Archive for the ‘Food’ Category
Return of the adventure lunch: Karey’s Kitchen
“Do you still do adventure lunch?” my friend asked over drinks last night.
“It’s been awhile,” I replied.
Entirely too long, in fact. So today my husband and I tried the (relatively) new Filiipino/Mexican fusion restaurant, Karey’s Kitchen. The tiny spot sits on the corner of a strip mall at 40th Street and Thomas and consists of 3 tables and some seats along the wall.
The first thing we noticed post-entrance was the warmth. “Is this your first time?” asked the woman behind the counter and started fishing out marinated meats from several covered bins in front of her with toothpicks for us to taste. The first, Beef Caldereta was delicious and tender in a stew-like sauce. It was followed by Pork Adobo, which was also flavorful in a different, smokier way. The 2 women working behind the counter and in some cases, in the kitchen, chatted with a few of the other patrons like regulars.
Each day the restaurant has several specials which they serve with a side of white or fried rice. One item + rice is $5.50, 2 items is $5.99 and 3 is $6.99. We ordered our food (2 items each), which was ready in a matter of moments. Our meal was hearty and good, though not terribly spicy. The remedy, loads of interesting sauces: A banana sauce, which tastes a bit like sweet & sour, a sweet chili sauce, and a hot Tabasco/Sriracha blend.
There are other items on the menu as well: Egg rolls, burritos, sandwiches and noodles. They’ve recently opened for breakfast, serving omelettes and other egg dishes.
Karey’s Kitchen
4041 E. Thomas Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85018
(602) 955-2182
Follow them on Twitter
Order at the counter.
The small but cozy dining room.
The menu board showing the daily specials.
An array of sauces.
Vegetable Chop Suey and Chicken Sotanghon.
Pork Adobo and Chicken Curry.
Two Hippies can open a lot of restaurants
Yet another member of the Two Hippies family opened on Friday, this one located at 7th Street/Cave Creek/Dunlap area.
Like the other joints in the Two Hippies empire, this one will offer a variety of fare (pizza, tacos, hot dogs) at reasonable prices in an eclectic atmosphere.
Kabobs are indeed, Tasty
Visited Tasty Kabob for Sunday sandwiches over the weekend.
Fall lunches at The Farm Kitchen
So many reasons to lunch at The Farm Kitchen: It’s local, it’s delicious, you can walk your lunch off around The Farm and the chicken coups, and you can get desserts and cupcakes that look like this.
Read about the Grilled Chicken BLTDA sandwich on my Sandwich blog >>
Lunching to the Max
What’s Cracking Good — Lunchtime Pho
Maxim’s on 19th Avenue north of Osborn is really nothing to look at. The sign is faded, the concrete has degraded to gravel, but the magic is on the inside.
Actually, inside doesn’t LOOK much better. White tile floor, a bunch of tables with Sriracha and other condiments, and some photos of their dishes. Oh the dishes!
My husband is partial to the Pho Tai, or noodle soup with beef which comes with a heaping plate of herbs, bean sprouts, jalepenos and lime. I love the Vietnamese pancake made with bean sprouts, shrimp and pork. Both of us are crazy about the spring rolls (the friend ones) that come with lettuce and greens to wrap it all up.
Also a bonus, my husband and I usually leave Maxim’s full, with some leftovers and a bill of around $15.
Below is a seafood noodle soup made with rice noodles…
Farm food
I joined Maya’s Farm CSA and started picking up weekly fresh veggies, herbs, flowers and occasionally eggs at the Downtown farmer’s market.
Each week there’s a different selection, some of which might be on my normal shopping list, some which I’ve never cooked, and some which I’ve never heard of.
So far I’ve had some turnip success, had a radish or two I enjoyed…and many I’ve composted. I’ve gotten peppers, greens, potatoes, and last week picked an herb/vegetable which the woman at the booth claimed tasted great if you “just saute with butter and garlic.”
What doesn’t taste great when sauteed with butter and garlic?
Above is a sample of unused basil that eventually made it to my compost pile, before I realized I could dry it and store it.
I just got the form about joining the CSA for the winter season. I like the challenge…but I’m not sure I like the stress.
Maybe I’ll shop the market for my regulars and get a secret ingredient each week.
Phoenix things-to-do: October 30 – November 1
Happy Halloween! Hope you’re all dressing up and ghouling out. Here’s a link to a huge list of Halloween events, haunted houses and more.
FRIDAY
$2 Shrimp Po’ Boys and Cheeseburger Sliders @ District American Kitchen
Celebrate District’s birthday the entire month of October with $2 po’ boys, sliders and draft beer.
District American Kitchen
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel,
320 N. Third St.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602-817-5400.
3 – 7 p.m.
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Sea Wolf @ Modified Arts
I’ve heard amazing things about these guys live. Go check them out tonight at Modified…which should be a comfortable temperature now that it’s cooling off outside. Can’t guarantee it’s going to smell good, though.
Modified Arts
407 E. Roosevelt
Phoenix, AZ 85004
8 p.m.
$10
SATURDAY
Arizona Wayzgoose Letterpress Celebration @ The Paper Studio
Find letterpress equipment, do a little printing and paper-making, and shop in one of the coolest paper stores in town.
The Paper Studio
520 E. Southern Ave.
Tempe, AZ
(480) 557-5700
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Get your free black taco @ Taco Bell
Visit a Taco Bell near you after dark (between 6 p.m. and midnight) and come away with a free Black Jack Taco while supplies last.
Taco Bell (Find your nearest location)
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1st Annual Mill Avenue Halloween Music Festival @ Madcap Theater
This benefit for St. Mary’s Food Bank features local performers: Sydney Sprague, Courtney Marie Andrews, What Laura Says and more. Bring canned goods or cleaning products and receive a ticket to a raffle.
Madcap Theaters
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free
SUNDAY
Dia De Los Muertos Celebration @ Desert Botanical Garden
Experience interactive alters, dance, storytelling, garden exhibits and Mexican food to learn about and celebrate the Day of the Dead.
Desert Botanical Gardens
1201 N. Galvin Parkway
Phoenix, AZ, 85008
(480) 941-1225
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Price included in admission to garden ($15)
Everything…and we mean EVERYTHING Thanksgiving
While you might be frantically assembling your Halloween costume and making mad dashes to the grocery store for trick-or-treat candy…Martha Stewart is WAY ahead of you. She’s already got her whole Thanksgiving in the bag.
Her new site, Everything Thanksgiving, just launched Monday with menu items, centerpieces and tips for your most beautiful…and time consuming…Thanksgiving EVER!
Even if you’re not turkey crazy, take a looksy at the photos. It’s hard not to get into the giving…or eating spirit.
Phoenix Public Market Urban Grocery and Wine Bar
The new downtown market is still a work in progress, but when I picked up my Maya’s Farm veggies, what was available was open to the public.
The store will be open all day on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the official grand opening happening next Thursday, October 29.
Here are a few pics showing how it’s coming along:
Sudden no-impact
No Impact Week started on Monday.
The Huffington Post has a 17 page PDF about how to live less impactfully. Seeing that it’s Tuesday night, and I’m already stuffed to the gills with dinner and my trash can is full, I fear I’m already off to a bad start.
One of the hints:
“If you’re out of the house, carry your trash home with you.”
Ummm…didn’t do that. But I can start now. Right after I digest that bowl of soy ice cream and fake chocolate sauce.
My introduction to No Impact Week comes right on the heels of an article I read about Alicia Silverstone’s new vegan/eco-friendly cookbook and website giving people practical (and impractical) lifestyle hints to save the planet.
I’ve read tons of articles where she waxes poetic about her clear eyes, svelte figure and new-found energy after eschewing meat…but seeing that I’m actually feeling a little polluted, maybe all this low-impact stuff is a sign.
Or maybe not. Either way…it doesn’t hurt to read up…and do what you can.
