Audio By Carbonatix
See also: Kevin Binkley on Loving In-N-Out Burger
See also: Noca Owner Eliot Wexler on Chef Claudio Urciuoli
Restaurant Week begins September 15 and runs through September 23. And while it smacks of Black Friday, Christmas in July and all the other bargain bonanzas that attract the great unwashed, I have to admit — there are some mighty sweet deals out there, deals even the snootiest of foodie-ists won’t want to miss.
It’s definitely not too early to make reservations.
Personally, I’m a big fan of the three-course $40 menus. For an extra $10, you usually get way more bang for the buck. Here are my four favorites (one of them coming in at $30) with their menus included.
Binkley’s Restaurant
You don’t have to be a math whiz to figure out that a $40 three-course dinner at Binkley’s is probably about three to four times cheaper than the usual Binkley’s blowout would be. If your wallet’s thin but you’ve always dreamed of going, this is it — your golden opportunity to eat at one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants with one of the city’s most celebrated chefs on a proverbial dime.
Sure, the menu says three courses, but this is Binkley’s where success and excess are often one and the same thing. Your measly 40 bucks will get you something closer to 12-13 courses, including four amuse bouche (one of them: savory doughnuts with bacon butter); two intermezzos, a two-part PRE-dessert (because, of course, the two designated desserts will not be enough) and mignardises (tiny cookies, chocolates and other sweet bites) to push your already fabulous meal into over-the-top territory. Make reservations pronto. Binkley’s is already 60% booked.
First Course
Amuse Bouche: Savory Doughnuts with Bacon Butter, Parsnip Soup with Chipotle Oil, Fried Okra with Ranch Foam, Flash Frozen Peach Arnold Palmer
First Course
Wild Mushroom Risotto
leeks , parmesan
Second Course
Intermezzo: Mango Bomb with Ver Jus and Chili Oil, Grapefruit & Guava Soda
Second Course
Pork²
bacon wrapped tenderloin, cider braised cheek, butternut squash, roasted apple, haricots verts
Third Course
Pre Desserts: Mint Chocolate Lava Lamp & Miniature Cinnamon Toast Soufflé
Third Course
Red Wine Poached Pear
white chocolate mousse, pistachio, mint
Mignardises
Cork
Charming, wine-centric Cork offers sophisticated contemporary American cuisine with French influences in Chandler, and yep, it’s worth the drive. Their three-course $40 menu offers lots of yummy possibilities, especially the second course options, which all sound complicated and unabashedly upscale. This isn’t bargain-basement comfort food by any stretch. Do I want pan-roasted halibut with sweet potato and duck confit hash and pomegranate beurre blanc? Or roasted Berkshire pork belly (never going to get sick of this, so la la la not listening) with bacon/Gorgonzola risotto, confit onions and peppercorn-Port reduction? Or braised veal cheek with potato Dauphinoise and wild mushroom ragout. Hmmm, maybe all three. Just reading this menu makes my mouth water.
First Course
SWEET CORN BISQUE/Crab & Zucchini Fritter, Devonshire Cream, Herb Oil
or
BABY ARUGULA SALAD/Fried Goat Cheese, Prosciutto, Marcona Almond, Melon, Champagne Vinaigrette
or
SEARED YELLOWFIN TUNA/Poached Shrimp Escabeche Salad, Cilantro, Watercress, Olive Oil
Second Course
PAN-ROASTED HALIBUT/Sweet Potato & Duck Confit Hash, Pomegranate Beurre Blanc
or
ROASTED BERKSHIRE PORK BELLY/Bacon and Gorgonzola Risotto, Confit Onions, Peppercorn Port Reduction
or
BRAISED VEAL CHEEK/Potato Dauphinoise, Wild Mushroom Ragout, Grilled Endive, Braising Jus
Third Course
FLIGHT OF HOUSEMADE SORBETS/3 Different Fruit & Wine Combinations
or
YOGURT PANNA COTTA/Port-Poached Figs, Hazelnut Crisp, Sugar Corkscrew
or
CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING/Nutella Crème Anglaise
Petite Maison
James and Wendy Porter’s cozy French bistro in Old Town is definitely petite, so even though the lush, flower-filled patio may be completely do-able (as in comfortable) in another week, be smart and make a reservation soon. You won’t want to miss Porter’s playful spin on French classics when possibilities include Lobster Thermidor profiterole; house pappardelle “Croque Madame” with lardons, Gruyère de Comté and shirred duck egg; and heirloom tomato tarte tatin with chevre. This little piggie imagines saying “oui, oui, oui!” all the way home.
First Course
Lobster Thermidor Profiterole
-or-
Vegetable Mosaic Terrine with Yellow Tomato and Extra Virgin Avocado Oil
Second Course
House Pappardelle “Croque Madame” with Lardons, Gruyère de Comté, Shirred Duck Egg
-or-
La Boucherie: Housemade Duck Boudin, Beef with Béarnaise and Lamb with Currants
Third Course
Heirloom Tomato Tarte Tatin with Chevre
-or-
Fried “Nutella” Twinkie
Noca
Eliot Wexler’s Contemporary American restaurant has always been Italian-inflected, but now that Slow Food follower and Super-Italian chef Claudio Urciuoli is on board, the place has a truer ring than ever before, offering a three-course $30 menu that represents real value. The prosciutto-wrapped, fennel and cheese-stuffed Bershire pork loin, served with roasted sweet potatoes, green tea powder and tomato jam plus dessert would be worth the 30 bucks alone –especially when said dessert is triple chocolate flan (think super-rich chocolate pudding with praline rice crispy). But no one wants to miss a tempting selection of first courses, including the artisanal cheese board with mostarda and rustic flat bread. As is true at Noca’s Sunday Simple Suppers, tempting add-ons are also offered, so watch out if you’re trying to stick to a budget.
First Course
Chilled Cucumber Soup
Yogurt, Lime
Artisanal Cheese Board
Mostarda, Flat Bread
Spicy Sausage
Sea Island Red Peas, Spicy Caponata
Simple Salad
Endive, Apples, Almonds, Garrotxa Cheese, Forum Cabernet Vinaigrette
Supplements:
Roasted Prawns
Controne Beans, Chili
Giovanna’s Meatballs
Polenta, Tomato Sauce
Second Course
Chitarra
San Marzano Tomato Sauce, Smoked Scamorza
Maccheroncini
Beef Shortrib Ragu
Berkshire Pork Loin
Prosciutto Wrapped, Fennel & Cheese Stuffed, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Green Tea Powder, Tomato Jam
Cioppino
Monterrey Calamari, White Seabass, Aji Panca, Shellfish Broth
Supplement:
Prime Ribeye Steak
Roasted Potatoes, Abalone Mushrooms, Spicy Chimichurri
Third Course
Ricotta Fritters
Apple Jam, Caramelized White Chocolate
Triple Chocolate Flan
Praline Rice Crispy
Compressed Fruit Soup
Dairy-Free Vanilla Ice Cream
Additional Offering
3 Course Menu $30
4 Course Menu: add pasta as 2nd Course – $40
On Sunday September 16, Monday September 17 & Sunday September 23 receive a glass of Champage or Moscato when ordering the four course meal.
I just hit the highlights here, so for more info and juicy details, go to www.arizonarestaurantweek.com.
