562167 Fri Oct 03 15:07:13 -0700 2008 4 6 Southwest 0 4080219 Recently a friend and I spent an enjoyable Saturday afternoon checking out a couple of places in Cave Creek. I've only been to Cave Creek for dinner at Binkley's, so it was nice getting to know this area. Lunch was planned for Cafe Bink, but we're late-lunchers and I read they close at 2:30 so we started with lunch at Tonto Bar and Grill. We sat at a table in the bar area and had great service from the friendly bartender Jackie. We shared a couple of appetizers, starting with the very good tempura ahi roll, which turned out to be my friend's favorite. Mine was the "Indian Harvest Torta", as I liked the extensive use of local ingredients in their menu. This was a layered creamy torta served with "Ancient 3-Grain Flat Bread" and layered with Anasazi beans, tomatoes, ancho chili goat cheese with diced palm dates, and sun-dried tomatillo relish. My first time here, nice spot with a view of the golf course and mountains. After lunch we stopped for a glass of wine at a new wine shop and wine bar called Brix Wine Spot that has only been open for a couple of weeks, where Rhonnie and I relaxed over a glass of chardonnay. We loved Brix and sat at the comfortable bar surrounded by walls stacked with wine bottles. The owners were so welcoming and friendly, we'll definitely be back. Nancy was one of the nicest and most engaging people I've ever met, and very enthusiastic about their new venture. I think it will be a nice to place to have a glass of wine before dinner at Binkley's also. It's located in the new StageCoach Village. We finished up with a cocktail at Madelyn's in Anthem on Daisy Mountain Drive. We didn't get a chance to try anything as we were meeting the husbands for dinner, but the contemporary American menu looked very good. James was our friendly bartender, introduced us to the chef, and made a great Vesper to boot. This is the first time I've seen a Vesper on a cocktail menu in the Phoenix area, so of course I had to order it (a cocktail made with gin, Lillet, and vodka popularized in the Bond novel Casino Royale). I liked the atmosphere at Madelyn's also, and we're planning on heading back in a couple of weeks for dinner. http://www.tontobarandgrill.com/ http://www.brixwinespot.com/ http://www.madelynsrestaurant.com/ Fri Oct 03 15:07:13 -0700 2008 10271 Rubee 1 4080243 Hey Rubee.. You didn't go to my favorite place in Cave Creek..Harold's Corral what a riot this place is..I usually get flamed everytime I mention it but hey, just trying to spread the love.. Love Cave Creek and Binkley's is really good too! Great report. www.haroldscorral.com Fri Oct 03 15:19:33 -0700 2008 4080219 97452 Beach Chick 1 4081893 Did you check with Cafe Bink? I was under the impression that they offer at least the bar menu all afternoon? (And, BTW, Digestif does a nice riff on the Vesper -- they call it the Segway (Whatever. :-) ), & make it with cucumber vodka, Hendricks & Lillet. Very refreshing. Convinced me to buy a bottle of Lillet for home.) Sat Oct 04 14:08:22 -0700 2008 4080219 93267 emmaAmethyst 1 4083670 Well Beach Chick, I always like your suggestions so I'll just have to add Harold's Corral to the list! Thanks EmmaAmethyst for that info. I didn't know that; should have called Cafe Bink directly. Oh well, next time! And I love Digestif, so the Segway is just another excuse to get back there so I can try it. Thanks. Sun Oct 05 15:44:11 -0700 2008 4080219 10271 Rubee 2 4087903 Thanks Rubee and have a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon for me.. ; ) Tue Oct 07 09:38:01 -0700 2008 4083670 97452 Beach Chick