I'm in town for work the next week, and since I've gotten such good tips from you all in the past, I'm looking for your help again. I have a major hankering for good preparations of chile-intensive dishes: rajas of any chile in any form, en nogada, relleno, what have you. I'm downtown, but have a car and a pretty open schedule.
Cheers!
By SaltyRaisins
on Apr 16, 2010 11:11 PM
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Really...no chile preperations or item recommendations at your favorite place?
Made it to Pizza Bianco...really quite good, and my quoted 2.5 hour wait for a single seat at the bar was really only 45 minutes. Lots of star power in the place, too. I'd be happy to go again.
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I love chile en nogada too, one of my favorite Pueblan dishes, but since it's a seasonal dish, I don't think it's on menus right now. Barrio Cafe does have it in the fall. You may want to call to see if it's on the current menu.
Sorry, can't help you with rajas or chiles rellenos as those are things I tend to make at home.
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Barrio Cafe
2814 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85006
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My most recent chile relleno was the rellenos with eggs for breakfast at Dick's Hideaway. I got mine with duck as my choice of meat and red chile. It was a bit of a mess, but, tasty enough. I usually go home and pass out after having breakfast at Dick's, because the portions are so large, and I can't seem to stop eating until it's gone.
I like the chile relleno at Restaurant Mexico, but, it may only be available on Friday as a special. And, they might run out of it. I was in the habit of having it for an early lunch, but, it's been a while. It's pretty basic, no stem, and perhaps a bit lighter than most, which is just the nature of the food at this restaurant. It's not stingy, just not the over-the-top servings we see at the typical Sonoran style place in Phoenix. I would say it's not Sonoran, but, I'm no expert on regional Mex.
I get Chile Rellenos at Los Sombreros, once in a while. They tend to be quite large, overstuffed with cheese and corn, and quite watery. I usually only eat one of the two and take one home.
I think the Tee Pee has a unique chile relleno that is like a giant whipped omelet with the peppers hidden somewhere inside. It's probably not what you have in mind, and I haven't been there in 15 years, but, I just thought I'd mention it.
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Los Sombreros Cafe & Cantina
2534 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Dick's Hideaway
6008 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
Tee Pee Mexican Restaurant
4144 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018
Restaurant Mexico
423 S Mill Ave # A, Tempe, AZ 85281
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So midway through my week here...and some observations:
I kinda gave up on my chile-intensive tour, and instead became more general in my food outlook. I enjoyed Ranch Market. Like a Cosco-sized Trader Joe's with all the products swapped for Latin ones with an excellent meat department selling everything for a fraction of Gringomart prices at the same or better quality, and in the prepared foods- steam tables of the gods. Their chile verde is excellent- great tanginess and depth of flavor, and their simple cocido de res should be the type specimen.
Urban sprawl on the scale of Phoenix's offers something great to chowers: the low rents allow cooks who in many other cities would be out of luck to open their own places and serve food from their ancestral recipe bank. Specifically, I mean mexican bakeries. These places are everywhere around here and their savory offerings should not be overlooked. I went to a place today that wrapped up one of their grandmother's guisados in a super fresh flour tortilla - it was excellent. I talked to the owner for a bit, and he said they're using their grandfathers "oldschool" recipe, and I know it's just a burro in a city with no shortage of great ones, but something about this guy continuing family traditions and serving excellent food as an aside to his baking was really cool. I'm guessing that this is not that uncommon around here. Enjoy ordering "off menu" at your local panaderia.
Cheers.
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Salty..
Have you gone to Carolina's down by the Airport?
It's divey and so good.
If your downtown and haven't been to Durant's, old school good..love arriving through the kitchen.
www.carolinasmex.com
www.durantsaz.com
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Hi there! Yes, I have been to Durant's. Red leather booths and dark lighting, right? Love how these desert places can be so nondescript from the outside.
I'll try to go to Carolina's.
Had a Renauds croissant the other day, btw. Still amazing.
Cheers!
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Hope you entered through the kitchen..
Did they still have the chilled beloved relish tray?
How was it..heard its been slipping a little.
Carolina is cheap and good..
I've been jonesing for a croissant from Renauds and don't plan to be up there till the summer..that and some calamari picatta from the Chase!
Are you going to Sedona while your in PHX?
Elote Cafe is one of the best places for Mex cuisine.
www.elotecafe.com
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Roger on the Presidential Kitchen Entry. They do have chilled crudites. Very pricey for what it is, though. Still enjoyable.
No Sedona. Just PHX and Tucson. I know exactly where to eat in Tucson, though.
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