Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.
Hungry? Craving a gourmet meal? Well, our sunny state is hooking you up. Here's a sneak peak at Arizona Restaurant Week.
Ahi tuna tartare, savory prime rib, seafood linguini and creamy roasted vegetable risotto—do I have your attention? Add fresh key lime pie to the mix, and you’ve got quite the decadent meal.Forget forking over big bucks for a three-course dinner…this week all your tasty dreams can come true, all you have to do is visit a Valley restaurant.
That’s right, more than 200 participating eateries are taking part in Arizona Restaurant Week—a tummy-filling opportunity to enjoy elite restaurants on a budget. Each restaurant is offering three-course meals at either $20, $30, or $40…a price-tag tough to resist.
The discounted rates score you an A-list menu; for example, the option of ordering Sweet Potato Tortelli at Phoenix’s Arrogant Butcher, Seattle-Style BBQ Salmon at Scottsdale’s Don and Charlie’s, or Chicken Parmigiano at Cave Creek’s Amaro Pizzeria & Vino Lounge. The options are endless, as you dine on appealing appetizers, satisfying main courses, and to-die-for desserts.
Most menus exclude beverages--so be ready to buy your booze--in addition to tax and gratuity, but some places are willing to throw in a free glass of vino. Gluten-free dishes and vegetarian options are also available.
Sounds to good to be true? …Well it’s not!
Arizona Restaurant Week kicked off on September 17th and runs through the 25th. Renowned state-wide chefs will be showcasing their culinary skills for these days only, so make your reservations quick. Yep, things tend to get booked fast considering AZ is home to an array of fabulous tasty hubs.
And get this—it’s the first year this special event is covering all of Arizona. There are at least four restaurants firing things up in Flagstaff, in addition to a bunch in Tucson as well.
Menus totally vary—the dishes are quite diverse. Yes, it will be tough to choose between Ocean Club’s half-rack of lamb, Roka Akor’s mushroom rice hotpot, or Bloom’s shrimp tagliatelle. And of course all AZ foody’s will complete their meal with a sweet treat…The Chart House’s creme brulee, Sassi’s flourless chocolate cake, or The Mission’s pumpkin bread pudding. Is your mouth watering?
My advice: You may want to put calorie counting on hold to take part in these dinner-only specials.
To check out the list of participating restaurants, visit: www.arizonarestaurantweek.com
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