Scottsdale AZ Real Estate & Lifestyle

Live Better in Scottsdale - eXp Realty

Where to Eat in Scottsdale

Things to Do in Scottsdale – February 2020

By

Scottsdale Events – February 2020

Even though February is a short month (with a bonus Leap Year day this year!), it is jam-packed with events and things to do in Scottsdale and around the Valley.

Spring Training 2020

Without further ado, here are some hand-picked events that are coming up:

  • Old Town Scottsdale Western Week – February 1st – 8th – This week of Western fun is a definite must-do. There will be events all week leading into the 62nd Annual arrival of the Hash Knife Pony Express! Then, the Parada del Sol Parade and festival will take place on the 8th.
  • Street Eats Food Truck Fest – February 8th – 9th – Fifty-five food trucks will be onsite at Salt River Fields offering a vast array of foods! $2 tastes, drinks, music and more!
  • Arizona Renaissance Festival – February 8th – March 29th – Huzzah! 30 acres, 2,000 costumed actors and 14 stages of entertainment, arts, shopping, food and more. Immerse yourself in the medieval times on weekends in February and March. Jousts and turkey legs, anyone?
  • Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show at WestWorld – February 13th – 23rd – Marvel at the beauty of these Arabian horses over the course of this annual show. Meet an Arabian up close and personal, tour the barns, watch the Scottsdale Mounted Police do a demo, enjoy ice cream and so much more. Check the link for an event schedule.

  • Cirque di Soliel’s Ovo – February 20th – 23rd – This Cirque production features acrobatic insects and lots of amazing acrobatics and thrills. It is a short run at the Talking Stick Arena, so be sure to get your tickets.
  • Design for Dogs – February 21st – Do you adore your pup? Come support the Arizona Animal Welfare League and bid on custom-built, professionally-designed luxury dog houses while enjoying light bites and drinks. Adoptable dogs will be onsite!
  • Devour Culinary Classic at the Desert Botanical Garden – February 22nd – 23rd – This delicious event is back for its eleventh year. Cuisines from all over the globe will be featured and you can enjoy the natural desert beauty around you.
  • Spring Training – February 22nd – March 24th – Spring Training is almost here! Come see your favorite MLB players and teams compete in locations around the Valley. Enjoy sunny afternoons and some great baseball!
  • Celebrity Game Night sponsored by Kurt and Brenda Warner – February 22nd – This amazing fundraiser at Scottsdale Hangar One is sure to be fun! Play games alongside celebrities and athletes as you raise money for Treasurehouse Phoenix.
  • Arizona Fine Art Expo – Now through March 22nd – This year, 124 artists will bring their studios to the Expo and will create over the course of two months. Come and meet the artists and explore their works – perhaps you will find the perfect piece for your home!
  • Celebration of Fine Art – Now through March 29th – This other high-profile art event is back for its 30th year. Located at the 101 and Hayden, come see artists create via a large range of mediums and pick your favorites.

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Prep and Pastry

By

– Prep & Pastry – A Tasty New Addition to Old Town Scottsdale –

I had been eagerly awaiting the opening of Prep & Pastry after I had heard such great things about the original locations in Tucson. Recently, I finally got a chance to try out the Scottsdale location.

Prep & Pastry is located right near the Waterfront and is across the street from Olive and Ivy. The design of the restaurant is airy, light and modern and welcoming.

They offer three menus at Prep & Pastry – breakfast, lunch and brunch. There is some carryover between the various menus so you can feel free to order breakfast in the middle of the afternoon. 🙂

Since it was a sunny day, we elected to sit outside on the patio and people watch. Our friendly server came out promptly and got our drink and food orders.

What I like about the menu is that you can go in many different directions. They have a good amount of vegetarian and some vegan offerings, salads, sandwiches, burgers, egg dishes as well as some decadent French toast and pancake offerings. Each day they offer a French toast special and they also serve a savory French toast if you are not into sugar. (The day we were there, the special was French toast with a chocolate mint drizzle. My daughter loved it!)

I opted for the Prep’s Breakfast Sammie, which was an egg, cheese, bacon, spinach and roasted tomatoes served on an English muffin. I ended up swapping the bacon for the in-house turkey sausage and it was delicious. The English muffin was the largest one I had ever seen and when I asked our server about it, she said that they make them there.  The sandwich came with the tastiest potatoes. They had been smashed then fried.

My mother ordered a half-size of the Classic French Toast which comes with macerated berries, almonds and a chai whipped butter. The half portion was still huge and she loved it.

 

We had the opportunity to return a second time and on that visit, I tried the Smoked Salmon Toast. It came on a large piece of fresh toast with herbed cream cheese, smoked salmon, onions, greens, a little egg and fried capers. It was fantastic.

 

Since it called Prep & Pastry, they also offer a selection in-house baked goods and pastries and both times we were there, they were pretty much sold out. Based on the food we sampled, I am sure their baked goods are amazing!

 

 

The drink menu is quite extensive as well. Besides offering coffee, soda and juices, they have a large offering of mimosas and champagne cocktails, specialty cocktails, beer and wine.  Although I did not try it, the Bloody Mary looked amazing.

Prep & Pastry is definitely one of our new favorites!

Quick Tip: If you go to their website, you can see wait times as well as add yourself to the waitlist!

More Information:
Prep and Pastry
7025 E Via Soleri Dr #175
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
Website

 

 

Where to Eat in Scottsdale – Tocaya

By

– Tocaya – Modern Organic Mexican Food in Scottsdale –

Recently, Toca Madera and Tocaya Organica opened at Scottsdale Fashion Square. These sister concepts came from Southern California and are sure to be quite popular in the Valley. They both highlight organic and modern takes on Mexican food.

Toca Madera is very elegant and is open for dinner. Later in the evening, it transitions into more of a club atmosphere.

Tocaya Scottsdale

Tocaya, where we went, is open for both lunch and dinner. Located across the street from Toca Madera (the Spanish translation of “knock on wood”), Tocaya is light, bright, open and airy.

Upon entering, you grab a menu and pick your meal. Each meal starts with a base, whether it is a salad, a burrito, a taco, a bowl or something else. All of these bases are vegetarian. From there, you can then pick your protein and then your cheese. (You are also welcome to skip proteins and cheese.)

Each of the items has a chef’s recommendation for the protein and the cheese which you are welcome to select or you can choose your own. Many of the dishes are vegan and they come with options for vegan proteins and cheeses.

Tocaya Scottsdale Tacos

Tocaya also has a bar, where you can order margaritas and wines. On the non-alcoholic side, they have several agua frescas, which combine fresh fruit juice with water and a little sweetener.

We were there for lunch and had tacos and one of the salads. You can order tacos a la carte or there was a special combo that came with two tacos (your choice), a side and a margarita. We ordered one the taco special and chose guacamole as the side and two chicken tacos – the Cali and Barrio versions. The Cali definitely had some spice, but it was very tasty. The Barrio was tasty as well. What we loved about the guacamole was that it came with pepitas and pomegranate seeds. Instead of chips, it was served with plantain chips. (If you do want tradtional chips, you can order them.)

Tocaya Scottsdale Mexican

We also tried the seasonal Taco Salad. It came with romaine and kale, tortilla strips, corn, avocado and so much more. It was a very generous portion and tasted fantastic.

Tocaya is a perfect place to pop into for a casual, but healthy and satisfying lunch or dinner.

Tip: There is also a location in North Scottsdale at Kierland Commons

More Information:
Tocaya Organica
Website
Two Locations: Scottsdale Fashion Square and Kierland Commons

Where to Eat in Scottdale – Ruze Cake House

By

– Ruze Cake House in Old Town Scottsdale –

If you are ready to treat yourself to delicious and creative sweets, head immediately to Ruze Cake House in the Arts District.

Although Ruze is already well-known for their wedding and specialty cakes, they do have a storefront where you can come in and marvel at all of the beautiful baked goods.

The storefront is modern and well-designed. (It is very popular with Instagrammers….) And there are a few seating areas if you want to enjoy your treats right away.

On the morning we were there, the glass case was filled with rows and rows of colorful macarons. There were traditional flavor offerings, but there were also some incredibly creative ones as well. Some of them included Lucky Charms, Circus Animal Cookie, Fruity Pebbles, Butterfinger, Snickerdoodle Cookie Dough, French Fry Milkshake and more.

Ruze Old Town Scottsdale

 

Although the items can change daily, here are some other things that might be on the menu. They serve charming shaped sugar cookies, homemade ice cream sandwiches, ice cream macarons, chocolate dipped Oreos, chocolate dipped pretzels, marshmallows, and more delightful baked goods and sweets.

On the non-baked good side, they have a full coffee set-up, so you can enjoy a latte or espresso. Plus, they offer specialty drinks (with our without boba). Some recent flavors have been Prickly Pear Rose, Cookie Butter Chai and Roasted Strawberry Lemonade.

Because they bake everything in-house, things can sell out. So, if you want your best selection, be sure to get there early.

Looking for a hostess gift or party favors? Ruze Cake House has several options to choose from included frosted sugar cookies, macaron boxes and pre-boxed treats. You can even customize the cookies and macarons with your design or colors and they will package them up for you.

On Instagram? Give @RuzeCakeHouse a follow.

More Information:
Ruze Cake House
7033 E Main St #100
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
– Walk down the path to find Ruze
Website

Hours: 
Wednesday through Saturday – 9AM to 6PM
Sunday – 9AM to 5PM

–

 

 

 

Where to Eat in Scottsdale: Luci’s at the Grove

By

Luci’s at the Grove – Scottsdale Dining

After a long-anticipated wait, Luci’s at the Grove opened recently. We had already been to and written about Luci’s at the Orchard, and were excited to try this new outpost closer to home.

Luci's at the Grove

Luci’s serves breakfast and lunch and also has a Coffee Bar that has extended hours along with the market.

As you enter, there are large video screens with the menu items as well as the market area where you can get drinks, snacks and candy, cold items to take away, gift items, books and much more.

As we anticipated, there were quite a few people there, but the line moved quickly and we were able to get a table right away.

Lucis Coffee Bar

The menu has a good balance of light and healthy to more hearty options. On the breakfast menu, you will find traditional items like pancakes, omelets, French toast, breakfast sandwiches and burritos and more.  Plus, there is a good selection of power bowls to choose from.

For lunch, you can order a salad, sandwich or burger or simply have breakfast for lunch.

When we visited, we tried a few breakfast items and a salad.

My personal favorite was the “Nadine’s Eggs in a Nest” which was two pieces of buttery sourdough bread with eggs cooked into the middle. The bread was outstanding and was a perfect backdrop for the eggs. It came with generous servings of bacon and breakfast potatoes.

 

Luci's at the Grove Breakfast
Nadine’s Eggs in a Nest

My daughter is a French toast fan and ordered the Funky Monkey French Toast which uses cinnamon monkey bread as its base. She absolutely loved it and was reluctant to share a bite with her mom. 😉

 

Luci's at the Grove Scottsdale
Funky Monkey French Toast

Our final item was the Traditional Chopped Cobb Salad. The vegetables were fresh and it was a very generous portion.

Overall, we really enjoyed our meal at Luci’s at the Grove and look forward to a return visit!

 

More Information:
Luci’s at the Grove
7400 North Via Paseo Del Sur
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
– Hayden and Mc Cormick
Website
(480) 687-8900

Hours: 
– Open every day for breakfast 6AM to 3PM and lunch 6AM to 5PM
– The Coffee Bar and Market are open every day from 6AM to 8PM.

Lucis Scottsdale

Where To Eat in Scottsdale – The Breakfast Club

By

– The Breakfast Club in Scottsdale –

Pretty much any time we drive by The Breakfast Club in Old Town Scottsdale, there are crowds outside excitedly awaiting a table. Last month, we drove by and while it was certainly busy, we were able to get a table right away.

The Breakfast Club serves both breakfast and lunch until close, so you just need to decide which direction you want to go.

The Breakfast Club Old Town Scottsdale

The breakfast menu offers tons of options – from lighter fare to hearty, “carry you over to dinner” options. Besides solid offerings of favorite breakfast dishes, there is also a southwestern section with plenty of options as well as a Club Plate section that comes with a protein and three eggs, fruit and potatoes.

The lunch menu has a large selection of sandwiches, salads and wraps plus tons of offerings for the side.

On the morning we were there, we both decided on breakfast and each of us tried one of the Benedicts. My dining companion chose a Traditional Benedict and I went with the Smoked Salmon Benedict, which came with spinach and capers in addition to the smoked salmon. These offerings come with fresh fruit and potatoes as well. We thoroughly enjoyed both of our meals.

For those looking to have a little fun, there is also a drink menu featuring some perennial brunch favorites, like mimosas.

What really made our meal special was our server, Ilana. She could not have been more friendly or genuine. Even though she was busy with other tables, she was right on top of things and made us feel like we were her only customers. Count yourself lucky if you get a table in her section!

Great News! There is a second location of The Breakfast Club in Cityscape Phoenix and a Biltmore location is coming soon.

More Information:
The Breakfast Club
4400 N, Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
 – At Scottsdale & Stetson
Phone: 480-222-2582
Website
– Open 6AM to 3PM on weekdays and 7AM to 3PM on weekends

Where to Eat in Scottsdale -Confluence

By

– Scottsdale Dining at Confluence –

So, technically Confluence is in Carefree, but it is worth inclusion in our “Where to Eat in Scottsdale” posts.

If you have been in the area for a while, Confluence was formerly Cafe Bink, a more casual concept from Chef Kevin Binkley. When he decided to downsize his restaurants and focus on a single location, Cafe Bink was on the downsize list.

Fortunately for diners, it was picked up by one of his chefs and friends from Binkley’s, Brandon Gauthier and his wife, Tory. (If you ever dined at Binkley’s, you will certainly recognize Tory!)

Confluence Scottsdale

 

We stopped in a couple of weeks ago for a quick lunch and are so happy we did.

We got there right as they opened and had a nice chat with Tory. She recommended the Roasted Chicken Sandwich, which has been quite popular. I now understand why. Even though I opted to skip the pancetta, the sandwich was fantastic. The generous serving of roasted chicken is enhanced with caramelized onions and white cheddar. The taste is so rich and is reminiscent of French Onion Soup (which they serve as well and I am sure it is fantastic!)

Confluence Carefree

Were you a fan of Cafe Bink’s french fries with three dipping sauces? Well, you can still get them even though they are not formally on the menu. Since I was all-in on the decadent sandwich, we got some fries as well. They were as great as I remembered.

My companion was not very hungry so she went with the Spring Vegetable Soup. At the base is a savory and flavorful chicken broth and then tomatoes, green beans, peas, carrots and more are added. It was so fresh and delicious.

The lunch menu features salads, vegetable dishes, soups and sandwiches and entrees. There are also several tempting dessert options as well.

Confluence has both bistro seating indoors as well as a nice patio with sun shades and mountain views, perfect for cooler temperatures.

Confluence Carefree patio

We truly enjoyed our lunch and it was great to see a familiar face from the past. We look forward to more lunches as well as trying out the dinner menu.

Additional Information:
Confluence
36889 N Tom Darlington Drive
Carefree, AZ 85377
480-488-9796
Website 

  • Open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday – 11AM to 2PM
  • Dinner service Tuesday through Saturday – 5PM to 9PM
  • Closed Sunday and Monday

 

Malcare WordPress Security