second runner ups.
Now I put the question to you "What is your favorite restaurant" and why?
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5 comments:
My son took me to an Italian restaurant, Pasta Brioni, last year for my birthday. It was outstanding. Cozy red leather booths, an elegant wooden bar and romantic tabletops fill the room while artwork and dramatic lighting set the mood. There were 5 of us present and everyone had a different meal. All said it was one of the best Italian dishes they have eaten. I had a four-cheese rigatoni with a bottle of pinot grigio. Really good. I have not found any place in the Phoenix area that compares to the real thing in Italy, but Pasta Brioni comes close.
I agree on Zinc Bistro for a relaxing experience. It is the type of place that you suddenly realize you have been there for three hours and still have no desire to leave. Late lunch is great. To me a good restaurant is much more than the food. Good food is essential but it is the overall experience, service, atmosphere, company, that justifies the expense. You can spend much less, still buy great ingredients and cook a great meal at home to some extent. However sometimes I want to have a fantastic meal, which is way beyond my cooking and shopping ability. These are places, where afterwards I have to describe to everyone I meet what I had in great detail. For these times I would choose Binkleys, NOCA, Sea Saw or the now closed Marquesa at The Princess. A step down from these in food and price, I have really enjoyed Sol y Sombra recently and also like Tarbells and Bistro Provence. Now closed but former favorites are Michaels at the Citadel, Roxsands and Convivo. Michael Demaria has opened heirloom at DC Ranch (still have not tried), but Roxsand Scocos has retired and Jeffrey Beeson of Convivo and Different Pointe of View died last year. While new restaurants are opening all the time, particularly downtown, unfortunately with todays economy many fine restaurants are also closing. I prefer supporting independent restaurants instead of chains as I believe they provide a unique experience. Steakhouse, speciality and ethnic restaurants provide material for another time.
Bill, you sound like Seftel. I mean that as a compliment, you know the owners, the different restaurants and comment on the somewhat sad state of affairs when dining places we love don't make it, especially in this economy. Thank you for your input. You have made me think that my question was too broad and that, in the future, I need to narrow down by type of cuisine, etc.
Lynn, great post! I am always looking for new restaurants, however since I cannot eat wheat or gluten I am very limiited sometimes. I did find a great restaurant that offers a gluten free menu as well as a great regular menu. I recently dined at Picazzo's Pizza with some friends and was able to enjoy gluten-free pizza! This is rare and usually gluten free bread is not that tasty and most gluten free menus are pretty bland. However, this menu was very extensive and I was so happy to see that they accomodated those who WANT to eat pizza, but are unable to. Not only did they offer a great menu, the staff was very accomodating with my requests and were happy to subsitute anything that was not on the menu. I also ordered a really good Greek Salad that had the best Balsamic dressing I have ever tasted- very creamy and full of flavor. Everyone ordered a different pizza and each came out pipping hot and loaded with fresh ingredients. Everyone RAVED about their food. Their pizza's are very creative as well and you can create your own if you want. I highly recommend trying this one out!
Thank you for your comments, Natalie. You are right about Picazzo's. I have two friends that have to watch out for gluten and we have dined at Picazzo's and the flavor is still there even though the gluten isn't.
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