Page 44 – North Central News, February 2013
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Steve Dragovich and Diane Quan took over HB Hanratty’s in 2009, changing some things such as adding a prep kitchen and nosh menu, but not touching some traditions, such as broadcasting Ohio State games for local fans (submitted photo).
Café Chat HB Hanratty’s is a hip neighborhood dive bar By Patty Talahongva Don’t expect anything fancy––HB Hanratty’s at 537 E. Camelback Road is about as local as you can get for a place that comes with a 30-year history. Newcomers will discover the strong drinks served here and old timers will flock to the place when an Ohio State game is playing. Diane Quan and Steve Dragovich were regular patrons of the place before they became the owners. They lived and worked in the area at high-end restaurants such as Fleming’s and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse but enjoyed the vibe at Hanratty’s. So in 2009, Quan approached the owners about taking over the pub and a deal was made. But it was a bit of an adjustment for the two who were used to white table clothes and swanky digs. Quan laughs, “Well it took a little getting used to. In the beginning we were thinking, ‘What did we get ourselves into?’ But it’s worked out pretty well.” They made a few changes such as taking out the carpet (remember, it was built in the late 1970s) and putting in a small kitchen to serve a few food items. The iconic yellow sign that featured the name plus the image of a cowboy with a handlebar mustache and goatee fell down last year. The new sign is red and only sports the name.
Those small changes haven’t affected the tradition of Ohio State fans appropriating the bar during their games. “It’s packed,” says Quan, adding that the previous owners told her it started way back before the games were televised. The local alumni would gather at Hanratty’s then call the father of an alum in Ohio who would hold the phone up to the radio so the fans in Phoenix could listen to the game on speakerphone. “We'll open the bar early,” says Quan of those game days. “Sometimes it can be nine in the morning.” The alumni association even sets up a booth where fans can purchase Ohio State swag. “Sometimes on big games you’ll have 100 Ohio State fans here,” she says. Her business partner, Dragovich, is from Ohio, so these days are especially fun for him. A perusal of some online sites will tell you HB Hanratty’s is a “Western” place, an English pub, a tavern, or a biker bar. It’s none of those, says Angela Muniz, the marketing director for the eatery. Some folks call it a dive bar. That’s more accurate, admits Muniz with a chuckle. “Oh yeah, I would say we’re a dive bar. I think people expect dive bars to have some culture and history,” she says. “They may not be fancy but they’re definitely known for their drinks.” A little bit of fancy comes in the form of the Tiny Tinis, which Quan added to the menu. It’s a 4-ounce mar-
www.northcentralnews.net
North Central News, February 2013 – Page 45 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
tini for $4. “The martini originally started as a small drink so it would stay cold while you drink it,” Muniz explains. Hanratty’s offers the Classic Martini, a Washington Appletini and a Cosmopolitan in a “tinier” format. They’re a big hit, says Quan. “The price point is a little bit different, so it seemed to work out,” as patrons can try a martini and stay within their budget. The bar also includes some local beers, such Sun Up IPA and Sleepy Dog Red Rover, as well as the not-solocal Magic Hat #9. “It’s a really light lager,” says Muniz, “and it has a cult following.” The beer is from Vermont and is on tap. “Beer week (Feb. 16-23) would be a good time to check us out,” she suggests. On Tuesday, Feb. 19, HB Hanratty’s teams up with Old Dixie’s Food Truck to offer Arizona beers and comfort food for $25. You can RSVP on the restaurant’s Facebook page to ensure your space at the event. For the rest of the week Hanratty’s will feature Arizona beers for $3 each. And since a prep kitchen was added a short nosh menu also is available, including a warm pretzel; chips, salsa and cheese; taquitos; mozzarella sticks; pepperoni pizza bread; and a pastrami and Swiss on rye sandwich. Or, if you prefer, you’re welcome to bring in your own food, says Muniz. “It’s very much a neighborhood place,” Muniz says, describing the Happy Hour crowd as a mix of working class and business class, and as the evening progresses the hispters venture in from the neighborhood to shoot pool on one of the vintage pool tables or shoot darts in the back. If you work at another bar or restaurant, show your pay stub to get a free drink. If you take in a show at the nearby Torch Theater, show your ticket and get a drink for $1. Cycling patrons are welcome to park their bicycles on the patio. A bit of modern technology is the jukebox. If you have an app for Touch Tune you can program songs to play from your phone or you can walk over and insert the proper amount of coin. This year a mural will be painted on the eastern side of the building. Calls for artists will be posted on the Facebook page, HB Hanratty’s Pub. HB Hanratty’s is open from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. For more information, call 602-274-3067.
Dining Briefs Half-price cocktails offered all week long Arizona Cocktail Week is set for Feb. 16-22 and during that time drink specials will be abundant throughout Phoenix and the Valley. The drink specials can be redeemed by wearing a special AZCW wristband, available for $10. Proceeds from the wristbands will benefit Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) Arizona. C-CAP is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and provide career opportunities in the foodservice industry for underserved youth through culinary arts education and employment. Once the wristband is purchased, imbibers can receive half-priced drinks at participating restaurants and bars, all week long, including local hot spots Windsor, Texaz Grill, Bar Crudo, Central Bistro and Shady’s. The wristband also will give Yelpers access to dining specials and exclusive taxi deals to ensure everyone gets home safely. In please see COCKTAILS on page 46
Named as one of the best 80 restaurants in the Valley by Phoenix Magazine!
Page 46 – North Central News, February 2013
www.northcentralnews.net FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Ol Fashion Ice Cream Parlor Serving the Valley Since 1951
COCKTAILS continued from page 45
Come in and try our homemade ice cream, sandwiches, soups and salads Buy a single cone or cup and get one
FREE with this ad Good through February 28, 2013 • One coupon per table
www.marycoyle.net 5521 N. 7th Avenue (7th Avenue just north of Missouri)
602-265-6266 Friend us on Facebook!
addition, wristband wearers can receive RACK alerts (Random Acts of Cocktail Kindness) that will be sent out via social media and e-mail, which will inform imbibers about pop-up events and special giveaways. Wristbands can be purchased online at www.arizonacocktailweek.com and picked up at locations around Arizona. See the webiste for pick-up locations.
Swiss-made chocolates found in Sunnyslope Those who long for the velvety smoothness and rich creaminess of handmade Swiss chocolates but can’t afford the airfare across the ocean can take heart–those rich delights can be found in Sunnyslope, and just in time for Valentine’s Day. The Baker’s Daughter, a decadent dessert shop, operates next door to Karl’s Bakery, 8847 N. 7th Ave. And why shouldn’t it? Karl Boerner’s daughter, Christine, is the chocolatier extraordinaire at the helm, having grown up in her family’s bakery.
Karl himself is Swiss but was born in Germany and received his training as a pastry chef in Cologne. He studied chocolate in Switzerland and also is a chocolatier. Like her father, Christine also trained in Switzerland for three years, graduating at the top of her class. All the raw chocolate at The Baker’s Daughter comes from Switzerland, using only fair trade beans. Christine uses no coating chocolate, just the pure product, to create her gateaux and 46 different truffles, whose molds and shells are handmade before they are filled with different flavors of ganache. Other shop selections include shortbreads, cookies, cupcakes, and the customer favorite caramel-sea salt truffle. Pre-made gift boxes are available starting at $10.75 and up and customers also can create their own gift boxes. The chocolate store offers a quaint sit-down area, where customers can enjoy their treats along with a hot cocoa, cappuccino, latte, macchiato or espresso smoothie. Christine offers private chocolate making classes and private wine and chocolate pairing receptions. For more
Grand Opening Our new, fresh Tavern and Eatery concept will open during the last week in February! Daily Drink Specials from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. $5 beer pitchers • $5 specialty drinks • $5 wines on tap
$5 Food Specials Daily from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Ride your bicyle and order off our exclusive discounted Bicycle Club menu! Spoke & Wheel is located in the old Dillon’s location, which has been newly remodeled.
Enjoy the fire pit on our patio Come in and watch all the games
8525 N. Central Avenue Tavern and Eatery
602.870.8860 Open Sun - Mon 11am - 9:30 pm and Fri-Sat 11am - 11pm
www.northcentralnews.net
North Central News, February 2013 – Page 47 FOOD FOR THOUGHT
information about classes or special orders for Valentine’s Day, call 602-9977849 or e-mail bakers_daughter@q.com
Olive mill celebrates annual pressings Queen Creek Olive Mill and its retail store and restaurant at the Biltmore Fashion Park celebrate their annual Olio Nuovo, “Festival of the New Oil,� through Sunday, Feb. 17. The annual festival marks the arrival of the new oil that recently was pressed at the Olive Mill and the tradition is celebrated with food, wine, live music and much more. In addition, Private Press EVOOs will be available for a limited time. This exclusive line is created by the Olive Mill’s owner and Master Blender, Perry Rea, and features a similar blend of olive varieties pressed at different stages of ripeness to create three distinctly different flavor profiles of extra virgin olive oil, named Arcangelo, Franciscan and Bianca. They are available for a limited time at the Oils & Olives marketplace inside the Biltmore’s UNION shopping area.
Throughout the festival, there will be daily in-store retail deals. And the Trattoria del Piero restaurant, also inside UNION, will offer daily breakfast and lunch specials. For more information, call the restaurant at 602-957-5354 or the store at 602-955-8400, or go online to www.QueenCreekOliveMill.com.
Thirteenorth marks two years of great food With a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work and good grub, Thirteenorth has reached another milestone—its second anniversary. Part of its success can be attributed to a solid menu that stays fresh with the occasional addition of new nosh selections. Most recently, the menu has been spiffed up to include fish tacos; a California turkey burger; a turkey club sandwich; savory green chili chicken mac and cheese; a chef ’s salad, and a cobb salad. Diners will still find $13 bottles of select wine available from open to close on Mondays and Tuesdays. And on the please see ANNIVERSARY on page 48
bring in this ad for
50% OFF your Zookz Now through the end of February
**Open Sunday through Friday For Breakfast and Lunch**
1 &HQWUDO ‡ 3KRHQL[ $= ‡ ZZZ ]RRN]VDQGZLFKHV FRP
Page 48 – North Central News, February 2013
www.northcentralnews.net FOOD FOR THOUGHT
ANNIVERSARY continued from page 47
Creative eatery serves up breakfast, lunch
13th day of every month, the restaurant continues to offer enticing food and drink specials. Be sure to friend Thirteenorth on Facebook (keywords “Thirteen North Grille”) for details and updates. Plus, every Saturday and Sunday you can sink your teeth into the $5 burger special–an 8-ounce gourmet ground chuck patty with house-made chips. Thirteenorth is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and has a full bar with a nice selection of fine wines and craft beers. It is located at 1301 E. Northern Ave. For more information, call 602-795-1397 or visit www.thirteenorthgrille.com.
What do you get when you mix fresh ingredients with savory sauces and cook them in a warm, saucer-like bread pocket? The answer is a Zookz sandwich. Carole Meyer, owner of Zookz located at 4750 N. Central Ave., has perfected the “pocket” sandwiches she ate as a child growing up in North Africa. “People are really craving fresh, healthy meals they can get on the go,” said Meyer. “Zookz are prepared quickly to cater to the fast-paced world in which we live.” Patrons can grab one of Meyer’s savory sandwiches for breakfast or lunch within minutes for either dine-in or carry out. Concoctions include the
No. 44, a two-egg frittata with bacon, ham, feta, parmesan, roasted red peppers and fresh basil for $4.25, and the No. 20, with sliced turkey, crisp bacon, fresh avocado, tomatoes, shredded cheddar and sweet heat mustard sauce for $5.95, served with a side salad of the day. For those working on their New Year’s resolutions, Zookz offers four different salads including a sweet kale salad. The sandwich shop also has nonmeat sandwiches for vegetarians. Zookz is open for breakfast and lunch Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.3:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Saturdays. For more information, call 602-279-0906 or visit www.zookzsandwiches.com.
Urban Cookies has breakfast goodies Urban Cookies Bakeshop, 4711 N. 7th St., will open early starting Feb. 1 to offer morning pastries. Ten new items will be added to its expanding menu. Selections will include a dairy-free muffin, scones, croissants, pumpkin bread, vegan banana bread and a signature Morning Bun, created with a buttery croissant dough and an orange cinnamon sugar filling. Pastries range in price from $2.50 to $3.25. The shop will open at 7:30 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. weekends. For more information, including details about the new morning menu, visit www.urbancookies.com or call 602451-4335.
For local restaurant listings, visit our Dining Guide at www.northcentralnews.net BUSINESS DIRECTORY
A. J. Birdwell Plumbing 602-274-4121 Water • Sewers • Water Heaters Repairs & Remodel NO TRAVEL CHARGES • FREE ESTIMATES ROC # 0457777 • Licensed • Bonded
Drywall Specialist
25 Years Construction Experience Electrical • Plumbing • Painting Remodel • Repair TODD McGREGOR
602-265-6162
NOT A LICENSED CONTRACTOR
Not a licensed contractor
ROC #229129
BLOCK WALLS BRICK • STUCCO • CONCRETE FLAGSTONE • PAVERS • MAILBOXES STONE • DRIVEWAYS • BBQS BEEHIVES • FIREPITS • TILE
Affordable Rates Not a licensed contractor
Satisfaction guaranteed Call Arturo Bonilla 602-475-7486
Casteel's Landscaping Service Services Include: Mowing • Edging • Trimming • Blowing Sprinkler Installation & Repair
Christopher Casteel
602-826-0656 christopherdcasteel@msn.com