Okay, so I cheated with these posts. I was in Phoenix a total of 4 nights but have broken my time into 2 x 36 hours…
Friday 3:00pm – A wonderfully relaxing visit to the Bliss Spa at the W Hotel in Scottsdale. Although the spa amenities were only ok, my Head to Glow treatment which features their Triple Oxygen facial was one of the best I’ve ever had.
5:00pm – A few hours until dinner and I needed a treat to tide me over. Why not a cupcake (or 2) from Sprinkles?
6:00pm – Sun’s still out, good excuse to soak up more of the sun.
8:30pm – If anyone asks for a PHX recommendation, the Mission is usually the first place I think of. I’ve always enjoyed their modern take on Latin cuisine served in an awesome and fun room. I hadn’t been in over a year, so it was time for a revisit.
The room at the Mission is very dark so I couldn’t take any photos. While almost every dish I’ve had there is wonderful, the absolute must-order is the table-side guacamole. In terms of drinks, the Mission margarita is an excellent version of the standard shaken lime, but if you’re feeling a bit adventurous, the Aguacate, an avocado margarita is luxurious.
Saturday 9:30am – With my morning workout complete, it was time to check out the Old Town Scottsdale farmer’s market for some breakfast before it got too hot. Ok, who am I kidding, it was already 35ºC (95ºF) = too hot for some.
12:00pm – I hadn’t fully recovered from the hearty breakfast, but couldn’t pass up the opportunity for another visit to In-N-Out Burger for another Animal style hamburger. This time, I added a side of Animal style fries as well. Because I needed it? Absolutely not, no one needs this many calories in one sitting, but hey when in the Land O’Plenty sometimes you need to over-indulge.
6:00pm – Wine hour at the Firesky! I visited the lounge for my complimentary glass of wine and enjoyed it by the pool.
8:00pm – An evening out in Scottsdale and it’s still 40ºC (104ºF). It’s not hard for a girl to dress appropriately for a nice evening out while staying cool. For the guys? It’s more challenging, although in Scottsdale, the men have an evening outfit that’s perfectly acceptable in their minds, although anywhere else, you’d probably get disapproving glances.
After my lunch at the Baratin Cafe, I was really excited about dinner at FnB. Farm to table is one of my favourite cuisines and chef Charleen Badman is a leader in Phoenix. I wish the server helped us when we ordered as both of our starters were very similar. Other than that, it was a stellar meal.
11:00pm – My first S’mores! Another perk courtesy of the Kimpton Hotel group. You can pick up a package at the front desk to make s’mores over the fire pit outside. It may not be the most traditional method of preparation, but my first s’mores experience was awesome!
If you’re not comparing the Barrio Cafe airport with the original Barrio Cafe, then (for airport food) this meal wasn’t that bad. Unfortunately we had the original the night before and in a side by side test it didn’t measure up and definitely wasn’t not worth the long walk to find.
2 x 36 hours (or so) of eating in Phoenix complete, it’s time to go back on the straight and narrow at home.
Bliss Spa (@W Scottsdale) – 7277 E Camelback Rd, Scottsdale, AZ
Sprinkles Cupcakes – 4501 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ
Firesky Resort – 4925 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ
The Mission – 3815 N Brown Ave – Scottsdale, AZ
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market – @Brown & 1st St, Old Town Scottsdale AZ
FnB – 7133 E Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ
Chase Field – 401 E Jefferson St, Phoenix, AZ
Barrio Cafe at PHX – Terminal 4, Gate D
Call Me a Food Lover... 