4 minute read
Must-try Dishes and Desserts
The Ainsworth 24K Gold Wings
The Grand Canyon State is a foodie paradise. Awardwinning restaurants helmed by acclaimed chefs, unique takes on classics for flavorful combinations, and signature creations featuring the freshest local ingredients and served in welcoming, dynamic atmospheres deliver one-of-akind dining experiences. Here are our picks for can’t-miss dishes and desserts in Arizona.
Lon’s at The Hermosa Churro Tree
MUST-TRY DISHES
Butterfly Burger
After taking home three trophies at Scottsdale’s Burger Battle, chef Lisa Dahl decided to serve her award-winning burgers year-round. Her haute, hip Sedona burger lounge offers more than a dozen burgers, along with seductive salads and spellbinding sides. We suggest the namesake Butterfly Burger, topped with manchego cheese, all-natural pepper bacon, guacamole and chipotle aioli.
butterflyburger.com
The Ainsworth
Fusing sports and sophistication, this casual eatery offers upscale takes on traditional bar foods. Fun favorites include the Trash Can Nachos and the Mac Burger, which features both fried and fresh, creamy three-cheese mac-n-cheese. But when it comes to dishes that impress, nothing compares to the 24K Gold Wings, 10 or 20 chicken wings dusted with genuine 24-karat gold flakes and served with golden chipotle barbecue sauce and top-shelf bleu cheese.
theainsworthphx.com Maple & Ash
You can’t go wrong with any of the juicy, tender cuts of meat at the chic Scottsdale steakhouse. No matter what your entree, we highly recommend complementing it with a side of Bubbling Potato Gratin. This ooey, gooey blend of gruyere and parmesan cheese is served bubbling hot in a personal-sized cast iron skillet. We’re still thinking about this savory dish.
mapleandash.com
Marcellino Ristorante
Every day, chef Marcellino Verzino creates special dishes that celebrate the seasonal bounty of Italy, and his special Tortellini is a winter delight. Delicate purses of handmade pasta are stuffed with pureed filet mignon and sautéed vegetables and served in a light butter sauce. The delectable dish is made even more decandant when topped with shavings of imported Italian black truffles.
marcelinoristorante.com O.H.S.O. Brewery & Distillery
This popular Valley hangout is renowned not only for its brewed in-house beverages but also for its menu of creative comfort food. The weekend brunch draws hungry crowds, and one of the most-requested dishes is the Fruity Pebbles French Toast. Lemon mascarpone-stuffed toast is coated in the fruit-flavored cereal and topped with whipped cream and fresh berries. Fred and Barney would approve.
ohsobrewery.com
Spotted Donkey Cantina
Vibrant and energetic, the Spotted Donkey Cantina embraces Arizona’s regional influences with authentic Mexican cuisine crafted from top-notch artisanal ingredients and locally sourced products. The season’s cooler months call for spicy dishes, so start your meal with the signature Cantina Shooters. Four plump jalapeños are hand-stuffed with mixed cheeses and scallions, deep-fried and served in shot glasses with an herbed buttermilk sauce.
theboulders.com
Spotted Donkey Cantina Shooters ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho Show Stopper Shake Tomaso’s Veal Osso Buco
Tomaso’s
Tomaso’s famous Veal Osso Buco is an elevated recreation of a classic, hearty Milanese dish. Generous portions of veal shanks are braised slow and low with aromatic herbs and served on a mound of traditional saffron-flavored risotto with fresh vegetables and a red wine demi-glace. Because of the time-intensive preparation, the dish is available only on Fridays and Saturdays.
tomasos.com
MUST-TRY DESSERTS
Lon’s at The Hermosa
Meals at Lon’s are meant to be savored, from the bold flavors of the globally inspired fare to the patio’s intimate Southwestern ambiance. After dinner, relax with a craft cocktail or Arizona brew and delight to the iconic Churro Tree. Five loop-shaped cinnamon sugar churros are served on a metal tree, along with Mexican dipping chocolate, horchata ice cream and fresh strawberries.
thehermosainn.com Rock Springs Cafe
No trip from Phoenix to Northern Arizona is complete without a stop at Rock Springs Cafe in Canyon City. This down-home restaurant/general store/ outdoor market is known throughout the state as “the place with the pie.” Each year, the cafe sells more than 100,000 pies, which are made fresh daily. Choose from 24 flavors, including traditional fruit, cream and seasonal. We guarantee, you won’t be able to buy just one!
rockspringscafe
The Sicilian Baker
While this North Phoenix bakery offers an array of mouthwatering house-baked pastries, cookies and cakes to satisfy any sweet tooth, it specializes in Italy’s iconic dessert: cannoli. The centerpiece of the eatery is a build-your-own cannoli bar, with flavors including Nutella, pistachio, espresso, lemon, and more. For that special occasion, surprise your significant someone with the Sicilian — a foot-long cannoli.
thesicilianbaker.com Toro Latin Bar
One, two, three — La Bomba! Dessert at celebrity chef Richard Sandoval’s Toro Latin Bar is an experience unlike any other. Sorbet, ice cream, berries, crumble and candy pistachios are nestled inside a house-made chocolate half sphere, which, when dropped from above by your server, breaks apart, sending the ingredients across the table. It is then drizzled with three flavorful sauces. Dig in!
scottsdaleprincess.com
ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho
Tucked inside the iconic midcentury Hotel Valley Ho, ZuZu crafts upscale and innovative American food by celebrated chef Russell LaCasce. The main attraction, however, is the restaurant’s signature Show Stopper Shake. These over-the-top seasonal concoctions are piled high with house-made ingredients and sweet treats, such as caramel apples, macarons, chocolates, cupcakes, popcorn, candies and more.
