Best Of Phoenix® 2010 Winners
La Vida
It was a collection of tentacles coming out of a Starbucks mug. How could we not love it? And that's just one of the bizarre creations we got to see at the Mutant Piñata art show at Bragg's Pie Factory. This annual event never fails to tickle our imagination with papier-mâché vampires and anatomically correct (or so we're told) baboons. You may be used to candy-filled piñatas, but we're telling you that the real treat is the eye candy you'll see at this show. Leave the bat at home. The mutant piñata show happens each March, during Art Detour, and the word is that several pieces from last year's show — including a fabulous vampire by Tempe artist Mike Maas — will appear in the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art's People's Biennial in October 2011.
Best Calle of Dreams
"Calle 16: A Mural Project" in the "office" at Barrio Cafe
Barrio Cafe chef Silvana Salcido Esparza turned 50 this year, and she was pissed. It wasn't the number of candles on her cake or years she's spent building her restaurant business on 16th Street — it was Arizona Senate Bill 1070. Esparza's been glued to the news and images of Arizona's Mexican community in all its lackluster glory on the big screen. "Oh, we have a vibrant community here," she says. "We just need a center for that community to really shine." So she started with her back wall. Esparza brought in El Moises to paint a mural, and then she was struck with a vision: a Calle of Murals. She set up a Facebook page, then an e-mail address, then a website. She has almost 20 artists and 500 Facebook fans. The first official "Calle 16" mural will go up in October. "They can't stop us," says Esparza. "I want the city to crawl back to us and ask where they can help."
Best New Showcase for Latino Art
Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center/Galeria 147
Art with a political edge is what this town's been needing in the worst possible way, and Phoenix's new Arizona Latino Arts and Cultural Center/Galeria 147 has been delivering. In a state where Latinos are under the gun, both literally and metaphorically — from the Legislature, in the form of the ethnic studies ban and SB 1070, to Sheriff Joe Arpaio's notorious anti-immigrant sweeps of Hispanic neighborhoods — ALAC's providing an outlet for the indignation and outrage of an entire people. ALAC's debut presented works from old hands like painters Ramon Delgadillo and Luis Mena, in addition to new ones, such as muralist Francisco Garcia, whose work depicts the sacrifice, the pride, the victimization, and the beauty of Arizona Latinos. Out of the crucible of oppression often comes the stuff of great art, and ALAC/Galeria 147 seems to be proving that with its very existence.
Want to beat the crap out of Jan Brewer? Now's your chance — though at $85 a pop, we're not sure you'll want to deface your purchase. Leave it to Scott Jacobson — he of the impish grin and years in the middle of Arizona politics doing public affairs for a big, bad utility company. These days, Jacobson's pushing piñatas rather than power — though, really, his political spin on papier-mâché wields a strength of its own. E-mail him if you'd like one of his piñatas for your very own.
One of the best events of the year is the Dia de los Muertos festival, hosted by the Desert Botanical Garden on Halloween weekend and during the first week of November. The festivities include Mexican folk arts, storytelling, dance, and poetry, as well as a mercado with awesome wares for sale. Wander the garden paths and check out the ofrenda installations, pause to make crafts with the kids — like decorating your own calaca (smiling skull) mask or molded sugar skulls. There is enough pageantry and, yes, food to keep you entertained all day. Who knew celebrating death could be so fun?
We'll admit it: There was a time we thought that the aesthetic sold at places like Pier 1 Imports and Cost Plus World Market was charming. Decking out our homes in overpriced crap from Third World countries is our right as Americans and a hell of a way to look as though we're cultured and sympathetic to the poor souls who live in those places. Then we realized something. We live in Phoenix, home to one of the greatest import stores we've seen: Mercado Mexico. Unlike the aforementioned retailers, Mercado Mexico is the real deal. And the wares they sell are far from what we would call cheap crap. Did you know that Mexican ceramics are regarded as some of the best in the world? This fact is plainly apparent at Mercado Mexico, where the indoor/outdoor store explodes with garden pots, glazed ceramic figurines, Dia de los Muertos skeletons, bull skulls, chile pepper bundles, furniture, blankets, and, well, you get the idea. The locally owned store offers everything at low prices (they'll haggle with you if habla un poquito español) and their selection is fantastico.
Marguerite Tram, the owner of this funky boutique across the breezeway from a garden shop and a hamburger joint in a cute strip mall near Phoenix College, has the best taste. She stuffs her little shop with linen dresses, comfortable shoes, cute purses, and a lovely collection of the best Mexican-inspired gifts and wares we've seen in town. From oilcloth to Day of the Dead figures to tissue paper banners and pricier (but worth it) antiques, each piece is prettier than the one before — and we want it all! Gracias, Marguerite!
What?! You didn't know there was a such a thing as Mexican embroidery thread?! Okay, neither did we — 'til our friend Kathy "Crafty Chica" Cano-Murillo let slip that Mario Ramos is her favorite local Mexican craft store. We jumped in the car immediately. Mario Ramos himself is a doll, custom-making piñatas in the parking lot of his tiny shop. Inside there isn't much, to be honest, but we did find the promised selection of Mexican embroidery thread and other supplies. Turns out, this thread is thick and waxy, more like cord than thread, and it really pops on the fabric. The shop stocks a wide variety of colors, as well as pillowcases, placemats and other fabrics stamped with whimsical, Mexican-art inspired patterns. Loaded with a pile of the affordable wares, we're feeling crafty, indeed!
Best Place to Take a Tourist Looking for Mexican Tchotchkes
Mexican Import
Let's be honest. The days of a dawdle down to Nogales are over. We miss the pretty drive through the desert to the sweet little town, where we used to spend hours hunting for punched-tin frames and Dia de los Muertos figures (and maybe a bit of time hunting for perfectly legal Xanax). But now, Nogales is war-torn, the victim of drug cartels, and we can't convince Aunt Dorothy that crossing the border is a good idea. But she wants a souvenir of her trip to Arizona, so we take her to Scottsdale — specifically, to Mexican Import. This store is packed with the embroidered dresses, painted terra cotta figures, piñatas, and other tchotchkes you'll find in the border town shops, but there's none of the drama, and you'll spend a lot less on gas. When you're done shopping, blow your savings on a margarita down the block at The Mission.
This El Mirage Food City offers an authentic taste of Mexico in its little snack bar, tortillería, and throughout its grocery aisles. Stop by early any day of the week for a bag of fresh roasted whole green chilies, the perfect ingredient for homemade green chile. Satisfy your sweet tooth with a bag of fresh pan dulce to enjoy with your morning cup of cafe. You can also find cooking essentials, such as large pots suitable for cooking menudo or steaming tamales, and nearly any ingredient for a Mexican meal that is simply delicioso!
Everybody already knows that The Mission is one of Old Town's sexiest dinner destinations — those chandeliers and candles everywhere create a moody, decadent kind of glamour — but it's just as cool a hangout during the day. We're huge fans of the weekend brunch menu, which has some unique and unforgettable dishes. Crave savory in the a.m.? Go for the delicious scrambled eggs with chorizo, grilled flour tortillas, and chipotle grits, red chile chilaquiles topped with a gooey fried egg, or delicate corn pancakes topped with Dungeness crab, fresh cilantro, and lip-smacking smoked Oaxacan pasilla crema. Or, if you like to start your day with a little sugar, try the dessert-like cinnamon pecan waffles with dulce de leche crema. Expertly crafted brunch cocktails like mimosas and the "Mission Mary," as well as French press coffee, are worth lingering over.
A lot of hearts were broken when La Hacienda, the iconic fine-dining spot at the Fairmont, closed in 2008. But in January, the grand dame returned to the Valley scene looking refreshed and ready for another turn in the spotlight. This time, the restaurant has acclaimed executive chef Richard Sandoval — a Mexico City native who's famous for his modern Mexican cuisine, with more than a dozen eateries around the world — as well as chef de cuisine Forest Hamrick, who was with the restaurant when it previously earned the elite AAA Four Diamond award for three years running. They've crafted a menu that interprets traditional dishes for a sophisticated contemporary palate. Here, the classic red snapper dish, Huachinango a la Veracruzana, comes with smoked bacon fufu and tomato olive caper sauce, while crispy corn sopes topped with carnitas are embellished with black bean puree, Napa cabbage, and pickled onion.
Ambitious is the word that comes to mind when we think of La Tolteca, an affordable spot close to downtown that goes the extra mile to give customers the Mexican food they crave. Love tacos and burritos? Sure, they've got 'em, from basics like carne asada and shredded chicken to more exotic fillings like tripa (tripe), lengua (tongue) and cabeza (head). La Tolteca does huge tortas on fresh telera (there's an in-house bakery here, natch), sopes, quesadillas, tamales, and a slew of combo platters, too. They do a killer Mexican breakfast, as well. We're sure we're forgetting to mention something because La Tolteca just has so much — but that's the beauty of it.
Here's a place that's got the laid-back, fun vibe of a great neighborhood spot with all the pizzazz and unforgettable food of a destination restaurant. Whether you live nearby or just feel like heading south, Los Dos Molinos will feed you well and send you home with a proper food coma, thanks to fiery New Mexican-style cuisine and huge margaritas to quell the heat. Sure, you can find a few mild things on the menu, but why not go wild with spicy machaca or lip-smacking carne adovada, tender chunks of pork marinated in red chile? Even the chips and salsa will put some color into your cheeks. We'd like to tell you more, but we're making ourselves hungry. Just hit up Los Dos and you'll understand our obsession.
Oh, Pepe, you know what we like. Amazing chicken enchiladas with deep, dark mole negro, tender pork carnitas, heaping plates of green chile beef with rice and beans, and spicy, filling breakfast dishes (like kicky huevos rancheros) that've never done us wrong. We're especially fans of the unique Taco Monterrey, with dried beef, scrambled eggs, chiles, tomatoes, and onions wrapped up in a soft flour tortilla — that hits the spot no matter what time of day it is (although it always makes us ready for a siesta after we've filled our bellies).
We're so happy that the Castillo family decided to expand its Las Cruces, New Mexico-based business to the Valley, because Si Senor is one of the top spots to try spicy dishes made with our neighboring state's famous Hatch chile peppers. Red chile pork, with moist chunks of meat in an alluring, rich roasted chile sauce, and green chile beef, studded with bits of chile, are two must-tries, as is anything blanketed in Si Senor's beloved sauces — chimichangas, enchiladas, rellenos, and more. Sure, it's hot enough to make your lips catch on fire, but why not go for it when there's a menu full of thirst-quenching margaritas? As an added bonus, complimentary sopaipillas end the meal on a sweet note.
Moreno's is unexpectedly charming when you set foot in this strip mall spot near the ASU campus — faux stone details, cozy booths, and a fresh salsa bar are just a few of the details that make it better than your average Mexican joint. The menu is broader and more interesting, too, with a variety of sopes, tostadas, cheese crisps, and tortas to round out the list of burros and tacos. Better yet, they offer fillings like lengua (tongue), adobada (grilled pork), and cabeza (head) along with the usual suspects. To drink, there are aguas frescas like jamaica and strawberry, ladled out of huge glass jars. And get this — Moreno's features a bacon-wrapped Sonoran-style hot dog, too, eliminating the need to hunt down the regional treat at a food truck. Why go anywhere else when Moreno's seems to have it all?
Best Neighborhood Mexican Restaurant, Scottsdale
Habanero's Mexican Grill
Every neighborhood should be so lucky to have a family-owned Mexican joint like Habanero's, a special little gem in North Scottsdale. Here, owner Arturo Diaz serves up recipes he brought to the states from Jalisco, Mexico, where his parents ran taco stands. And, yes, Habaneros does tacos brilliantly, from carne asada, fish, and excellent carnitas de Jalisco to blackened shrimp with chipotle sauce and pico de gallo. Sink your teeth into a burrito, plump with chorizo, refried beans, and pico, or put some color into your cheeks with fragrant red chile tamales. Or, if you're hankering for straight-up protein, get the parrillada tampiqueña, a meat-lover's fantasy of grilled steak, chicken, chorizo, and carnitas.
We've lauded Casa Reynoso in the past for its comidas muy auténticas, yummy, old family recipes from the Mexican-cuisine-heavy Globe-Miami area. And, indeed, the tacos filled with beef shredded to near-pâté consistency and not a speck of cheese, the meticulously roasted green chile dishes, and the traditional scorching-hot plates are a dependable comfort in an almost deserted strip mall. But look around a bit, and hope no pickers or dealers will read this section. From hand-tooled leather chairs in the lobby to random macramé fake-plant hangers, serapes, dozens of family photos going waaaaay back (some of those cherubic little girls have got to be cougars by now), and — hey, that's an actual saddle by the cash register — the huge mirror surrounded with incongruous pastel Capodimonte porcelain flowers . . . well, it all makes the original bullfighter painting you'll spy on the way to the restroom seem a little low-key by comparison.
Bill Hutichison won't divulge all the secret ingredients in his Kissed With Fire salsa, but he stands firmly on the belief that roasted green peppers are essential to producing just the right bite. Hutichison traveled throughout the Southwest in pursuit of the perfect pepper until he discovered a New Mexican green variety worthy of his tasty salsa. Loaded with fresh ingredients, this salsa, which comes in both mild and hot, is great on a chip, but its hearty consistency also works well as an accompaniment for eggs, burritos, and even burgers.
Although we can't prove it unless we start sneaking into some kitchens, it's pretty obvious that a lot of Mexican restaurants get their tortillas straight out of a bag — and some don't even bother to reheat them. What gives, people? There's a lot of competition for good Mexican food in the Valley, and to set yourself apart from the pack, you need to make grand gestures. That's what they do at Verde, a humble little downtown spot serving cheap, casual eats and flour tortillas we're absolutely certain are as fresh as can be. Just take a look in the big front window, where you can see ladies hand-forming and cooking them on a griddle right on the premises. These are a little thicker than the norm, tender, and perfect for scooping up gobs of Verde's fragrant green chile pork — or simply enjoying plain.
When it comes to names, "corn smut" just doesn't do it for us. "Mexican truffle" sounds a whole lot better. Funny, though, that they're the same thing: huitlacoche, a delicacy that's starting to show up on more local menus as people catch on to its earthy, flavorful allure. At Los Sombreros, it gets a sexy spin in the form of crepes. Here, huitlacoche is wrapped in moist, thin pancakes, and smothered in a sauce of blue and goat cheeses, as well as pomegranate sauce. Los Sombreros serves a lot of killer apps, but this one is don't-miss-it delicious.
Street tacos seem to be Gallo Blanco's thing, but what can we say? The juicy carne asada torta is killer, topped with charred tomato salsa, while the cochinita pibil is a delightful mélange of sweet and savory flavors. And then there's the beautifully sinful Naco Torta, which teams tender grilled rib eye and charred tomato salsa with two oozy fried eggs on top. The tortas here are truly addicting, better than what you'll find at places that specialize in these hefty Mexican sandwiches.
The heck with healthful eating. As long as there are Sonoran hot dogs in the world, we must eat them. Any dog served in a piping hot, freshly baked sweet bun and wrapped in bacon, then smothered in diced tomato, guacamole, chopped onion, and beans is one worth eating. And the best of these can be found at Nogales Hot Dogs, a humble roadside stand with wieners so good we've forgotten all about Coney Island dogs and Chicago dogs and chili-cheese dogs and pretty much every other kind of hot dog we've ever tried.
With 23 flavors of tamales, The Tamale Store offers everything you can think of — and if you don't find what you're looking for on the menu, just ask. The Tamale Store will custom-make specialty batches for events. It also offers a special flavor of the month. What is even more fantastic is that it sells and delivers to most of the farmers markets in Central Phoenix.Taste-wise, these tamales really are the best. The Tamale Store does not use lard, so if you order a vegan variety, it really will be delivered vegan. Nothing beats a green chile and corn tamale — well, except maybe a chicken mole tamale or maybe a blueberry cream cheese tamale. Oh, just get over there and discover your own favorite.
Sometimes the urge to seek out good carne asada hits us so hard that we'll drop whatever we're doing to go devour a plate of meat. But things have gotten a lot easier since we discovered Sonora Mesquite Grill, a tiny, super-friendly spot that specializes in the stuff. What's the secret to such juicy, flavorful carne asada? We wish we knew the answer to that, but in the meantime, we'll keep doing our "research" by testing out as many burritos, tacos, and combo platters as we can. Top-notch homemade salsas make it even more appealing.
The unforgettable carne adovada at Dick's Hideaway is the same recipe that used to be served at the late, great (and soon-to-reopen, in a different location) Richardson's. When that restaurant succumbed to fire last year, we were beyond relieved that our favorite dish could still be had at the Hideaway. Why? It's the kind of food that revives you when you're hungover or fills your belly when you're ready for a night of drinking or simply puts a smile on your face on any otherwise uneventful day. The pork is smoky and tender, simmered in a complex red chile sauce that's blazingly hot but too flavorful to stop eating. To taste it is to become addicted to it.
There are few greater tributes to the glory of pork than how chef Silvana Salcido Esparza does it at Barrio Cafe. Yes, her cochinita pibil is one of her most famous dishes and, no, it can't be bested by anyone around. Slow-roasted for 12 hours — until it's falling apart and truly does melt in your mouth — the pork is smothered in achiote rojo and sour orange, just the way they make it in the Yucatán. If you have the time and appetite, we recommend just ordering the cochinita platter, which is piled with enticing meat. Trust us, you'll go overboard and enjoy every bite. We also like it tucked into small, street-style tacos for a satisfying lunch. Pig out!
We figured we were in for some good tacos as soon as we spotted the salsa bar at this hip little 16th Street hangout. Freshly made pico de gallo, smoky chipotle salsa, luscious cilantro crema, strawberry salsa, and kicky tomatillo salsa were just a few of the offerings, all intended to dress up tacos so good they hardly need any embellishment. Zesty chicken tinga, carne asada, deep-fried dogfish shark, savory Oaxacan black mole, and juicy, slow-roasted cochinita pibil are among the stellar fillings available, tucked into freshly griddled tortillas that you can inhale in just a few bites. Mix and match for maximum enjoyment.
This teeny neighborhood joint has been around for more than 30 years, which may come as a surprise to the uninitiated. How can owner Rosemary Salinas get a line of people out the door when her restaurant has no seating (except for a few picnic tables outside), no sign, and a limited menu? The answer's simple if you've ever eaten her food: These burros just rock. It doesn't matter whether you're obsessed with the spicy red chile burro, plump with moist shredded beef, or the amazing green chile version, packed with chunks of pork so tender you hardly need teeth. They're made with excellent tortillas, they're made with love, and they've gained enough word-of-mouth fame locally that we're sure we'll be writing about them forever. (We can only hope.)
Anyone who complains about the lack of good seafood spots in the middle of the desert has obviously never frequented our city's many fine mariscos joints, where a bite of cool ceviche can transport you straight to the ocean. Mariscos Playa Hermosa feels beachy even in its colorful décor, and the way folks here know how to keep the cold Corona flowing. Seven seas soup (brimming with clams, mussels, shrimp, fish, crab, and octopus), refreshing, cilantro-tinged seafood cocktails, grilled or fried fish, and entrées like octopus and shrimp in garlic sauce make us forget all about living in a landlocked city. Eating here is like vacation at the shore, if only for our taste buds.
We were heartbroken when chef Aaron May closed Sol y Sombra, his swanky tapas spot at North Scottsdale's DC Ranch, but May's Iruña swooped in this summer to ease the pain with a lot of old favorites and just as many delectable new dishes. Stop by this stylin' eatery for a lively scene and a slew of mouthwatering small plates meant for sharing. Go light, with garlic-and-tomato-rubbed pan con tomate, refreshing gazpacho, chilled rice salad with tuna, and a Bibb lettuce salad with Manchego, spiced almonds, and Rioja vinaigrette, or go naughty with savory-sweet pollo colonia (chicken in a spicy glaze), lamb chops with whole grain mustard vinaigrette and fresh mint, and sliced filet mignon with chunky salbitxada sauce, made with tomatoes and Marcona almonds. Whatever you get, be sure there's a glass of sangria in your hand.
After digging in to lusty plates of stuffed poblanos and chorizo-stuffed pork chops and green chile stew, we're aching for mercy at this charming New Mexican spot in Ahwatukee. The spicy, flavorful fare shifts our taste buds into overdrive. But we always need to rein it in with something sweet, something delicate to soothe our palate at the end of the meal, and that's why we love Secreto's incredible flan. Smooth as velvet, cool on the tongue, and oozing sweet caramelized sauce, it's everything we could hope for in this classic custard dessert. Save room for a few bites, if not the whole thing.
Our wish came true! We wished for gourmet paletas and Betty Alatorre arrived on the scene, armed with her grandmother's recipes. You'll still have to hoof it to downtown Chandler to get flavors like mango con chile, naranja (orange vanilla cream) and durazno (peach, ginger, and honey), but, hey, that's better than traveling all the way to Michoacan, the Mexican state where Alatorre was raised — and, coincidentally, the paleta capital. Until now. We're decreeing Chandler the new paleta HQ. Viva las paletas, Betty!
Hey, kids, want to fill that piñata in style? Then steer Mom and Dad to the funky purple building on the east side of 16th Street. In the back of this party store, you'll find aisle after aisle of bulk Mexican candy — peanut-y marzipan, hot chile, and chocolate-covered marshmallows. Forgot the piñata? No worries, there's a large selection of perfectly serviceable papier-mâché hanging from the ceiling, and helpful staff to get them down. Sweet!
Michael Braden's Margarita Sensations margarita mix is used to create the perfect margaritas at nearly three dozen restaurants and gathering places throughout Arizona, including Mountainside Office Bar in Scottsdale, My Florist Cafe in Phoenix, Padre Murphy's in Glendale, and Tiburon Aquarium Restaurant in Litchfield Park.And while it's always relaxing to pull up to a bar and order a freshly blended margarita served in a glass with a perfectly salted rim . . . it can also get pricey. Margarita Sensations margarita mix is available at your local BevMo so you can enjoy delicious and hangover-free margaritas in the comfort of your own home.Just pick up a gallon of Braden's fresh and balanced combination of organic lime juice, filtered water, and 100 percent Weber blue agave nectar. There aren't any artificial flavors or colors or preservatives in this premium mix. At only 100 calories per serving, you can enjoy several of these popular summer drinks guilt-free. Braden recommends pairing his mix with 3 Amigos Organic Blanco Tequila (made from 100 percent agave) for the perfect organic margarita. The beauty of Margarita Sensations mix is that it eliminates the need to add triple sec or any other liqueur to your margarita. It also doubles as a Sweet and Sour mix and can be enjoyed straight as a refreshing limeade or mixed with iced tea for a "Lee Trevino special" — half limeade, half iced tea.The only thing that this margarita mix doesn't have is that too-tart or too-sweet aftertaste found in many mixes.
Without a doubt, one of the finest and smoothest tequilas you can treat your palate to is 3 Amigos Tequila. This premium, 100 percent agave tequila is handcrafted at a family-owned distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. The blue agave plants are harvested by jimadores with a talent for selecting only the healthiest and most perfectly ripened agaves.3 Amigos is an affordable alternative to the high-priced tequilas and rivals their flavor. It comes in several varieties, including Organic Blanco, a USDA-certified organic tequila. They also have 3 Amigos Blanco, which is double-distilled and bottled, 3 Amigos Reposado, double-distilled and aged for 11 months in charred white oak barrels; and 3 Amigos Anejo, aged in oak barrels for two years, giving it a distinct and balanced flavor of agave, oak, vanilla, and a light caramel body.
Yes, that is half of a lime, muddled and resting at the bottom of your frosty, salted glass. And trust us, a good amount of lime makes all the difference in this Mexican cocktail. A margarita at this retro (and very metro), dimly lit uptown bar will run you $6 — order one during happy hour (Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.) and it's $4. The semi-charming (also very metro) bartender pours a heavy-yet-smooth combination of Jose Cuervo Gold, triple sec, and fresh lime juice that he swears will prevent a hangover. Fair warning: The fresh juice won't get you down the flight of narrow stairs and out the exit after you've had a couple.
Scottsdale-based Cruz Tequila has numerous cocktail recipes for its 100 percent blue agave tequilas, whether you prefer blanco, reposado, or anejo. There's the Cruz Refresco with a splash of cola, the Paloma with grapefruit juice, and the self-proclaimed Perfect Margarita with agave nectar. For our discerning tastes, though, nothing comes close to the Cruz Cucumber Margarita. Muddle two ounces of Cruz blanco with one squeezed lime, two cucumber wheels, and one ounce of agave nectar. Shake with ice, add a splash of water, and serve over ice. If you've mixed it right, the resultant beverage will taste like plunging head-first into a blue agave waterfall. Drink responsibly, and save one for us.
We've been around long enough to recall when Z'Tejas was barely a chain — just one here and a couple of outposts in Texas. Today, that's changed, with restaurants in five states and four locations in the Valley alone.Good, we say. That just means more Chambord margaritas for the masses. Smoother than a Slurpee and more lethal than just about any cocktail we've sampled, Z'Tejas' frozen marg stands up to any others, just on its own. But pour a shot of raspberry Chambord liqueur over the top, and you've got our idea of heaven. Also our idea of a hangover. But that's okay. We'll just put off the inevitable by ordering another one.
A nonstop war for supremacy is waged every weekend among the discotheques of downtown Phoenix. Believe us, it's quite the fight. The club-on-club combat is particularly punchy among the boîtes of Washington Street, with venues like Sky Lounge and Bar Smith battling for bigger turnouts and sheer volume. From what we've seen (and heard), Sky Lounge is the clear winner on both fronts, as its lines are longer and its sounds are doubly deafening. The two-story spot has continually trumped its neighbors and nearby Hispanic hot spots alike for years, thanks to having twice the dancing space as well as a later closing time of 4 a.m. Sky's wide selection of music and quality of turntablist talent is also a big factor. Latin Passion Fridays with Enigma and Waldo is purely about salsa and other sounds of seduction. And sabados are also gigante, as the DJ trio of Daffy, Kyko, and Mario paints from an ear-pleasing palette of cumbia, bachata, and merengue for hundreds of bouncing bodies. It usually results in some seriously sweaty shenanigans on a Saturday night.
We can't decide which is a more popular activity at this super-size Saturday soiree encompassing both DWNTWN and Palazzo: drinking or dancing. Opportunities abound for both, as each club features its own dance floor, DJs, and alcohol selection. (If you can somehow find your way through the throngs, that is.) Here's how it all works, cabrón: DWNTWN features impromptu drink specials throughout the night, while the turntable tag team of DJ Rubas and El Mananero spins reggaetón, cumbia, hip-hop, banda, and Latin Top 40. Meanwhile, Palazzo features its own selection of drink deals to sip on during DJ Alfredo's merengue and salsa set. It's twice the vice.
Think the Valley's dance music scene is outta step with the rest of the world? Not this time: The embryonic Latin genre moombahtón has blown up quite big in recent months in dance clubs across the country. And, thanks to Phoenix's DJ Melo, it's snuck into our city via his Kaliente Saturdays night. He figured the bass-heavy spin-off of reggaeton would complement his already electric mixes of cumbias, merengue, and Top 40 during the event, which is Karamba's biggest of the weekend. The flock of hard-body barrio boys, faux-hawked Hispanic hipsters, and other members of the Latino LGBT brigade seems to have dug. It's one of the ways the DJ keeps the night fresh, and — more importantly — popular. He also flips over to higher-energy tracks from 2 to 4 a.m., to allow the under-21 crowd to come by and show off their dance moves until just before dawn. Viva la danza!
Miguel Morales (a.k.a. DJ Kyko) is down with downtown's Latin dance scene. Almost every weekend, you can find the 27-year-old pulling spin shifts in some of the hottest clubs situated in our city's central core, usually moving more bumpers than a body shop with his high-energy style. On Fridays, he serves as selectah during PHX Nightclub's weekly Latin night, masterfully mixing up cumbias, reggaetón, and hip-hop. Then it's on to Sky Lounge, where Morales spends his Saturday evenings raining tempestuous tracks from an elevated glass booth for slews of screaming señoritas, followed by his Sunday session waxing out reggaetón and hip-hop with Power 98.3's DJ Villin at Cheetahs. Local Latinos aren't the only ones going loco over Morales' mixes, as he regularly visits the clubs of Rocky Point and Ensenada during spring break or the occasional weekend when he ain't ripping up the record decks downtown. During one south-of-the-border visit a few years back, he even got a chance to provide the backing beats for notorious Oakland rapper Too $hort. And if Shorty the Pimp is a fan, then Morales most definitely has some skills.
Best Place to Watch Lucha Libre in Action
Gladiadores Unidos, Fridays, 7 p.m.
El Pakal is one tough-looking hombre. Not only is he ripped from head to toe, but his face is hidden by a gold wrestling mask and his torso is painted with Aztec symbols. Is he loco? Nah, just a participant in lucha libre (Mexican-style wrestling). Pakal is a member of Gladiadores Unidos, a local group that holds matches every Friday at a converted South Phoenix warehouse, and also a rudo (bad guy) whose main goal in the ring is to beat the crap outta the technicos (good guys). For those who're unfamiliar with lucha, here's a brief primer, wey: Originating in Mexico and similar in most respects to the WWE, lucha features faster, higher-flying action that's a little different from what you see on Monday Night Raw. First of all, many Mexican-style wrestlers wear colorful masks. Also, the action takes place in three-on-three tag-team matches that involve a whirlwind of action that often spills into the audience. Gladiadores Unidos is one of three lucha groups in Phoenix and is, by far, the best. Its characters are more over the top (a wrestler dressed as a cat) and humorous. Don't worry if you're not bilingual, because the action is easy to follow. Just stay outta the first three rows.
How can cardboard boxes, busted balloons, sticky and shredded pieces of newspaper, and brightly colored tissue paper jazz up a child's birthday party? When they're used to create a custom piñata, of course!Sure, you can go with the stock piñatas — donkeys or bears with stiff, outstretched arms — hanging from the rafters of your local Mexican market. But the artists — and they are artists — at Mundo Piñata are ready, willing, and more than able to bring to life your birthday boy or girl's favorite superhero, cartoon character, or Disney fantasy.If you give them a picture of, say, Peppa Pig or a classic princess, a racecar or an image of Spider-Man leaping through the air, they will make it happen.The tiny, neatly organized shop also has a few shelves of Mexican candy and trinkets that you can stuff into the artfully handcrafted piñata — just before the children take a stick and pummel the goodies right out of it.
A while back, the Mexican government commissioned a comic book covertly instructing illegal aliens how to cross the Mexico/Arizona border. The Guide for the Mexican Migrant depicts "illegal aliens" crossing the Rio Grande and dodging border patrol agents, and spells out crafty ways to hide out among gringos once they're here. Wee-hoo!
Despite its cunning claim that the comic is about legally immigrating, it's actually a carefully crafted caveat about how to survive while you're on your way and what your rights are once you get here, regardless of your legal residency status. Printed by Mexico's Foreign Ministry, the Gold Key Comic-like story of a group of "migrants" is told in simple, colorful panels that make baddies of the Border Patrol agents and describes ways for brown people to hide in plain sight among Phoenicians. The comic has been removed from the Mexican government's website, but a copy is still stashed here, and the Internet has been ablaze with commentaries, both pro and con. (An English text-only translation appears here.) We think this super comic deserves a round of applause.See: a video interview with Santiago Gonzalez.
Santiago Gonzalez is one of the good guys, and not just because his family produces 3 Amigos Tequila — a delicious, smooth tequila made exclusively from blue agaves untouched by pesticides.
Sure, the taste rivals any of the top-shelf tequila brands out there — and costs way less — but Gonzalez isn't my hero for that. Well, not just that. He's the kind of guy who cares about integrity, hard work, and above all else, family.
Attitudes like his are in short supply these days.
Gonzalez was just a boy when he moved to Phoenix from Mexico in 1968. In the mid-'80s, he and his brothers started G Farms with 200 acres on which to grow watermelons, onions, potatoes, corn, and alfalfa. Now, they farm more than 4,000 acres and have a couple of side businesses — including a family-owned distillery in the Mexican state of Jalisco, where they handcraft and bottle 3 Amigos Tequila.
His family's business ventures have suffered with the economic downtown, but he forges on, confident that better times are ahead.
"It isn't about the money," Gonzalez says. "It's about a good quality product. My father would always tell us that you don't want to die rich. You want to live rich." — Monica Alonzo
New Times staff writer Monica Alonzo, who swore off tequila until she met the three amigos, interviewed Santiago Gonzalez on August 14 at his El Mirage ranch.
I love Phoenix because this is where we came in when we came from Mexico. I was 11 years old. I fell in love with the state. This is home.
When I was a kid, I wanted to grow up and become a pilot. But here I am. I am a farmer and a tequila maker.
While I am driving, I think about all my family and I thank God, mainly because of everything we have and all our blessings.
Phoenix could use more tequila, for sure. And could be a little easier on Mexicans.
Phoenix could use less crime and a lot less prejudice.
You know you've had too much tequila when you start talking too much.
Never drink tequila without your three friends.
My favorite crop is, believe it or not, watermelons. Second is agave.
I love the smell of wet dirt, because I'm a farmer and the dirt is God's gift and we eat off the dirt. The land feeds us.
I would love to spend the whole day with my wife.
My hero is my father. He was a man who had a lot of foresight, and he had a lot of love for people. He was a wonderful man.
Right before I go to bed, I thank God for my family and for friends and for all the blessings.
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