Like a present inside of a present, the Valley's getting two amazing announcements for the holidays this year.
The Republic reports the Desert Botanical Garden is opening a full-fledged restaurant with a focus on local fare and the chef leading the cuisine will be none other than farm-to-table guru Payton Curry.
Doubly-great news for fans of Curry and especially those who have eaten at the Desert Botanical Garden which, unlike the restaurants inside the Heard Museum and the Musical Instrument Museum, has not made a menu of great-tasting foods prepared from scratch and using fresh local ingredients a priority.
Called The Bounty, the restaurant will move into the space currently occupied by the plant shop, will be open to the public (no DBG admission required), serve a cafeteria-style breakfast and lunch and a full-service dinner, and is hoping to debut in the fall of 2012, the Republic reports.
Curry, who made his Valley debut at Digestif in Scottsdale then, after the restaurant closed, moved to Caffe Boa in Tempe, which he left in February 2010, has gone on to do several successful pop-up ventures at The Welcome Diner and Cycle and is currently holding a temporary position at FnB.
The Republic goes on to say that Curry will be working with Fabulous Food Fine Catering and Events, who currently manage the DBG's Patio Café, and is considering appetizers like roasted tepary beans and entrees like jidori chicken with salsify fries and sausage-stuffed quail, and that he is looking to keep everything "gently priced."
