This month, we were wowed by decadent sweets, won over by an herbal cocktail and comforted by delicious pasta. Here are the five best things the Phoenix food team tasted in April.
Veal Pappardelle at Liquor Pig
7217 E. Fourth Ave., Scottsdale Just on the edge of the hustle and bustle of Old Town Scottsdale, Liquor Pig opened its heavy wooden door in March. It's been wowing customers – us included – ever since. On a recent visit, we tried a range of items from the food and drinks menus, from a standout Spam-topped tiki drink to a stellar, not-too-sweet whiskey cake. But probably our favorite dish of the bunch was the Veal Pappardelle. The creamy tomato sauce and milk-braised veal are comforting and delicious, but where this dish really shines is in the pasta. Thick ribbons of homemade pasta are devoid of much shape, but they are supple and tender and leave you returning for bite after bite. If you go with a group, order a little of everything and sample the creative and playful menu. If you're dining solo, stop by for a quick sip and a plate of Veal Pappardelle at the bar.
Pear Upside-Down Cake at Tesota
300 W. Camelback Road The dessert menu at uptown Phoenix eatery Tesota rotates. We happened to stop by on the night the kitchen debuted an excellent tiramisu, topped with a blanket of cocoa powder and cut into a hearty brick. It was delicious, but another sweet stole the show. The pear upside-down cake is a love letter to caramel. The bottom of the cake is crisped until the batter caramelizes into a crunchy crust. When baked, the fresh pears sweeten and soften, taking on a natural caramel flavor, and the whole thing sits on top of a drizzle of cajeta, a creamy and earthy caramel that will leave you scooping up every drop with each bite of cake. This is our favorite dessert in Phoenix right now.
La Rue Crepes crafts crisp, airy buckwheat pancakes around the city, including at Phoenix coffee shop Strip Mall.
Sara Crocker
Fun Guy Crepe from La Rue Crepes
3508 N. Seventh St.The pop-up La Rue Crepes crafts thin, crisp buckwheat pancakes at hip outposts around the city, including at the recently opened Phoenix coffee shop Strip Mall on weekends. La Rue will serve your crepe plated or folded into a portable cone. The Fun Guy is a savory option stuffed with mushrooms, confited leeks, gooey gruyere and Jarlsburg cheese, and an egg. Though vegetarian, there are layers of richness and umami that could become overwhelming but the herbaceous aioli playfully dabbed onto the crisp pancake adds a note of brightness that cuts through the cheesy layers of this craveable crepe.
The Fritter Burger from Paradise Valley Burger Co. is stacked with two beef patties and a crispy corn muffin fritter.
Sara Crocker
The Fritter Burger at Paradise Valley Burger Co.
15689 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale815 E. Baseline Road, Tempe If you’re looking for a local place to flavormax your tastebuds, the burger shops from Bret Shapiro should be on your list. The Paradise Valley Burger Co. owner puts surprising ingredients between the restaurant’s square-cut buns. Case in point: the fritter burger, which has a crispy corn muffin patty stacked with two beef patties. The extra layer adds a sweet component amplified with a spicy and tart blueberry-habenero compote. The burger also comes stuffed with a roasted green chile, guacamole and a cumin ranch. You’ll need to unhinge your jaw and swaddle yourself in napkins to enjoy the gargantuan burger, but it's a flavorful and textural treat that’s well worth the mess.
Yes, you should still order a Bacanorita (right) at Bacanora, but sip the gin-based Coco-Pelon too.
Sara Crocker
