18/07, 10:11 Tom Petty
Oh yeah.
I got the grandparents coming into town in early October so that Mrs. Goff and I can have some quality adult time. Already on the agenda is a Chiefs football game (see previous entry), and now we have tickets to Tom Petty a few days before.
As always, Goff was able to score some quality seats to a quality event (Thank you, Tom Petty fanclub)!!!
Look for us in row 9 on the floor and say hi.
Thank you Grand-mere!!!!
I got the grandparents coming into town in early October so that Mrs. Goff and I can have some quality adult time. Already on the agenda is a Chiefs football game (see previous entry), and now we have tickets to Tom Petty a few days before.
As always, Goff was able to score some quality seats to a quality event (Thank you, Tom Petty fanclub)!!!
Look for us in row 9 on the floor and say hi.
Thank you Grand-mere!!!!
06/07, 08:40 My favorite restaurants...
I read an article in the AZ Daily Dump (aka AZ Republic), in which they interview a random person on the street and ask for their 5 favorite restaurants...Actually it is a series they do every so many weeks. Go here to read.
There were some very interesting divisions according to the part of town one lives in:
Gilbert/Mesa/Queen Creek (aka East Siiiiiiiide working class suburbs): They almost always chose restaurants on their side of town. Most choose a Mexicanish (yes, this is a word!) place, a place they thought was good for breakfast or coffee, and a place they go to treat themselves (read a bit pricey). Tempe (a university town) is close, so some ventured out into the world of college eats (there are some awesome places such as the Cheeba Hut which serves to-die-for sandwiches). I have never eaten at many of these places and cannot vouch for them being good or bad or anywhere in between.
Scottsdale (the self-proclaimed Beverly Hills of Phoenix) folks chose restaurants in Scottsdale and the Biltmore area (ritzy old Phoenix neighborhood with tons of country clubs and resorts) uniquely. Most were a bit trendy and more pricey. I have eaten at most of the places they listed, and they suck. Don't get me wrong, the atmosphere is great in these little places. Most have great patios and uppity servers, but the food isn't anything special. When I go to a restaurant, I go for the food. Perhaps too many years of dealing with French waiters has made it so that bad service doesn't bother me as much as bad food. In the case of the oft-mentioned Zinc Bistro Cafe, neither is very good. Hell, my mom almost got into a fight with this lady there during my first and only visit... Go Mom!!!
Phoenix folks chose a wide-variety of places across the valley. The quality was normally pretty good, and they even chose some places I like to frequent (or WOULD like to frequent given an unlimited budget). One can never tell what an actual Phoenix resident does. The zoning is wacked out, so there are multi-million dollar homes right next to the barrio.
As usual, West siders (uhhum, that's me!!!) were only included 1 time! 1 time!!! West siders are a mixed bunch thanks to mile after mile of new homes. Very up-and-coming part of he city, and my zipcode has more millionaires than the rest of the valley combined.
Goff's favorite restaurants in the Valley of the Sun:
1) Coup des Tartes
This place rocks! It is in central Phoenix just outside the Biltmore area. It is tucked inside an old house (OK, so early 1900s is old for Phoenix!) that has been made into a restaurant. The owner/chef is a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary and did a tour in Paris at the Cordon Bleu. Her cuisine is a great mix of French, New American, and Southwest with very fresh seafood....
Perhaps the best feature is that it is a BYOB restaurant. I bring in a few bottles from the Cave de Goff, and that instantly makes any meal better... If I feel like a nice Vin d'Arbois followed by a nice Pommerol, I don't have to worry about prices or availability. :) We go here a lot for special occasions because of the wonderful prix fix menus for hoildays (Valentines, New Years, etc). Their menu is very seasonal, so repeat trips always have a great surprise or two in addition to certain staples.
On New Year's eve, for example, we each had a 5-course meal containing caviar, foie gras, truffles, and Volvic in glass bottles--all for under $100 US per person. Try doing this in NYC or Paris!
Examples of things I order often: Paté de campagne, pork tenderloin in a spicy chipotle sauce, Moroccan Lamb with couscous, chèvre-tomate salad, Grand Canyon (alternating layers of chocolate and peanut butter mousse), and most of all lemon tartes.
The wife loves it too: Filet Mignon in a foie gras sauce, Chilean Sea Bass, baked feta salad with apples, and lots of desserts and great coffee.
Here we are with my French Family:
Budget: Bring $120/person to cover your meal. Corkage fee, dessert, and tip inclusive.
2) C-Fu Gourmet
The best Chinese place in Phoenix hidden in a strip mall in Chandler. It is 35 minutes from our house, but when we want Chinese food...we want GOOD Chinese. (No, Panda Express doesn't count.)
C-Fu is the top for Asian food in the valley and one of the best 7 Asian (Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai) places I have eaten at across the world. They have authentic dishes that I won't touch, 5 tanks of still-swimming seafood, Dim Sum on Sundays, and a whole menu of Westernized food. More importantly, if you ask for the food so hot it melts the plate... they make it as hot as you ask without questions. I have actually hit my spicy limit at this restaurant, which has only happened 3 or 4 times in my life.
Have to try: Vegetarian egg rolls (guilty pleasure), sizzing rice soup (light, healthy, and good), General Tso's chicken (that is so crispy and wonderful--not soggy!!!), and very good "style" dishes like Hunan, Mandarin, and/or Szechuan Style dishes. They even have Shark Fin Soup.
Budget: $10-12/person plus $10 in gas to get there!
Stay tuned for numbers 3 and 4....
One Hint: Greek food anyone???
There were some very interesting divisions according to the part of town one lives in:
Gilbert/Mesa/Queen Creek (aka East Siiiiiiiide working class suburbs): They almost always chose restaurants on their side of town. Most choose a Mexicanish (yes, this is a word!) place, a place they thought was good for breakfast or coffee, and a place they go to treat themselves (read a bit pricey). Tempe (a university town) is close, so some ventured out into the world of college eats (there are some awesome places such as the Cheeba Hut which serves to-die-for sandwiches). I have never eaten at many of these places and cannot vouch for them being good or bad or anywhere in between.
Scottsdale (the self-proclaimed Beverly Hills of Phoenix) folks chose restaurants in Scottsdale and the Biltmore area (ritzy old Phoenix neighborhood with tons of country clubs and resorts) uniquely. Most were a bit trendy and more pricey. I have eaten at most of the places they listed, and they suck. Don't get me wrong, the atmosphere is great in these little places. Most have great patios and uppity servers, but the food isn't anything special. When I go to a restaurant, I go for the food. Perhaps too many years of dealing with French waiters has made it so that bad service doesn't bother me as much as bad food. In the case of the oft-mentioned Zinc Bistro Cafe, neither is very good. Hell, my mom almost got into a fight with this lady there during my first and only visit... Go Mom!!!
Phoenix folks chose a wide-variety of places across the valley. The quality was normally pretty good, and they even chose some places I like to frequent (or WOULD like to frequent given an unlimited budget). One can never tell what an actual Phoenix resident does. The zoning is wacked out, so there are multi-million dollar homes right next to the barrio.
As usual, West siders (uhhum, that's me!!!) were only included 1 time! 1 time!!! West siders are a mixed bunch thanks to mile after mile of new homes. Very up-and-coming part of he city, and my zipcode has more millionaires than the rest of the valley combined.
Goff's favorite restaurants in the Valley of the Sun:
1) Coup des Tartes
This place rocks! It is in central Phoenix just outside the Biltmore area. It is tucked inside an old house (OK, so early 1900s is old for Phoenix!) that has been made into a restaurant. The owner/chef is a graduate of Scottsdale Culinary and did a tour in Paris at the Cordon Bleu. Her cuisine is a great mix of French, New American, and Southwest with very fresh seafood....
Perhaps the best feature is that it is a BYOB restaurant. I bring in a few bottles from the Cave de Goff, and that instantly makes any meal better... If I feel like a nice Vin d'Arbois followed by a nice Pommerol, I don't have to worry about prices or availability. :) We go here a lot for special occasions because of the wonderful prix fix menus for hoildays (Valentines, New Years, etc). Their menu is very seasonal, so repeat trips always have a great surprise or two in addition to certain staples.
On New Year's eve, for example, we each had a 5-course meal containing caviar, foie gras, truffles, and Volvic in glass bottles--all for under $100 US per person. Try doing this in NYC or Paris!
Examples of things I order often: Paté de campagne, pork tenderloin in a spicy chipotle sauce, Moroccan Lamb with couscous, chèvre-tomate salad, Grand Canyon (alternating layers of chocolate and peanut butter mousse), and most of all lemon tartes.
The wife loves it too: Filet Mignon in a foie gras sauce, Chilean Sea Bass, baked feta salad with apples, and lots of desserts and great coffee.
Here we are with my French Family:
Budget: Bring $120/person to cover your meal. Corkage fee, dessert, and tip inclusive.
2) C-Fu Gourmet
The best Chinese place in Phoenix hidden in a strip mall in Chandler. It is 35 minutes from our house, but when we want Chinese food...we want GOOD Chinese. (No, Panda Express doesn't count.)
C-Fu is the top for Asian food in the valley and one of the best 7 Asian (Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai) places I have eaten at across the world. They have authentic dishes that I won't touch, 5 tanks of still-swimming seafood, Dim Sum on Sundays, and a whole menu of Westernized food. More importantly, if you ask for the food so hot it melts the plate... they make it as hot as you ask without questions. I have actually hit my spicy limit at this restaurant, which has only happened 3 or 4 times in my life.
Have to try: Vegetarian egg rolls (guilty pleasure), sizzing rice soup (light, healthy, and good), General Tso's chicken (that is so crispy and wonderful--not soggy!!!), and very good "style" dishes like Hunan, Mandarin, and/or Szechuan Style dishes. They even have Shark Fin Soup.
Budget: $10-12/person plus $10 in gas to get there!
Stay tuned for numbers 3 and 4....
One Hint: Greek food anyone???
02/06, 16:33 Phoenician Life
I've lived in Phoenix for a bit over 3 years now, and I have to say my overall impression remains mixed.
On one hand, the weather is great 8 months out of the year. Nothing like being able to eat Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners outside on the patio in jeans and a t-shirt. However, June, July, August, and September are horrid months where we often see low temperatures over 100 degrees.
In these summer months we see a lot of carbeques (translation: when a car catches on fire in the middle of the road--presumably while being driven) and drowned infants (nothing like letting children play around a 5-foot deep hole with 2 inches of stagnant water). A lot of houses in Phoenix have pools, but in many cases the inhabitants cannot afford to repair, maintain, or even fill them--not a pretty thought.
The entire city is new. Roads are in good shape, shopping is plentiful, and all of the landscaping throughout the city is very esthetically pleasing. Rows of palm trees grace most every street and there are tons of flowers and colorful bushes everywhere. However, one has to question the cookie-cutter approach to strip malls and the apparent need to have 4 Home Depots within a 5 square mile area (Yes, I have 4 Home Depots, 3 Panda Express, 2 McDonalds, and 14 Italian Restaurants within 15 minutes of my front door).
The need for Italian food in Phoenix is remarkable--seriously. I think there are more Italian restaurants per square mile in Phoenix than in Rome (if that is indeed possible since all restaurants located in rome are by default Italian).
The vibe in Phoenix is very relaxed. Even when going out to the best restaurants (such as the Goff recommended Coup des Tartes) and clubs (Barcelona - aka MILF central), jeans and flip-flops is the standard dress code. Try doing this in Paris, LA, or even Austin.
But.... this is the still the Wild, Wild West in many aspects. Arizona is the 48th state. Lifted trucks and El Caminos are still "in fashion" here. The "hippest" limo in town is the amazing MonsterLimo !!!
.
Sheriff Joe is the law. If you get a DUI in Phoenix, you spend time in Tent City and wear pink clothing for up to 1 week.
Ahh... to be a Phoenician....
On one hand, the weather is great 8 months out of the year. Nothing like being able to eat Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners outside on the patio in jeans and a t-shirt. However, June, July, August, and September are horrid months where we often see low temperatures over 100 degrees.
In these summer months we see a lot of carbeques (translation: when a car catches on fire in the middle of the road--presumably while being driven) and drowned infants (nothing like letting children play around a 5-foot deep hole with 2 inches of stagnant water). A lot of houses in Phoenix have pools, but in many cases the inhabitants cannot afford to repair, maintain, or even fill them--not a pretty thought.
The entire city is new. Roads are in good shape, shopping is plentiful, and all of the landscaping throughout the city is very esthetically pleasing. Rows of palm trees grace most every street and there are tons of flowers and colorful bushes everywhere. However, one has to question the cookie-cutter approach to strip malls and the apparent need to have 4 Home Depots within a 5 square mile area (Yes, I have 4 Home Depots, 3 Panda Express, 2 McDonalds, and 14 Italian Restaurants within 15 minutes of my front door).
The need for Italian food in Phoenix is remarkable--seriously. I think there are more Italian restaurants per square mile in Phoenix than in Rome (if that is indeed possible since all restaurants located in rome are by default Italian).
The vibe in Phoenix is very relaxed. Even when going out to the best restaurants (such as the Goff recommended Coup des Tartes) and clubs (Barcelona - aka MILF central), jeans and flip-flops is the standard dress code. Try doing this in Paris, LA, or even Austin.
But.... this is the still the Wild, Wild West in many aspects. Arizona is the 48th state. Lifted trucks and El Caminos are still "in fashion" here. The "hippest" limo in town is the amazing MonsterLimo !!!
. Sheriff Joe is the law. If you get a DUI in Phoenix, you spend time in Tent City and wear pink clothing for up to 1 week.
Ahh... to be a Phoenician....
