PHOENIX & CENTRAL ARIZONA When it comes to cuisine, Metro Phoenix is anything but a desert. Here’s where to satisfy your next craving. BY ELIZABETH EXLINE THE PERFECT PLATE FOR THE FOODIE FOR THE TRENDSETTER Like all good secrets, Hush Public House is a juicy one. Its chef-driven menu has earned the restaurant a place on multiple Best of Phoenix lists and leans heavily on meat-centric dishes like braised oxtail. But chef-owner Dom Ruggiero is equally skilled with produce. For evidence, look no further than the fried cauliflower prepared with harissa and lime-cilantro yogurt. Inspired by Art Deco design, the heyday of railroad travel and the glam-our of the Roaring Twenties, Century Grand in Phoenix resembles a train station from a time when train stations were hubs of sophistication. Start with something from the lengthy cocktail list, and then dig in to the 1920s-inspired, dim sum-style entrees, which, in a nod to today’s trends, are prepared with local produce and artisan ingredients. Century Grand, Phoenix FOR THE BUDGET HUNTER At The Chuckbox , dining on a budget is not a lesson in deprivation. Low prices, in fact, are partly why people have flocked to this Tempe institution for almost 50 years. The other reason? Those mesquite charcoal-broiled burg-ers are sprinkled with “Magic Dust” seasoning and cooked to order. FOR THE HEALTH-CONSCIOUS When it comes to making healthy fare enticing, Kaleidoscope Juice gets it right every time. In addition to juices, there are smoothies and infused waters with empowering names like “Conquer the World.” Stop by Kaleidoscope’s downtown Phoenix location to enjoy a menu that includes street tacos, protein bowls and even a selection of brownies and cookies. FOR THE ADVENTUROUS When you think you’ve seen it all, Wild Elk Den in Chandler is ready to surprise you. Billed as a hunter-gatherer restau-rant, it features an expansive selection of game meats, including smoked alligator meat, conch sliders and wild boar. While the game might be fearsome, the restaurant’s atmosphere is decidedly not, offering board games to play as you wait for dinner. Luci’s at the Orchard, Phoenix FOR THE FAMILY Set within a historic residence in Phoenix, Luci’s at the Orchard pairs a sense of verdant seclusion with the same approachably healthy menu that made the original Luci’s famous. The extensive menu includes Luci’s legendary coffee, as well as breakfast burritos, sandwiches and salads. Arrive for breakfast, brunch or lunch, and stay to let the kids play on the splash pad. FRESH FOODIE TRAIL Get a closer look at the roots of the area’s thriving culinary scene. The Fresh Foodie Trail ® , which winds through the East Valley, highlights a collection of small farms, mills and orchards that supply numerous local restaurants. Highlights include the milk bar, ice cream and local honey at Mesa’s Superstition Dairy Farm ; hand-shaped pasta classes at Queen Creek’s Hayden Flour Mills ; pizza-making classes at Queen Creek Olive Mill ; and wine-tasting rooms at both Gilbert’s Agritopia and Florence’s Windmill Winery . freshfoodietrail.com 44 VISITARIZONA.COM The Farm at Agritopia, Gilbert TOP TO BOTTOM: GRAND CENTURY/BARTER & SHAKE; BEN HON; VISIT PHOENIX/MARK LIPCZYNSKI
Arizona Official State Travel Guide Arizona 2020-21: Page 44
