I've finally returned to the East Coast, and while I miss the Arizona and California sunshine, it's nice to be home. Especially because I am currently nursing a particularly bad cold. Our flights home can best be described as an abysmal experience.
But wait. California? Yes, although my last entry had me in Scottsdale, my journey to the west also included a few days in Southern California, where my mom's sister and her family live.
But for all my California fun, Arizona was the main event of the trip. I hadn't been there in almost ten years, during a weekend stay that included a visit to the Grand Canyon and Sedona. This time around, we stayed for a week, and since our location bordered the city of Phoenix, there was a greater number of places to explore.
There's a lot to discuss from the trip, but for now, I'm going to focus on one of my favorite parts: the food. We (and by this I mean my mom and my aunt) did a fair amount of cooking in the rooms in which we stayed, but there were a few afternoons and evenings when we took over a portion of a nearby restaurant.
We ate at some chain restaurants, including a very late dinner at P.F. Chang's, and my cousin's birthday dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. Although I've eaten at both before, I particularly enjoyed both these meals since I was with such a large party, and therefore got to sample dishes I might not ordinarily try on my own. Yummy. I am now much better prepared for next time. Also, I'm going to be so bold as to say that at The Cheesecake Factory, we had the best waiter I have ever had in my entire life. Ever. It's the little things that make me really happy.
Equally enjoyable, but for very different reasons, were some of the independent restaurants at which we dined. On my first full night in Scottsdale, one of my college roommates (a nearly life-long Arizona resident), took me to Pasta Primo, a quaint Italian restaurant located in one of Scottsdale's many shopping plazas. We shared a walnut and spinach salad (sans pancetta, per my request), and I enjoyed a savory plate of spinach ravioli with a glass of pinot noir.
A few days later, my family and I spent an afternoon in Downtown Scottsdale, where we enjoyed some delicious Mexican food at Los Olivos, a family-owned and operated establishment. As I've mentioned before, I pay attention to ambience; the influence of the southwestern culture and architecture was evident in the earthy tones and Native-American influenced decorations that adorned the walls. I liked the soft chicken tacos I ordered, but for me, the best part of the meal was the fresh salsa they brought to the table. It was incredibly spicy, but in a very appetizing way.
All this talk of food makes me a little depressed, since in being sick, I have a lower appetite. Plus, I've now returned to home-cooked meals, which are decidedly less attractive, if only because I am a failure in the kitchen. And although my taste buds may not always agree, my body sincerely appreciates the detoxification.
No comments:
Post a Comment