The Hash Kitchen (3.5 Plates)

Turn your head the other way if you want a relaxing and quiet Saturday brunch. If you feel like extending your Friday night girls/boys night out, then The Hash Kitchen is your place.

We immediately got a table soon as we walked-in. The vibe was so alive. If you just got out of bed, walking-in to the restaurant would definitely wake you up to the tenth level. They have a DJ on a Saturday brunch. An actual club DJ!!! (I started to look for the dance floor when I walked-in).

The service was really nice. My glass of water was always full. Food was served fast and hot. Our server also gave good recommendations (a sign that he knows the menu). The restaurant was also very clean. Tables were set and cleaned as soon as the customer leaves the table.

The dishes that we had were just OK. I did not get a chance to try their famous Bloody Mary bar (which looked awesome by the way). I'm not a Bloody Mary fan but I guess it's something I'll consider trying the next time. Back to what we had, the food that we ordered had good points and some room for improvement. I had the Breakfast Lasagna and my wife ordered the Herb Fried Chicken and Waffles.

The Herb Fried chicken was a little dry for my taste. A little over-cooked but had some good flavors. The herb wasn't very prominent but you know it's there. The waffles were nice. Soft and tasty on the inside and a bit crunchy on the outside. I would have wanted a little more bacon mixed in to the waffle but it wasn't a deal breaker. I still enjoyed it and the fried leeks on top complimented the dish very well.

The breakfast lasagna was a bit of a let down for me. Maybe I would have loved it if it had a little more sausage and a little less potato. The potato and the lasagna pasta just had very little texture and flavor differences that it tasted very one dimensional. The bacon was crunchy but the dish needed more protein. The egg that was placed on top of the dish helped add flavor. The creaminess of the yolk gave some good points but I couldn't get past the potatoes. There was just too much. To be fair, the breakfast lasagna is new to their menu. That's what the server told us. Hopefully, improvements are on its way.

(The egg was properly poached)

A great place with an OK food selection. I would definitely come back. Maybe I’ll try the Bloody Mary bar the next time. Maybe I’ll order one of the popular options. Maybe they deserve a 5, but for now just a 3.5 (4 at the most).

The Bloody Mary Bar

The Menu

Casa Filipina Bakeshop & Restaurant (2 Plates)

Been here twice... Been disappointed twice... So this deserves twice the star.

Sorry 'kababayan' ! I hope you can take this constructive feedback to become a better representation of our food. 

I can proudly say that I know Filipino food. I think I have some credentials. Being a Filipino and growing-up in Philippines surrounded by good and authentic Filipino food should give me enough basis for my feedback and critic.

Let's start with the good. Place was clean and it did not have the oily and fishy smell of a usual Asian restaurant. Service was good. We were greeted as soon as we walked in. Food was also served quick and at the right temperature. The Halo-halo had a good balance of sweetness and creaminess. The Leche Flan on top of the Halo-halo had the firm and velvety like consistency that is common to a Filipino Leche Flan. The sweet Taro at the bottom gave the dessert a genuine Filipino flavor. Even the shaved ice is a positive. It is really easy to ruin a Halo-halo with brick like sizes of ice. The Sago't Gulaman was also really good. I got ahint of vanilla on every sweet sip and the jello had its own characterand flavor. The Tapioca balls was made the star of the drink with just the right bite but had the softness common to  a tapioca back home in the Philippines. 

Now the bad. It breaks my heart that I am criticizing a Filipino restaurant but I love Filipino food so much, I just want to make sure it is represented well.

I would have wanted some water. I believe water should still be served even if our order had Halo-Halo and Sago't Gulaman. We also got a little bit of a funky smell on our Pancit Malabon (common to improperly stored rice noodles/sauce). Knowing what a really freshly cooked Pancit Malabon smells like, I just know that the sauce or the noodles on my order may have not been handled properly. Since I have already mentioned the Pancit Malabon, I might as well finish my review of the could have been noodle delight. The pancit flavor was very very very flat. It was very far from the layers of salty, sweet, garlicky, seafood umami flavor. I was saddened by the lack of seafood (got maybe 3-4 smal shrimps). The crunch from the pork rind was none existent. I was also looking for the smoked fish saltiness that makes Pancit Malabon a pancit from Malabon. 

I have tried their adobo and caldereta on my last visit. Both fell very short on flavor and character. A little more salt and pepper and maybe a lot more garlic might make difference. 

I've tried their Crispy Pata as well. Which I think was AWESOME! 

There are some goods, but I've had more bads during my previous visits. I just wish Filipino food can be represented a little better. I wish the layers of flavors and texture present in each bite of a Pinoy dish comes out the next time I visit the restaurant I have been trying to love. 

Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse (3 Plates)

Outside Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse

Bootlegging is illegal but there should be an exception for bootlegging good food. Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse in Phoenix, AZ is taking food to illegally good levels. Who doesn't want good food?

Seating inside the restaurant

I got to try their food for lunch on a rainy Sunday. I was immediately greeted by the scent of barbeque as soon as I got out of the car. The aroma of burnt wood and meat started to excite my taste buds. It was truly a modern day smokehouse feel when I walked in to the restaurant. Nice tables with orange chairs (GO SUNS!) to my left, a bar and long tables to my right, big booths for large groups in front of me and flat screens TVs all the way at the back. Everything felt very modern but still felt every bit a smokehouse.

The Bar 

TV at the back

Service was nice. We were greeted at the door with a smile and offered drinks a soon as we got to our table. I asked the bartender (which was our server on that day) to switch the TV to a different game and she was kind enough to advice me that she will have the channel changed soon as she finishes the drinks that she was preparing for everyone at the bar. It took a while and another similar request from another table but we finally got our channel changed. During our meal, our server constantly checked on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Again, the service was just nice.

The Lunch Menu

The food was a little above average. I see the reason why they were given awards for Best Sandwich (Phoenix New Times), People's Choice for Tacos and Best Craft Cocktail (Arizona Taco Festival) in 2013. I ordered their Apple Brandy Shandy ($9), Cottage Fries ($5), Mac & Cheese ($9) and the BBQ Express Lunch ($15). All of them satisfied my taste buds. Everything was tasty and balanced. The only down side, the food is pricey and the serving size was too small. For a barbeque joint, you would expect a hearty meal that would satisfy your cowboy gut. I was informed that they heav a different menu for dinner. Since I was there for lunch, their menu did not shout out bbq except for their BBQ Express Lunch.

Apple Brandy Shandy

The Apple Brandy Shandy Moonshine Cocktail was very refreshing. The tangy apple flavor cuts through the strong moonshine bitterness. Since it was served on a mason jar, it was able to keep the moonshine character while still staying true to the modern theme. It was a great starter for a good meal.

Cottage Fries

The Cottage Fries was a delight. Maybe the best of what I ordered during my visit. The thinly sliced potato were fried to crispy perfection. The cajun flavors complimented the crispy potato fries. It felt like eating potato chips. It had a good spicy kick on each bite. It wasn't overly seasoned. In fact, the seasoning was right on.

Mac & Cheese

I love their Mac & Cheese! The flavor wasn't flat. You get a little bit of saltyness and lots of the creaminess which I always love from a mac and cheese. They combine four types of cheese which complimented each other. Served on a skillet, the mac and cheese is kept warm to a perfect cheesy bite. Love it but the serving is a little too small for $9.

The BBQ express lunch I had was composed of 2 slices of beef brisket, 1/2 cup of pulled pork, cole slaw and tortillas. Very good smoky flavor on the brisket. I love the burned parts that added character and flavor to the meat. The pulled pork had a sweet and tangy finish. Both brisket and pulled pork were tender and very easy to chew. The coleslaw was a little flat. I would have wanted a little bit of seasoning. Maybe a little more salt. The tortilla, hmmm... it tasted like a tortilla. The star of the plate were the brisket and pulled pork which was served on a small skillet. Again, it is really good but I think its way too pricey. For $15, I would have wanted 2 more slices of the brisket and maybe another spoon of the pulled pork.

BBQ Express Lunch

I would come back for the food. But maybe next time I'll try the dinner menu. Maybe i'll leave my cowboy appetite at home on my next visit. I am always willing to pay well for good food. As long as the serving size is comparable to the price. At this point, Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse is only a serving size (and maybe a few more BBQ menu options) away to becoming the next best BBQ joint in town. 

Paradise Valley Burger Co. (3 Plates)

When somebody tells me that they had a really good burger at a certain burger joint, my mind goes into a frenzy to get a taste of that burger. I turn into a blood hungry piranha or should I say a burger hungry food blogger. When a friend mentioned to me that Paradise Valley Burger Co. offers some really good burgers, I knew I needed to get a taste of it.  

As I have pointed out in my previous blogs, a good burger should have high quality juicy patty, cheesy cheese, soft bread, tasty sauce and perfectly complimenting toppings. In my opinion the burgers at Paradise Valley Burger Co. somewhat and someway met all of those criteria. Good burgers added with a  relaxing vibe of the restaurant and the not so bad service, I would definitely come back for another burger addiction satisfaction.

The place had a very playful and relaxing feel. The colorful green and orange walls with the classic blackboard menu made me feel like its kindergarten all over again.  There were enough seats inside and additional seats outside. Every table had a napkin holder, mustard, ketchup, black grounded pepper and sriracha. Overall, the restaurant was clean, playful and family friendly.

The service on the other hand needs to match the feel of the place. I cannot fully enjoy a burger if it wasn't served with a smile. It may be my fault though. I came in 30 minutes before the closing time  and maybe (this is me giving the benefit of the doubt) people are already tired from a long and busy day. I can't smile if I'm still busy 30 minutes before I leave the office. Maybe I shouldn't expect to get a smile everytime or a recommendation of what is the best out of their menu or maybe I'm just being dramatic. They did replace my side order when I changed my mind 5 minutes after ordering. So I guess, I was just looking for a little effort to make me feel more welcome.

The food was ok. Not over the top good. Not bad either. It was just OK. I blame it on my bad order choice this time. I wanted to try their special for the week. For that week, it was "Cockeyed Cowboy". It was already after I ordered when I asked what was the best seller out of their menu. I was told that the Brulee and Beach House were the stars of the show. My wife got the Brulee, but we went for the healthy option that had a portabello mushroom patty instead of the traditional beef patty. So how was it????

Burger of the week - Cockeyed Cowboy. It's really nice when a burger gives you a certain crunch on every bite. Say a crispy bacon or the toasted bun or maybe that crispy fried onion rings. But when you bite on a slightly popped popcorn on a burger, hmmm... I think something is really wrong. Don't get me wrong. I am a popcorn lover, if t is properly popped. I just feel like a slightly popped popcorn may have been and after thought to give the cowboy burger a corn like finish that turned out to be a little corny. What's so cowboy about popcorn anyway? I get the pulled pork. It was cooked very well and the smoke flavour (or maybe it was the barbecue sauce) was really good. The beef patty was a little dry. Seasoned well but like I said, a little dry. What really made the burger OK (refer to previous paragraph) was the dill pickle. They make good pickle. Another component that I loved was the poblano creme. It gave the burger a slight kick that complimented the sweet pulled pork. The burger at $9.50, seemed like it was trying a little too hard. 

The Brûlée. Now this burger has some potential. We made a mistake of substituting the beef patty with the portabello mushroom. Not that the portabello mushroom was bad (the patty substitute was actually very good), but only because beef patties are sooooo much better. The portabello mushroom was cooked well. It was not bland and was very juicy. I would love to have it on top of the beef patty on my next visit. It may cut through the dryness of the beef and eventually make the burger so much better. The creamy acidity from the Havarti cheese complimented well with the fried egg, bacon and toasted Brioche bun. Oh.. and the Brioche is just a bed of goodness. I think the bun is really the kicker at this joint. Something I would definitely comeback and crave for someday. The pickled onions were a surprise. I think they perfected the pickling process. The verdict on the portabello brûlée burger is definitely more than OK. What more if we had beef patty? Maybe it really deserves a second visit. Maybe I missed on a really good burger.

Overall, Paradise Valley Burger Co. is not a bad choice for a burger binge. The place is really nice and clean, the service only needs a little bit of sunshine, and the food has a lot of potential. Would I come back? Yes. They deserve it. Would I recommend it? Maybe. They are good enough to get a maybe and an OK. 

The White Chocolate Grill (5 Plates)

It has been 7 years since I last visited The White Chocolate Grill at Scottsdale, AZ. Back then, I was dating a good friend of mine. I guess the date went so well and the food was really good, she ended up marrying me 4 years after. After dating for 4 years and married for 3 years, my now wife and I decided to revisit The White Chocolate Grill.

Now in our casual attire instead of a dress and a suit, we got a chance to enjoy and focus on the food, the service and the ambience of the place. I did remember one particular appetizer from their menu. They still had the Grilled Artichoke. I loved it so much back then that I tried to eat everything on the plate. Even the choke and the leaves ( just to be honest, I didn't know which part to eat. So I ate everything. I was trying to be cool. I WAS ON A DATE!!! Note: only eat the heart).

The Food: We had the Ahi Tuna Salad and the Grilled Chicken Madeira for dinner and the White Chocolate Brownie for dessert. Everything was fantastic! 

The Ahi Tuna salad was very light and refreshing. The sesame crusted Ahi Tuna was seared rare to perfection and served with field greens, mango, avocado, cherry tomatoes and cucumbers then lightly dressed with a champagne vinaigrette. The combination of the tangy and sweet vinaigrette complemented the salt water freshness of the ahi tuna. The sesame crust and avocado gave texture to each bite. The mango and cherry tomatoes gave balance to the dish while the greens and cucumber gave the fresh taste in your mouth that makes you believe that you are actually eating something healthy.

The Grilled Chicken Madeira was hearty and satisfying. A serving plate had 3 pieces of marinated chicken breasts grilled to order and then served in a savory mushroom sauce with a hint of tarragon and a choice of side. We decided to go with the Israeli Couscous topped with roasted pistachios. The chicken breast was very tender and juicy. It was also seasoned well enough to stand on its own even without the mushroom sauce. I did find the mushroom sauce a tad on the salty side (it can be overlooked since it compliments with the couscous).  The couscous was a winner! It was al dente to the bite and was seasoned well. The chopped mint leaves and apple slices cuts through the savory mushroom sauce that just complimented each other so well. The dried cranberry and toasted pistachio provided texture, contrast and balance for the dish. I wouldn't hesitate to order this again on my next visit. 

The White Chocolate Brownie was a warm blonde brownie with white chocolate shavings and topped with French Vanilla Ice Cream, chocolate sauce and whipped cream. It is sweet! Literally! I guess theres a reason why the menu says "Desserts for Two". Because the dessert is meant to be shared. It would be overwhelmingly sweet for one person to finish the whole plate. Just imagine the combination of the blonde brownie, chocolate sauce and chocolate shavings. Even the vanilla ice cream and whipped cream is not enough to cut through the sweetness. Don't get me wrong. It's not bad. I actually think it's a good way to end your meal while enjoying a cup of coffee and a good (or maybe sweet) conversation. Just take time enjoying the dessert.

The Service: Our server for the night was Angel. She was an angel. She recommended the Israeli Couscous over the Mardi Gras Rice for our Grilled Chicken Madeira. I think it was the perfect side for the savory mushroom sauce. She also kept our glass full. Which means she kept track of our meal the whole time. Since we mentioned that my wife and I were sharing everything, extra plates and utensils were always provided as each order was served. We never felt rushed and we never felt unattended. It is worth noting that it was a busy dinner service at the time we were there. Kudos to Angel!

The Ambience: The whole place was very cozy and relaxed. There was an area with a bar and the latest sporting event for the night on TV. There was also an area where you enjoy your meal with a good conversation. It is both classic and sophisticated.

Overall, it was a great meal experience. Good food, good service and overall nice and relax place. Now, why did I to wait for 7 years before the second visit? With this kind of a quality restaurant, maybe the third visit should be anytime soon.

Visit their site at http://whitechocolategrill.com

Hopdoddy Burger Bar (5 plates)

Burger has always been my comfort food. Every bite I take is pure cholesterol and calorie satisfaction. As long as the burger is done correctly, I would take a bite any day (that is any day I can burn the additional calories).

Hopdoddy burgers are definitely the type of burgers that you would fall in-love with. Good juicy patty, cheesy cheese, soft bread, tasty sauce and complimenting toppings for me makes a good burger. Done the right way, it turns into the perfect burger.

seats inside the burger bar

The place felt very modern and classy. TV is available at every corner to keep diners updated on the latest sporting event. Outside seating is also an option. I guess the outside tables are perfect for a good burger and a cold beer with good friends on a cool Scottsdale night out. For the hot Arizona summer days, they also have misting around their patio to keep the place cool.

Service was excellent. We were met at the front door by the staff. We were asked if it was our first time to make sure we understand their ordering and seating system. At the door, they give diners their table numbers. Diners can then line-up for their orders and once orders are placed, diners can head to their table for a full service from then on. The tables were kept clean and the servers regularly check if diners need anything else on their table. When we visited, it was a busy lunch time. Servers still had a smile on their face that made us feel comfortable and added to the satisfaction of the meal.

The burger? It was love at first bite. We ordered the Primetime burger, Magic Shroom burger, Truffle fries and the Caramel & Sea salt shake. 

Primetime Burger

The Primetime burger had the Texas Akaushi beef, Brie cheese, Truffle Aioli, Arugula, Caramelized Onions and bbq sauce. The Akaushi beef had a natural sweetness that complimented very well with the salty and tangy Brie cheese. The arugula topping added a peppery finish to every juicy bite of the medium rare patty. The bbq steak sauce and caramelized onion completed the combination of the salty, sweet and tangy bbq finish. It's the MVP of the classic bbq steak burger.

Magic Shroom Burger

The Magic shroom burger is truly magical. Like pulling a rabbit out of a hat, the mayo & basil pesto is a surprise in every bite. The mushroom complimented by the texas goat cheese which added an earthy flavor to the burger. The angus beef patty is angulicious! For mushroom and basil lovers, this is the perfect love affair.

Truffle Fries

The truffle fries is the best we've had so far. There is an ample amount of fries to share. It was topped with parmesan and truffle salt and served with mayo, herb and onion sauce.

Caramel & Sea Salt Shake

The caramel and sea salt shake is a good way to finish the meal. The sweetness and the very mild saltiness mixed with the cool and creamy vanilla ice cream removes the oil in your mouth from all that burger and fries. Serving is just enough to fill the gaps in your lunch appetite.

Hopdoddy is my kind of a burger joint. Burgers are tasty, full of variety and just the right size. Service is good. The place is modern. Oh and by the way, they have craft beer on tap to wash down those perfect burgers.

Visit their site at http://www.hopdoddy.com

Foosia Asia Fresh (4 Plates)

If Chipotle had an asian sibling, it would be Foosia. I believe there is so much potential to their concept. The flavor choices they offer are both original and familiar. Original because they put their own twist on the usual and familiar because you can easily identify the sweet, spicy, tangy asian flavors.

The place is clean and the staff were very helpful. They did not have a lot of customers when we visited but I guess it was because we got there very late. I would think the place becomes busy during lunch and dinner.

The ordering order. First selection, the bowl. Its just there way of saying choose your carbs. They offer jasmine rice, brown rice, noodles and flat bread. You can also go all greens if you don't feel like carbo loading. Next choice, your protein. They have pork, beef, chicken, shrimp and tofu. Third in line are the veggies. The customers can make a choice on how they want the veggies cooked. It can be a quick stir fry or steamed. Fourth station is the sauce choices. I had the Kim Jong-Who??? BBQ and my wife tried the Two nuts walk into a bar. Yes, they have weird names but it does give a good idea of what to expect (lets touch on the sauce a little bit more later). The last stop is for the toppings section. The choices are crispy wantons, thai herbs, peanuts, shallots and many more.

Like I said, the sauce. It makes a difference. Kim Jong-Who??? BBQ is as you guess it, a korean bbq sauce. Sweet and spicy. It has a great kick that cuts through the sweetness of the bbq sauce. Sweet and spicy is always... ALWAYS...a good combination. My wife had the Two nuts walk into a bar. Yes, you got it right, peanut sauce. If you like the  southeast asian flavor of Malaysia and Thailand, this is your sauce. It has a balanced hint of soy sauce and coconut that would satisfy your craving for some salty and creamy finish.

The combination of carbs, properly cooked protein, veggies, tasty sauce, some fresh herbs and a topping of crunchy wantons or peanuts would definitely make every bite an experience. There are layers and layers of flavors and textures that would really make the meal interesting. The fusion at Foosia is a spoonful that is worth a try.

Visit their site at http://foosiafresh.com

Some photos of the place

Zinc Bistro (5 Plates)

Visit their site at http://www.zincbistroaz.com

You gotta give credit to those who deserves it and Zinc Bistro definitely deserves all the 5 stars. If I could, I would even rate them higher.

My AZ restaurant week adventure took me and my wife to our second upscale restaurant in 3 days. Our taste buds took us to Zinc Bistro on a rainy Saturday night.

From the outside, the bistro looked very ordinary. A simple restaurant sign, glass and wooden door, and some patio seating for the romantics. Nothing intimidating and nothing too fancy.

Inside the bistro, it was different. You are immediately transported from AZ to NY. The place turns from ordinary to exciting. The vibe becomes alive. Unlike other upscale restaurants, this one is upscale but not a stuck-up. In fact, this one is quite inviting. I felt like I can laugh around my friends while enjoying my wine and enjoy some stories while not rushing my meals.

Ambience... CHECK!

We were greeted at the door, then the receptionist led us to our corner table. The usual. Nothing extra ordinary. Soon as we settled at our table and our server (Dylan) greeted us and gave us the menu, from there on, the service was quick, efficient and VERY attentive. I can't even remember when and who filled our glasses with water. I usually measure service by how attentive the staff is, if your glass of water is always full and ice cold, that means someone is always looking after your table. At Zinc, my glass was never empty. For me, that says a lot about their service. Our server (Dylan) was also at the top of his game. He made sure we our enjoying our food and also made sure we enjoy our experience by offering the best that they have. You always feel comfortable when servers approach your table with a smile. Service was simply EXCEPTIONAL...

Service... CHECK!

Ever had a meal that made you nod your head every time you take a bite? As if telling yourself that you made the right choice and you did a good job choosing the right meal. That's Zinc bistro food for you. You know you made right choice on every bite. We ordered the Smoked Duck Terrine and Pastrami Cured Salmon Burrata. The smoke duck terrine filled my mouth with all the texture you would look for. It had both a crunch and velvety bite from the terrine and pistachio. Also gave the salty flavor from the duck while balancing it out with the apricot and vinaigrette. You also get the freshness from the carrot and arugula as you mix all the component in one bite. The pastrami cured salmon on a burrata did not fall short as well. There perfect balance of texture with the burrata and salmon while you get the freshness from the roast beet and butter leaf salad. The appetizers alone made me nod on every bite. The main course was just CRAZY GOOD! The flat iron steak was perfectly cooked. The crust from the outside complimented the tender and juicy medium rare center. Make sure though that every slice you take has some caramelized shallot or else it might be too salty for your taste. The caramelized shallots balances the flavor to the sweet, salty and partly tangy perfect bite. My wife had the confit lamb shank. The lamb was so tender and the meat falls off the bone easily. It was perfectly complimented by the Beluga lentils, medjool dates, roasted turnips and crushed almonds. Again, the texture and flavor was well balanced. We also loved the slight touch of the crema fresca that cut through the gaminess of the lamb. If you hate lamb, this meal might just change your mind.

Pastrami Cured Salmon Burrata 

Flat Iron Steak 

Confit Lamb Shank with beluga lentils, medjool dates, roasted turnips and crushed almonds.

Smoked Duck Terrine

Lastly, the dessert. I alway want my dessert to be sweet but not overly sweet. I want it to make me feel like it satisfied my sweet tooth without making me like I ate a whole box of cake. We had the brown butter cookie w/ peanut butter nougat and salted caramel. It was a very sexy Snickers bar on a plate. When eaten w/ small bites of mint leaves, it takes the sexy snickers over the top. 

We also had the grilled pineapple tarte tatin w/ toasted tahini and cardamon ice cream. The cardamon ice cream cuts through the tanginess of the pineapple. Since the pineapple was grilled, the natural sweetness of the pineapple comes out.

Oh and the chocolate soufflé ( their top dessert ) is a must have. How was it? It was so good that only tasting it on your own can explain the experience.

Food... CHECK!

Overall, it was a perfect experience. Which is worth the money you are shelling out. The food was awesome. The service was exceptional. The place was alive and inviting. Truly deserving of a 5 star.