Best Poutine 2013 | Petite Maison | Food & Drink | Phoenix
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Best Poutine

Petite Maison

Canadian cookbook author Cynthia Wine once described poutine as "an amazing concoction of French fries, cheese, and gravy." No one may understand that sentiment more than chef James Porter, who's given the popular street food of Montreal a delicious gourmet twist at his cozy French bistro in Scottsdale. Featuring golden pommes frites sprinkled with truffled cheese curds and lightly topped with veal gravy, it's a crispy, squeaky, and pretty much hopelessly addictive (and even elegant) way to enjoy one of Canada's most delicious imports since Ryan Gosling.

Best Mac 'n' Cheese

Lux Central

Dominique Chatterjee
Desert at Lux

Most menu items at this Central Phoenix coffee shop are short-lived — Lux's chefs like to keep you on your toes — but we've never stopped by for lunch and not found mac 'n' cheese on the menu. This version is basic — a cheesy carb overload (in a good way) with the option of thick-cut bacon and jalapeños. It's rich and satisfying and can be paired with coffee, tea (we recommend the iced hibiscus), or a cocktail from the bar. If you're really throwing calorie caution to the wind, grab a pastry, too. Just be careful not to drip cheese on your laptop keyboard. The clerks at the Mac store hate that.

Best Mac 'n' Cheese with a Twist

Zulu Caffé

If the idea of the best mac 'n' cheese in the Valley coming out of the Scottsdale Airport seems a bit of a stretch, consider its source: chef Brian Ford, who made his name working at the highly respected Quiessence in South Phoenix for 10 years before calling this unassuming cafe home. Turning the oftentimes heavy cholesterol load into a surprisingly light gourmet meal, Ford's mac 'n' cheese creations are sometimes made with a trio of fontina, aged cheddar, and Parmesan, sometimes kicked up with roasted poblano peppers, and almost always topped with local ham or bacon and buttered bread crumbs. And because the cafe sits in view of the airport's runways, you can enjoy your mac 'n' cheese with a side of aero-entertainment.

Best Chicken & Waffles

Lo-Lo's Chicken & Waffles

Heather Hoch

Few ingredient pairings have reached the dynamic duo-ness that is chicken and waffles. But then Larry "Lo-Lo" White, the grandson of Mrs. White of the legendary Mrs. White's Golden Rule Cafe, has known that all along. Pairing his grandmother's one-of-a-kind crispy and tender Southern-style fried chicken with cinnamon-dusted waffles (and plenty of syrup), White's toothsome twosome is so popular he opened a second location in Scottsdale, moved into bigger digs next door to his original home in South Phoenix, and inspired one Phoenician to submit chicken and waffles as a flavor combination for a new Lay's potato chip. Now that's soul food status worth sticking a fork into.

Best Seafood

Little Cleo's Seafood Legend

Fox Restaurant Concepts

The best thing about Sam Fox's new seafood restaurant is that it doesn't act like a Sam Fox restaurant. Tucked inside The Yard, the restaurateur's mammoth dining and hangout space in north Central Phoenix, the little room of shiny white tiles, marble-topped tables, and swingin' tunes serves up an eclectic array of stellar seafood dishes more inventive than anything you might find at Fox's more mainstream haunts in the Valley. There are crispy Thai-style frog legs, meaty Cajun shrimp, and house-smoked sturgeon with crème fraiche and a fried egg atop toasted ciabatta — Little Cleo's version of bacon and eggs. Sidle up to the oyster bar for the day's offering of bivalves and thank your lucky Nemo you're not at Fox's trendy Culinary Dropout next door.

Best Sushi

Hana Japanese Eatery

Jacob Tyler Dunn

On the subject of practicing what you preach, "beautiful simplicity" is the philosophy of brother-sister team Lori and "Chef Koji" Hashimoto, who employ it regularly when it comes to the sushi at their neighborhood restaurant in Phoenix. Here, you'll find thick pieces of mackerel, red snapper, and yellowtail elegantly draped over rice as well as stellar signature rolls like the Hana. An artful creation of shrimp, crab, and pickled root with tempura flakes, its subtle flavors seem to come in waves, giving you pause to enjoy them as you would a walk on the beach or a good read.

Best Tofu Curry

Flo's Asian Kitchen

If you're a veg-head who loves curries but hates picking chicken or beef out of your jalfrezi or making do with some vegetarian restaurant's bland imitation of the real deal, make a beeline to either of the Scottsdale eateries owned and operated by Florence "Flo" Chan. Flo's expert chef can turn any of the dishes on the menu into a non-flesh-eater's dream, but our favorites, as you might have guessed, are the curries, like the red or yellow curries or the Indian vindaloo. Washed back with a frosty mug of Tsing Tao, the sensation is one of guilt-free satisfaction. All at a very reasonable price, we might add, for dining out in Scottsdale.

Best Veggie Burger

Hillstone

Jackie Mercandetti

Given the number of times we've lifted the bun from our veggie burger only to find a dry, beige hockey puck underneath, it's no wonder we've come to expect them to be less flavorful than their carnivorous counterparts. But they can be just as robust and savory — as demonstrated by the Biltmore area's Hillstone restaurant. No faux-meat here; this patty is thick, moist, a little sweet, and packed with a slew of finely chopped veggies for color, texture, and taste. Add to that perfect pairings of a sweet soy glaze, melted Jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles layered between a soft bun and you've got more gastronomic delight than many a meat-minded creation. Delicious.

Best Hamburger

The Attic

Laura Hahnefeld
The Ivan Burger at The Attic

The first thing anyone will tell you about The Attic, the casual second-story restaurant in Arcadia, is that you should get the burger — and you should. As long on good looks as it is on taste, it is outstanding. The thoughtful, well-crafted stack stars a house-ground and well-seasoned half-pound patty, a fresh, locally made pretzel bun, and first-class toppings of tomato, onion, spring mix, a smear of spicy chipotle mayo, and your choice of melted cheese. You can add bacon, sautéed mushrooms, or an egg if you like, but no matter how you have it, it's pretty much perfect.

Best Hot Dog

Short Leash Sit . . . Stay

Jackie Mercandetti

In July, hot dog heaven came to the Valley and stayed put when Short Leash Hot Dogs, Brad and Kat Moore's venerable food truck — featuring gourmet hot dogs wrapped in a warm naan "bun" — found a permanent doghouse on Roosevelt Row. Now, along with signature dogs topped with ingredients like roasted green chiles, mango chutney, and Cracker Jack, frank fans can order up premium creations stuffed with jalapeño and cheddar, slow-cooked in beer, and topped with creamy mac and cheese. There's also craft beer and wine to wash 'em down with. Everyone's a wiener.

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