Arizona 2008 Official State Visitor's Guide - (Page 37) Snack Out of It There were skeptics early on. “Some people told us nobody would care about our using sustainable and local foods,” he says. The incredibly enthusiastic response has thrilled, even surprised, the Brix brain trust, who were happily “caught off guard” by the Condé Nast listing and “still can’t believe how much cheese we move – we go through a ton of it.” Moir describes Brix’s cuisine as “consistent in its Mediterranean influence – Spanish, Italian, southern French – all fairly light, totally fresh, really quite simple.” And it’s this pure, almost humble, approach that has one of the country’s finest young restaurants shining as brightly as the stars above Flagstaff. lunch: Reds, in Sedona After a night at the Grand Canyon and an earlymorning stroll overlooking one of the world’s greatest natural wonders, we head back south, detouring through the stunning red-rock landscape of Sedona for lunch at Reds at the swanky and contemporary Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa. Here we’ll sample the modern American specialties of Christopher Smith, a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute, affiliated with the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week, Reds feels homey with its cushy leather armchairs, yet unmistakably stylish thanks to a bold red color scheme and a bustling exhibition kitchen. The 74-seat main dining room looks perfectly inviting, but Alison and I grab a seat at the long bar – we’re drawn to a wall of eye-catching red glass, and we figure the amiable bartender can give us the lowdown on Reds’ best dishes. Without hesitation, he steers us toward the mac-andcheese, which is baked in the brick oven in a heavy iron skillet. This dish dazzles – the tangy aged Vermont cheddar, sweet house-baked ham and kicky roasted jalapeños combine for a hearty but complex take on an American classic. We also nibble on a delicious salad of sharp blue cheese, honey-spiced pecans, shaved red onions, grilled pears and endive. Alison and I chat gratefully about hotel restaurants of late morphing into certifiable dining destinations with serious culinary chops. Reds, we decide, epitomizes this positive trend toward fantastic hotel dining, and we’re happy to end what has been an amazing food tour with a truly exemplary lunch. l You’ll find lots of chef and restaurant profiles, as well as information about Arizona-grown foods, on arizonaguide.com, the state’s official travel-planning website. For more information on dining and nightlife experiences, click on the What to Do tab. Cerreta Candy Company ©GOT w w w.ari zonaguide.com Sometimes all you need to break up a busy day of museumhopping and park-exploring is a light bite, and in Arizona, you’ll find a number of shops and restaurants specializing in just the perfect snack foods. Here are five first-rate snack purveyors to keep in mind next time you’re yearning for a nibble. Arizona Jack’s Jerky – What could be more quintessentially Southwestern than a slice of tender, chewy jerky? This Mesa-based outfit produces delicious marinated beef and buffalo jerky. Cerreta Candy Company – A fixture of historic Glendale, Cerreta makes an unbelievably delicious almond toffee, plus old-fashioned chocolate creams and butter-pecan crisps. Stop by for a 30-minute factory tour Mon. to Fri., at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cookiez – Along bustling Mill Avenue in Tempe, you’ll find this tiny storefront that doles out big-flavored sweet treats. Order a handmade ice-cream sandwich, comprising two chewy cookies mashed together with rich ice cream. Feig’s Kosher Foods – You can’t beat this Tucson grocery for tantalizing deli fare, from hefty corned-beef sandwiches to soul-warming matzoh ball soup. Hopi Cultural Center – Indian tacos, or frybread, are a Native American staple, and the Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa serves some of the best. Try this fried-dough delicacy filled with beans, ground beef and cheese, or as a sweetened dessert, topped with honey. • 37 http://www.arizonaguide.com http://www.arizonaguide.com
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