The Countess of Delicous.

 
My friend took me to La Condesa (the countess in Spanish) last week.  Just look for the skull and cross bones on 16th between McDowell and Thomas.  Eating here made me wish I had a better understanding of how to convey flavor in words so I could share it with you.

You choose between burritos, quesadillas and tacos.  The staff told me the most popular choices are the chicken tinga and the pork.  I went with the chicken tinga quesadilla and I was so impressed.  Hot chicken in a red sauce combined with cheese and folded into a tortilla which is then fried until the tortilla is crispy.  This is topped with crumbly white cheese (queso blanco).





There is also a salsa bar.  It has so many types of salsa.  I haven't been to Cabo, but I liked the Cabo salsa so much, I just might have to go check it out.

The art is impressive.  It feels modern minimalist and Mexican traditional at the same time.  There is a mosaic Mexican woman hovering above the entrance.

Her chicken tinga burro.

I will definitely be going back for more.



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Duck, duck, Decanter!

I have driven by the Duck and Decanter at Camelback and the 51 multiple times.  I saw it and thought it must be a fancy steak house or French eatery.  In the back of my mind, eating at Duck and Decanter was on my to do list, but a sufficiently formal occasion never presented itself.  So I never visited it... until this last week!






I went for a work meeting and found pleasant surprise after pleasant surprise.  First, the evening was just beautiful.  There are many things to love about Arizona, but usually an outdoor dining experience in June is not one of those things.  However we have been gifted with perfect weather for a few weeks now; perfect for eating on Duck and Decanter's front patio.

The pleasant surprises continued.  Duck and Decanter is not formal or stuffy or expensive!  It is a combination of sandwich shop, wine bar, espresso/coffee/tea dispensary, cheese shop and gift shop!  There are bins with coffee beans and a grinder you can use to get your fresh ground coffee.  There is loose leaf tea - black and green.

Gift selection!

Everyone is so nice at Duck and Decanter.

A cheese platter accompanied by an assortment of crackers and breads was served at the meeting and it was scrumptious!  Soft, melting brie.  Slivers of salty, hard cheese.  White cheese with pesto flavored ribbons running through it.  I had ascended straight to cheese lovers' heaven!

The gift shop was wonderful.  If I ever need a gift for a visiting relative or a hostess gift, I shall make my way directly here.  They have a wonderful assortment of tea, chocolate everything (brownies, candies) and Arizona specific condiments.

I enjoyed the atmosphere and will certainly go back to check out the sandwiches and wine. 

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Mexican + Chinese = Mexinese? Chinican?

So my fiance kept asking me to go to one of his favorite restaurants with him.  However his description left me less than enthusiastic.  "It's Mexican food mixed with Chinese food, but it's good."  He assured me that it is the place his company takes out of town guests.  I remained unconvinced.  Finally, I traded getting to play a game at Atomic Comics for eating at Chino Bandidos.  Just so you know, I  won that trade because both the game and the food were wonderful.

You are thinking one of two things at this point: 1) "Combining Mexican and Chinese food sounds disgusting.  What a rubbish idea!  This blogger is insane and tastebud-less.  Why am I still reading this dumb blog?" Or 2) "Oh Chinos!  I love that place!"

Well, it was good.  My fiance ordered his standard fare for me.  There was a "burrito" with moist, sweet orange chicken surrounded by a snug wrap.  Next to it was a quesadilla with jerk chicken.  These were accompanied by a fried rice unlike anything my mother has ever made.  But my favorite part was the black beans.  Sweet and yet perfect with cheese.  Grab a fork or some chopsticks and gobble it down!

Seriously worth checking out.  But be warned, the ordering system is complicated (read indecipherable and frightening).  But I have four solutions for you:

1) Just wing it.  Check boxes, circle stuff and see what comes.
2) Just go and let the people at the counter help you.  The staff at the counters are ordering wizards and can guide you to the delicious meal you so crave.
3) Check out the Chino Bandido's website for ordering guidance.
4) Check out my fiance's favorite meal.  I included a copy of his order ticket below.

So be brave, try it! 

 Orange chicken peeking at you from within its soft wrap.  Peek!

 In the restaurant you will find a panda bandit carved from stone, and there is a book of pictures on the front counter detailing his creation just for Chino Bandidos. 
 

To Eat is Human, to Chino Divine.

Empty

Filled out

There are two locations!  The original location is at Greenway and 19th Ave. 


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The Phoenix Art Museum shines.

The Phoenix Art Museum

Fret not!  The dinosaur is caged! 

Pictures aren't allowed in the Phoenix Art Museum, but I took some pictures of the outside and the lobby after I was given permission by a guard.

The entrance at night.

The Phoenix Art Museum has excellent exhibits.  I really enjoyed the Ansel Adams exhibit recently and the Monet exhibit a few years ago.

The Salt River Project sponsors free Wednesday admission from 3-9 pm, donations are optional.  Also, on the first Friday of every month, admission is a voluntary donation from 6-10 pm.



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Restaurant Week!!

It's restaurant week in Phoenix!   So for $30 or $40, you can enjoy dinner at some of the nicest restaurants in the Valley!   So from 5/13 through 5/22/11, take advantage of the great deals at these great places:

- Aiello's
- Amaro Pizzeria
- Arrowhead Grill
- Atlas Bistro BYOB
- Avalon
- Avanti
- Bamboo Club Asian Bistro
- Bistro 24 at the Ritz Carlton
- Bombay Spice Grill & Wine
- Bourbon Steak
- Calistro California Bistro
- Chart House
- Cheuvront's
- Cholla
- Citizen Public House
- Compass Arizona Grill
- Corbin's
- Coup Des Tartes
- Cowboy Chio
- Crudo
- Deseo
- Different Point of View - Lovely restaurant on top of a hill at the Hilton.
- Don & Charlie's
- Donovan's
- Durant's
- Eddie's House
- Flemming's - Really delicious traditional steakhouse (also wonderful crab legs).
- Fogo De Chao - Amazing Brazillian steakhouse.  You put down the green light, and the meat keeps coming.
- Frank & Albert's
- Fuego Bistro
- Fuego Tacos
- Iruna
- L'Amore
- La Hacienda
- Landmark
- Lon's at the Hermosa
- Marcella's Italian Kitchen
- McCormick & Schmick's
- Maritage
- NOCA
- Ocean Prime
- Orange Sky
- Petite Maison
- Pointe in Tyme
- Portland's
- POSH
- Prado
- Province
- Remington's
- Roka Akor
- Roy's
- SKYE
- Spasso Pizza
- Stockyards
- Sushi Roku
- Tapas Papa Frita
- The Capital Grille
- The Dhaba
- The District American Kitchen
- The Grill at the TPC
- The House at Secret Garden
- The Melting Pot - Three courses of fondue!!!
- The Mission
- Ticoz Resto - The grilled peach salad is amazing, even if you don't think you like grilled fruit or peaches.
- Tomaso's
- Tommy Bahama's
- Tuscany
- Vincent's On Camelback
- Vito's Pizza
- White Chocolate Grill
- Zinc Bistro 

So many options!  Hurry, hurry!  It's only this week!

Costumes, magic, surprises at Easely's

 Debbie Easley

There is a bright yellow building on McDowell. It is filled with everything that delights. Magic supplies, clown makeup, party supplies, mardi gras masks, halloween ghouls hanging from the ceiling and every imaginable costume.  It is Easley's Fun Shop! 

Easley's Fun Shop was opened by Bert Easley in 1947 as a magic shop.  It is now run by the second, third and fourth generations of Easleys, and if you go to the store you might catch a glimpse of a fifth generation scampering underfoot.

It is a great place to find costumes and so much more!

Ghouls

 

 So many masks!

And wigs galore!

Betty Boop!

Do you have tastebuds? Then you will like this carne asada.

America's Taco Shop sells the best carne asada.  There are three locations, but I have only been to the location at 7th St north of McDowell.

Even if you don't like Mexican food, you will love this meal.  If it's your first time, pick the carne asada burrito.  It is not like any burrito I've had before.  No beans.  Just the tastiest meat imaginable tucked into a tortilla with caramelized onions, guacamole and magical goodness.  

 The carne asada burrito.

And on Friday they serve a chunky, delicious ceviche!