Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market Expands Dinner Menu at Campfire Bistro and beer & wine now also available to go with that award-winning barbecue

Here is an update for some new additions to Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market which is on the Southwest corner of 94^th and Bell Roads and continues to be more than just a gas station. The corner store has quickly become a neighborhood meeting spot for a cup of locally roasted coffee at Pinnacle Perk or breakfast and lunch at the Campfire Bistro. This week, the Bistro introduces an expanded dinner menu and full table service from 4:30 – 8pm nightly. The new offerings coincide with its license approval to serve beer and wine.

Chef Tudie Frank-Johnson has taken the café’s award-winning barbecue and Southern-inspired specialties to create a range of family dinner-worthy dishes. Headlining the menu are the Barbecue Ribs – a half rack of ribs with two side dishes for $16. The Campfire Bistro ribs recently took top honors at the Channel 15 Sonoran Living BBQ Challenge.

Also on the menu are Grilled Salmon over Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Red Pepper Coulis and Sautéed Zucchini with Shallots ($13.99), Crab Cakes, and rotating specials like Blackened Catfish with Fries, Fiesta Slaw and Drizzled with Chipolte Aioli ($10.99) and Peach Cobbler ($3.99).

“The community has been so supportive of Tom’s and everything we offer. The Bistro is truly becoming the meeting place we’ve hoped for – where neighbors come in for breakfast or business people for lunch,” says operator Jonathan Kish. “We’re excited to be able to offer a formal dinner menu for our guests to enjoy in the evening with their friends and families.”

The dinner menu is available from 4:30 – 8pm nightly when the Bistro transforms into a full restaurant with table service.

Tom’s Thumb also is now serving beer and wine by the bottle and glass. The selection changes weekly and comes from its range of affordable, high quality wines and craft beers selected by Market Sommelier Chuck Hesson. Prices range from $4 – 5 per bottle for beer and $5 – 11 for wine. Drinks are $1 off during happy hour from 3 – 6pm daily.

Tom’s Thumb Fresh Market is located at 9393 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale on the SouthWest corner of 94^th and Bell. Find menus and other updates about the market on its website, TomsThumbFreshMarket.com, on Facebook (facebook.com/Toms-Thumb-Fresh-Market) and the Twitter (@TheThumb1). 480-513-8186.

SUMMER SUNDAYS” PRIME RIB DINNER AT FLEMING’S 3-Courses for $29.95, B.R. Cohen Cabernet for $40

Here is some info. on Fleming's Sunday night's Prime Rib dinner & wine feature. Summer is the time to bring back the tradition of Sunday night dinner with family and friends at Fleming’s. Guests can enjoy a three-course Prime Rib Dinner at a special price every Sunday evening beginning July 1st through Labor Day Weekend.

New this season is the perfect pairing of wine to complement prime rib of beef-- B. R. Cohn North Coast Silver Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2008/2009--enticingly priced.
WHEN: Sundays through Labor Day Weekend
(July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, 12, 19, 26, 30, September 2)

COST: $29.95* per guest
B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon $40* a bottle

WHERE: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Baro Scottsdale at Lincoln Road: 6333 N. Scottsdale Rd. / 480-596-8265o North Scottsdale at DC Ranch: 20753 N. Pima Rd. / 480-538-8000o Chandler: 905 N. 54th St. / 480-940-1900o Peoria: 9712 W. Northern Ave. / 623-772-9463

Please visit www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com to find your nearest restaurant and hours.
MENU:
The Sunday Prime Rib Dinner is a three-course meal featuring:

• 12 ounces of succulent Prime Rib, served with a trio of sauces
• Choice of The Wedge, Fleming’s or Caesar salad
• Choice of one side dish (ten selections)
• Choice of housemade dessert (seven selections)

*excluding tax and gratuity. Our Prime Rib Dinner is available every Sunday, but at the special summer price of $29.95 per guest through September 2nd only. Fleming’s abides by all local and state liquor laws.

CHOMPIE'S 3RD ANNUAL ULTIMATE SLIDER CELEBRATION Featuring Jewish Sliders, a Customer Favorite Featured on Travel Channel's Man v. Food, for Just 99 Cents

 

On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Chompie's, Arizona's New York Deli Since 1979, will host their 3rd Annual Customer Appreciation Ultimate Slider Celebration, offering customers Jewish Sliders™ (normally $3.99 each) for just $.99 each from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (or while supplies last) to thank them for their support over the past 33 years Chompie's has enjoyed their patronage.

The annual event was born on July 14, 2010 to celebrate the premiere TV broadcast of Chompie's Ultimate Slider Challenge on Travel Channel's Man v. Food season 3 "Phoenix" episode, featuring host Adam Richman attempting the Challenge. That day, Chompie's four locations in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Chandler sold more than 7,600 $.99 Jewish Sliders combined. At one point, the crowd waiting to get into Chompie’s Tempe, where Man v. Food was filmed, filled the lobby and wrapped around the building. The following summer's Ultimate Slider Celebration proved to be even more popular with customers, a.k.a. "Chompers", who enjoyed over 8,650 $.99 Jewish Sliders on July 20, 2011.

The Ultimate Slider Challenge was conceived in late 2009, when, as big fans of Travel Channel's Man v. Food, Chompie's owners, the Borenstein family, thought, if anybody is known for huge portions, it's us. Shortly thereafter, in early 2010, Chompie's put the Challenge on the menu. It consists of a platter filled with twelve original Jewish Sliders and a mound of onion strings, totaling 5 pounds of food, which a challenger must finish within 30 minutes. Winners are awarded a free Ultimate Slider Challenge t-shirt, a coveted spot on Chompie's Wall of Fame and the meal free.

Within a few months of its introduction, Travel Channel's Man v. Food producers happened across Chompie's Ultimate Slider Challenge online and called to say the show's host, Adam Richman, wanted visit Chompie's to give the challenge a try. The rest is Jewish Slider history. "When we first put it on our menu, we just thought the challenge would be fun for our customers," says co-owner, Wendy Borenstein-Tucker, who enjoys seeing the astonished look on customers' faces when the gargantuan platter is set before a challenger. "We dreamed, of course, but we never expected it would actually be on national TV! We knew our customers would be thrilled too, so we held a celebration that included them--our first Ultimate Slider Celebration." Chompie's Man v. Food episode, featuring Adam's Ultimate Slider Challenge, was filmed at Chompie's Tempe location on March 18, 2010. When the show premiered, no one had yet succeeded in winning the Challenge, including Adam. To-date, only 9 people have succeeded out of nearly 200 attempts.

The popularity of Chompie's famous Jewish Slider continues to grow. "It's amazing what a not-so-little sandwich can do," says Wendy. "It makes people happy and brings people together. That's what Chompie's has always been about."

Chompie's original Jewish Slider consists of a mini-challah roll filled with moist lean beef brisket, Jack cheese, a crispy homemade potato pancake and brown gravy. Chompie’s N.Y. style delicatessen, restaurant, bagel factory, bakery, and caterer, has served the Valley since 1979 with mouthwatering breakfast-all-day, lunch, and dinner 7-days a week. Chompie’s four restaurants in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Chandler are individually owned and operated. For more information, visit www.chompies.com.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Introduces a Winning Pair with Small Plates and Big Pours. Gives Guests the Chance to Try Their Hand at Pairing Premium Wines and Steakhouse Small Plates in the Bar Area for Just $24.95

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is now offering a new way for guests to mix and match in the bar area from now until May 31, 2012. The popular steakhouse and wine bar is rolling out “Small Plates, Big Pours” – a selection of seven innovative Small Plates matched with an oversized wine pour from the Fleming’s 100 – for just $24.95 (plus tax and gratuity). Maeve Pesquera, Fleming’s Director of Wine, has chosen each of the seven Big Pour wines to pair with the flavors of the steakhouse Small Plates.

The Small Plates include: Sliced Filet Mignon, Shrimp Scampi Skewers, Petite Lamb Chops, Seared Ahi Tuna, New Bedford Scallops, Filet Mignon Skewers, and Lobster Tempura.

The Big Pours are: Penley Merlot, Paco & Lola Albariño, Cline Cashmere Red Blend, A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir, Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc, B.R. Cohn Silver Cabernet, and Silverado Chardonnay.

Guests can select one Maeve’s suggested pairings listed below or create a unique flavor combination of their own by mixing and matching their own wine and food pairs:

Sliced Filet Mignon and Penley Merlot
Beef filet, mushroom risotto and Merlot all exhibit a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth quality and harmonize well together

Shrimp Scampi Skewers and Paco & Lola Albariño
Albariño’s crisp minerality echoes the fresh ocean flavors of the shrimp, and the green apple and floral notes of the wine are a wonderful complement to the spicy chimichurri sauce

Petite Lamb Chops and Cline Cashmere Red Blend
Oak-aged red wines almost always pair well with grilled meats, and the lamb has flavor compounds that pair particularly well with the chocolate notes and hints of black pepper in this Syrah-Grenache-Mouvèdre blend

Seared Ahi Tuna and A to Z Wineworks Pinot Noir
The bit of spice in this perfectly smooth Pinot Noir soothes the piquant notes of the mustard sauce served with the tuna dish

New Bedford Scallops and Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc
The fruity minerality of this refreshing Sauvignon Blanc accentuates the buttery richness of the scallops, and its citrus qualities echo the dish’s Meyer lemon-honey glaze

Filet Mignon Skewers and B.R. Cohn Silver Cabernet
Powerful foods need a powerful wine, and the full, rich flavors of this Sonoma Cabernet pair well with the robust flavors of seared beef, creamy gorgonzola and smoky bacon

Lobster Tempura and Silverado Chardonnay
The richness and sweetness of the lobster echo the rich flavors of crème brûlée and citrus found in this medium-bodied Chardonnay

“Guests could pick a pairing with a blindfold on and still would not go wrong with the seven wine selections on our Small Plates, Big Pours menu,” says Russell Skall, Fleming’s Executive Chef. “Larger groups can experiment by ordering several of the Small Plates to see who comes up with the favorite pairing of the evening,” he adds.

Skall enjoys pairing the Sliced Filet Mignon with Shitake Risotto with the Penley Merlot or the B.R. Cohn Silver Cabernet. When paired with the merlot, the filet causes the berry and plum flavors of the wine to shine, but when paired with the tighter tannins in the cabernet, new flavors evolve.
There are four Fleming’s in Phoenix at Scottsdale at Lincoln Road, North Scottsdale at DC Ranch, Peoria and Chandler. For more information or to find your nearest Fleming’s location, please visit www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com. Follow Maeve Pesquera and Chef Russell Skall on Twitter @WineMaeven and @RussellOnSteak.

Graze Desert Grille at Zona Hotel and Suites in Scottsdale

Tucked up in the desert amongst golf courses and the growth of north Scottsdale is the 431 room Zona Hotel and Suites. To coincide with a renovation that started in the summer of 2011, they also have re-branded the restaurant that is on property calling it, Graze Desert Grille. Emphasizing the cuisine of the Southwest, Executive Chef Kevin Myers uses the ingredients sourced from local farmers and suppliers and using all natural ingredients. Food and Beverage director Brian Blanke will compliment the food by featuring Arizona wines, spirits and beers along with other selections. I recently had the opportunity to taste several items from the new menu to debut April 5th, 2012.

The evening started with select cocktails of our choice including Flagstaff's High Spirits Distillery gin for Martinis.
If your a fan of corned beef hash you won't be disappointed by the Corned Beef & Green Chile Hash that comes topped with an Sunny Side Up egg. tasty and with a hint of spice this is a good way to start your day.

I enjoyed the Duck & Brie Quesadilla that includes duck confit, caramelized apples and Brie cheese and drizzled with Balsamic vinegar. A nice combination of sweet, creamy and savory make this a unique take on the classic appetizer.

Locally grown vegetables are the stars of 2 of the salads I tasted, The Rocket Salad uses Arugula that is tossed with dried apricot,  aged Manchego cheese, pistachios and oregano dressing. The Beet Salad is complimented with Purple Haze goat cheese, baby lettuce and a hazelnut vinaigrette. Both salads are flavorful and make for a great light lunch or as a start to your dinner.

Pressed Pulled Pork Sandwich uses in house seasoned and smoked pork that comes served on a locally baked Ciabatta rolled and is topped with Arugula, sweet and sour onions and a Guajillo pepper aioli. This was one of my favorites of the evening and comes served with thick cut, crispy French fries.

Two of the entrees were tasted on this evening and I recommend both of them. If you're in the mood for fish the pan seared Grouper should serve you well. The white, flaky fish is served over a bed of spaghetti squash, it is drizzled with smoked tomato butter and comes with braised greens that offer a nice contrast to the other ingredients. If red meat is part of your plan the Whiskey Braised Shortribs is not to be missed. Placed atop a pile of white cheddar and chive mashed potatoes, it comes with spinach from local farmers markets, an oven roasted tomato and its own juices pour over it. Tender and flavorful the meat is very good.

All courses were paired with the wines from Arizona Stronghold Vineyards with the exception of the pork sandwich which was paired with Lake Havasu City's Mudshark Brewery's Scorpion Amber Ale. The wines all tasted very good and were paired well with the food. National Sales Manager Paula Woosley joined us to talk about the wines and the success Arizona Stronghold and the Arizona wine industry is enjoying.

Graze Desert Grille
7677 East Princess Boulevard
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
480.585.1000
http://grazedesertgrille.com/

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Celebrates Wine and Art Two Exclusive Silver Oak Wine Dinners with Artist Thomas Arvid

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is hosting two Silver Oak Wine Dinners with special guest, artist Thomas Arvid. The first dinner will take place on Wednesday February 22 at the Scottsdale Road and Lincoln location; the second dinner will be held on Thursday, February 23 at the North Scottsdale/DC Ranch location. Both dinners will begin at 6:30pm. Arvid will unveil three new paintings at the dinner, which features wines from Silver Oak Vineyards. His work will be available for purchase and guests may also bring their other Arvid pieces to be signed by the artist that evening. Brooke Michaels, the regional Silver Oak representative will also will be at the event to speak about the wines.

The meal will begin with Mini Ceviche Tostadas with Avocado, Citrus and Fennel paired with Twomey Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley, 2010. The second course features Two Lamb Chop Lollipops with Creamy Goat Cheese Polenta and Oven Roasted Tomatoes in a Red Wine Demi-Glace accompanied by Twomey Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, 2008. The main course will be a delicious Prosciutto Wrapped Filet Mignon with Truffled Bordelaise Sauce and Roasted Red Pepper Mashed Potatoes. This is perfectly paired with Silver Oak Cabernet, Napa Valley, 2006 and Silver Oak Cabernet, Alexander Valley, 2007. The meal finishes on a sweet note with a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake.

The Silver Oak Wine Dinner with Thomas Arvid is $125 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and may be made by calling the Scottsdale/Lincoln location at 480.596.8265 or the North Scottsdale/DC Ranch location at 480.538.8000.

Second Annual Cupcake Love-In Bakes Up a Sweet Day for Local Charity ....Peace, Love and Giving Return to the Hotel Valley Ho this Fall

Scottsdale, AZ (September 26, 2011) - The small but almighty cupcakes unite once again on Sunday, October 30, 2011, for the second annual Cupcake Love-In at the Hotel Valley Ho as local bakers and restaurants join together to support Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS). The “Love-In” is growing. After 2010’s successfully sold out inaugural event, this year is slated to feature upwards of 40 or more participating bakers, a few hundred more attendees and the addition of a special VIP hour before the main event. Most importantly, this year’s larger numbers translate to more dollars for CASS with 100% of all ticket sales along with all raffle ticket sales donated directly to the charity. For over 25 years as the largest provider of shelter and supportive services for homeless individuals in Arizona, CASS provides shelter to more than 1,000 people each night including many veterans and families.

This year’s Cupcake Love-In is bringing back the popular Kids Corner decorating station, the infamous cupcake eating contest for the young-at-heart grown ups, a host of raffle prizes, photo booth and the cupcake competition judged by a panel of celebrity bloggers and beloved local foodies. Giving the day that extra cherry on top are returning emcees, ABC 15’s Andi Barness and Thomas Smith (aka: The Culinary Comedian). A few new components to this year’s Love-In are the special VIP hour taking place just before the main event and a Kids Costume Contest in celebration of Halloween weekend.

The event will take place from 11am - 2pm on Sunday, October 30 with the VIP hour from 10am - 11am. Tickets to the Cupcake Love-In are $20 for adults, $50 for VIP entry and $5 for children ages 10 and under. Tickets are available online only at Cupcakelovein.stayclassy.org. For more information about the event, visit CupcakeLoveIn.com and to learn more about Central Arizona Shelter Services please visit cassaz.org.

Celebrity Chef Stephanie Izard Partners with Local Chefs To Host Unique Dining Experience in Scottsdale

This looks like a fun event!

WHAT: Celebrity Chef Stephanie Izard is coming to Scottsdale to host an event with Chef Beau MacMillan (elements) and Chef Randy Zweiban (Province, Chicago & Phoenix). Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a multi-course dinner featuring recipes from Izard’s newly launched cookbook – Girl in the Kitchen (available October 5, 2011, Chronicle). Izard will also draw inspiration for the evening’s dishes from Arizona’s local and seasonal produce making this a truly tailored and unique experience for guests.

WHY: This stop in Scottsdale is part of the nationwide “Goat Tour,” which will bring Chef Stephanie Izard into cities across the country to celebrate the release of her new cookbook Girl in the Kitchen as well as raise money for Share Our Strength. As Izard makes her way across the U.S., she will team up with fellow James Beard nominees, Food & Wine Best New Chefs and celebrity chef friends to bring the events to life.

For more information on Izard’s “Goat Tour”, visit goat-tour.com.

Share Our Strength is a national non-profit aimed at ending childhood hunger in America by 2015. Izard has been involved with Share Our Strength for many years, participating in their chef focused Chicago event, Taste of the Nation. For more information on Share Our Strength, visit strength.org.

WHO: Selected as one of the Best New Chefs in 2011 by Food & Wine, Stephanie Izard is the chef/partner of the Chicago restaurant Girl & the Goat. A 2011 James Beard ‘Best New Restaurant’ nominee, Girl & the Goat has been praised by high-profile publications such as Saveur, New York Times, Food & Wine, Better Homes and Gardens and others. Izard is the first and only woman to win Bravo’s Top Chef (Season 4/2008) and is the only winner of the original version of the show to take the title of “Fan Favorite.” She is also a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute.

In addition to the local culinary talents of Chefs MacMillan and Zweiban, are national cocktail designer Kim Haasarud, a.k.a. the Liquid Chef, who will be joined by local cocktail maestro Travis Nass of Rancho Pinot, and wine and spirits aficionado, Dave Johnson. Diners will also get a chance to experience Mulch Coffee, the java bar for The Accidental Yard and coffee kings Brian Clemens and Jason Calhoon.

WHEN: Sunday, October 16, 6:30pm

WHERE: The Accidental Yard
3811 North Brown Avenue
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

TICKETS: Tickets will be available online at gout-tour.com starting September 27 at 10am. Tickets are $150 per person and include dinner, open bar and wine tastings, meet and greet with the chefs and a signed copy of “Girl in the Kitchen”.

INTERVIEWS: Stephanie Izard is available for photo opportunities and can discuss her new cookbook “Girl in the Kitchen” and her dedication to Share Our Strength in an in-studio interview.

CONTACT: Sharon J. Krieger, Ride Marketing + PR
480.720.3459
sharon@ridemarketingpr.com

Private Rack GastroPub to open at end of September in Scottsdale.

Chef Leonard Jay's dream of opening a British style Gastropub is coming to life in real life and on reality television. In an old house, office and sandwich shop Chef Jay's team has transformed it into a large full service pub that will serve 3 meals a day and stay open very late after everybody else closes. Chef Jay is a 2 time winner of Food Network Challenges and has built his reputation with several restaurants and concepts in the Phoenix and Denver area. After searching valley wide for several years, Chef knew this old town Scottsdale location was perfect when he saw it and told the realtor to "take your sign down, let's work out a deal". British pub favorites of Bangers and Mash along with pizza from a dining room oven, will be available along with many other yet unpublished menu items. A billiard room, a hanging herb garden patio and other rooms will be available for small to medium size private parties and a large patio will be ready just in time for our bragging weather. In an effort to keep cost down and leave a smaller foot print, Chef Jay is using some scrap wood for wall panels and scraps of the scraps for other design purposes. Part of Chefs plan is to be sustainable and not let anything go unused when possible. Much of the furniture consisting of sofa, armchairs and coffee tables will be available on the restaurants website.

Mixologist Travis Nass is running the beverage program and will be building a value oriented, worldly wine list along with a drinks list he's built in the years he's been in the Scottsdale area restaurant and bar industry.

If opening a restaurant is not hard enough, how about having it all filmed for a reality show to present to networks about opening a restaurant with a 30 day countdown. The team has set Sept. 29th as the 30th day and is preparing a soft opening that day, with a grand opening planned for mid October. Located across from Southbridge, Private Rack is located at 7119 E. 6th Ave. in Scottsdale 85251. www.privaterackscottsdale.com

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse's Memorable Meal for 2 & Fall Prix Fixe Menu

I recently had the pleasure of joining about 12 other lucky souls who had the chance to taste 2 of Fleming's Steakhouse new programs and their new release of their own wine 46 Diamonds. We were hosted by Scottsdale's Operating Partner Michael Head who guided us through our experience. Here is what Flemings has to offer.

We were greeted with a new cocktail just in time for the holidays The Merry Maker's is made with Maker's Mark bourbon and Chambord then shaken with orange, pomegranate & cranberry juices. Quite a tasty cocktail and as one guest said "I don't like bourbon, but I really like this".

We then proceeded to sample the Fall Prix Fixe menu which consists of
Your choice of Oysters Rockefeller or Autumn Salad for appetizer then for an entree your choice of Veal Osso Bucco or Cioppino. For dessert you get a slice of Dark Chocolate Cheesecake. All were very good and everybody enjoyed what was tasted so far. I really enjoyed the Oysters Rockefeller. The Prix Fixe menu costs $39.95 per person and runs through Jan. 3 2011.

We then moved on to The Memorable Meal for Two which is The Cellar Master's Filet & Maine Lobster Tail. You start with a Caesar Salad with a King Crab Crostini followed by Filet Mignon & Maine Lobster Tail and a side of Maple roasted baby carrots. For dessert you're served Carrot Cake with Dark Rum Caramel. I'm not a big carrot cake fan, but this may have changed my mind. All for $99 for 2 dinners. This runs through Dec. 15 2010 so hurry and reserve this soon.

We were also treated to the new release of Fleming's own wine Forty Six 46 Diamonds. This years bottling is a collaboration with Fleming's Director of Wine Marian Jansen op de Haar & Schug winery team of Sonoma County. This Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot & Malbec from very reputable vineyards in the Sonoma Valley.It is medium bodied with with good tannins and fruit and showed a very elegant, long finish. A nice compliment to any meal you may be enjoying. Only 388 cases were made of this and can be had by the glass for $16.50 or $65 for a bottle.

Make reservations soon for these limited time specials and even more limited wine.
There are 4 Phoenix are locations and several more throughout the country. 905 North 54th Street, Chandler, AZ 85226 480-940-1900
20753 North Pima Road, North Scottsdale, AZ 85255 480-538-8000
9712 West Northern Avenue, Peoria, AZ 85345 623-772-9463
6333 North Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85250 480-596-8265
http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/

Pomo Pizzeria Napoletana is molto bene(very good)!!

Every so often a restaurant comes along that's all the rage. Usually it has a celebrity chef in the kitchen, some unique concept or cuisine or delicacies. They tend to be trends for a year or two until the next one comes along. Rarely is all the rage about something simple say.... pizza. Yes, pizza. Dough, tomato, cheese & sometimes toppings. Phoenix has a lot of really good pizza establishments, some award winning and some just really good. Most have their claim to fame of wood burning oven, coal burning oven, ingredients direct from Italy, locally grown ingredients, etc, etc.

Along comes Pomo the most recent entry into the Phoenix pizza scene. It was brought to my attention by a friend of mine who does not like pizza because he remembers his days studying in Italy and the pizza he had there. Phoenix has never had the traditional very thin crust that needs to be eaten with a fork and knife. He's been there no less than 10 times and I've been there 3, but who's counting. And Pomo has only been around for less than 3 months.

Located at The Borgata in Scottsdale(Scottsdale Rd. & Rose Ln.) in a spot that has been a revolving door of restaurants in years past, Pomo is sure to see that the revolving door has stopped revolving. The generous menu of antipasti, insalate(salads), panini(sandwich) and pizza's. 14 pizza's with sauce and various toppings and 6 Pizze Bianche(white pizza)and something you don't see very often, fried pizza.

Owned by native Italian, Stefano who had a desire for true authentic pizza of his homeland. So authentic so it's certified by Vera Pizza Napoletana Assoc. following there guidelines and that of Italian government and European Union. Do they take there pizza seriously or what in Italy! Pizzas take only 60-90 seconds in the 950 degree wood burning oven. Most of the ingredients...flour, tomatoes, bufala mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil & Parmigiano Reggiano are imported from their respected regions in Italy.

Upon my visits we've had for starters caprese(mozzarella ,tomatoes & basil), bruschetta(homemade bread,tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil and even tried a frita(fried pizza). The thin crust and quick frying really gives this a unique taste and way to eat folded dough, cheese & sauce.
As for pizza's on one visit we kept it simple with Regina Margherita($11.95) San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil and Parmigiano Reggiano. we also enjoyed Bufala($16.95) using the same ingredients as the Margherita except the mozzarella come from buffalo milk, not cow's milk. and yes you can taste the difference. On another visit we chose the Donna Rosa($15.95) a white pizza using homemade pesto sauce and topped with roasted shrimp. mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. On of my favorites is the Capricciosa($14.95) which is topped with artichoke hearts,prosciutto sauteed mushrooms,cotto(ham)and Gaeta olives. Molto bene, molto bene!!

On 2 occasion we saved room for dessert and we tried tiramisu($7.95) an Italian classic that is light, fluffy and soaked in espresso. I would also recommend the Croccante($7.95) a nut basket filled with mascarpone cream and topped with fresh, seasonal fruit. It reminded me of a toasted almond bar that I loved as a youth.
Pomo also has a diverse, mostly Italian wine and beer list and some mostly Italian spirits.

So sometimes all the rage can be targeted at something so simple and easy that it gets often overlooked. It's a good thing Pomo is opened 7 days a week from 11am-9pm Sun.-Thurs and until 10pm on Fri. and Sat. Pomo is located at 6166 N. Scottsdale Rd. in Scottsdale 480-998-1366.
4.5 corks out of 5 corks!!
Ciao!