FOOD

Food & Drink

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Pairing cravings with culinary creations

BY ALISON BAILIN BATZ

Progress Contributor

North Scottsdale boasts so many delicious dining destinations, it makes deciding where to eat even harder.

Here is a curated list of epicurean experiences.

The perfect steak

The family-owned and -operated Modern Oysterbar Chophouse has a secret weapon to its success on the grill: executive Michael Bouwens. The master of red meat is a veteran of Vincent’s on Camelback, 5th & Wine, Morton’s, Flemings, Roaring Fork and Zinc Bistro.

He brings all of those years of delicious experience to the Modern Oysterbar Chophouse kitchen, including a relationship with the internationally lauded Linz Meats of Chicago, known for some of the best cuts in the world. Do not miss the 30-day wet aged cuts he is sourcing from them, including a center cut filet and a perfectly marbled prime bone-in ribeye.

Info: modernoysterbarchophouse.com

Light yet flavorful

Equal parts nourishing and nosh-worthy, Civana’s two restaurants, which are open to the public, are perfectly crafted by executive chef Scott Winegard. Winegard, who spent years at buzzy plant-seed restaurant group Matthew Kenney Cuisine, took over the kitchen at the wellness resort in 2020. His menus at Seed and signature dinner restaurant Terras are seasonally focused with the freshest of ingredients. Each dish is thoughtfully prepared and modern in technique, taking into account one’s overall health and wellness.

Info: civanacarefree.com

Elevated fusion

Do not miss The Mick. This modern French brasserie is all about small plates

Bourbon Steak executive chef Sara Garrant offers delectable dishes at the Fairmont

Scottsdale Princess. (Fairmont Scottsdale Princess)

The steaks that Sara Garrant serves will bring joy to any meat lover. Scottsdale native Matt Carter takes great pride in transporting his hometown to France through his food.

and takes its inspiration from any region once under French rule. In addition to more standard items, guests are in for a treat with flavor infusions from Africa, Southeast Asia and even New Orleans. Given that executive chef and co-owner Brent Menke is an Arizona native, expect a little Southwestern spice kicking up the heat in some dishes as well.

Info: themickaz.com

‘Famously’ good food

Last year, James Beard Award-winning celebrity chef Scott Conant expanded his

(Mike Mertz)

Arizona restaurant portfolio by becoming an owner of The Americano. A Scottsdale resident, Conant previously made local headlines in the Valley with the opening of Mora Italian, a progressive Italian restaurant, in 2017.

Info: theamericanorestaurant.com

If you have a taste for elevated American…

Robust flavors and exceptionally beautiful plating are a hallmark of executive chef Sara Garrant at Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak at the Scottsdale Fairmont Princess. She learned to develop rich flavors while growing up in a tiny fishing community in Alaska. She literally grabbed the day’s fresh catch from the pier as a small child and threw it on a skillet, in the oven or atop a grill.

Info: michaelmina.com

The Americano is a progressive Italian restaurant owned by nationally renowned chef Scott Conant.

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Wine pairings

Just a few months ago, the Scottsdale Promenade welcomed Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant. Though it’s hard to tell from the outside, it features a full-scale wine tasting room and wine shop in addition to full-service restaurant, ample bar, and outdoor patio space inside. The inspired set-up allows for guests to start the evening in the tasting room, where there are flights of red, white, sparkling and rose wines before being whisked to a transitional area where barrel samples of wine are offered. Once seated for a multicourse dinner, wine pairing suggestions are offered with every single dish.

Info: chwinery.com

A taste for pizza

Specializing in artisanal pies baked in a wood-fired oven, Lamp is one of North Scottsdale’s best-kept secrets. All of Lamp’s 19 red pizzas feature a base of fresh mozzarella, pecorino and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese as well as tomato sauce and basil. Among the more unique specialty pies: the Terroso, which has roasted Crimini mushrooms, roasted artichoke hearts and roasted red peppers, and the Kavorka, which has Sicilian sausage Calabrian peppers.

Info: lamppizza.com

French food

Look no further than Kierland Commons and the iconic Zinc Bistro. Scottsdale native and French-trained chef Matt Carter opened Zinc Bistro at Kierland Commons in 2001. Consistently among the top French restaurants in Arizona, the contemporary and romantic Scottsdale staple features a 25-foot seafood bar with fresh oysters, clams, mussels and lobster daily as well as indulgent classics including seared foie gras, Provencal bouillabaisse, chateaubriand and soufflé.

An intimate dining adventure

At only 40 seats, North Scottsdale’s Hush Public House is among the most intimate dining experiences in the Valley. It’s also one of the most out-of-the-box experiences one will likely ever have at dinner — in the best way possible. The dinner menu features just 20 options, which change regularly and range from halibut crudo to chicken liver mousse to smoked beef ribs with cucumber coleslaw.

Info: hushpublichouse.com

Dinner and a show

Kasai Japanese Steakhouse must be on the list. The built-in dinner-tainment wows guests as the charismatic chefs put on a show complete with fun and flames at one of the 14 teppan tables. It’s not just a meal — it’s an event!

Info: kasaiscottsdale.com