arizona

you know what... i've had a complete turnaround. some lady wrote some article disparaging the az food scene in the republic. it stimulated a lot of talk on the chowhound board and i realized i don't think az is food-lame or character-inhibited anymore. it's pretty cool even if it doesn't have a beach.

below is the post i wrote in response to the thread...



You know what, Seth? I think that problem is that the food here doesn't get enough props. I don't think people do enough to promote it.

I was born (back in 1969) and raised here and I didn't fully appreciate what we have or even know about it until recently. I'm also not some put ketchup on your filet, completely food unaware schmoe. I've had my subscription to Phoenix Magazine (only for the restaurant reviews) for a while now and have been reading Seftel on-line for years. I've been totally into food my whole life as is the rest of my family. With my dad being one of the owners of the Glass Door and growing up working there, we live for food. Everywhere I've gone, I've searched out the great places.

How could someone with that great an interest in it who was born and raised here so miss everything??? How could my entire family be so unaware? I just think people don't know!
As I'm thinking about it, growing up and spending most my time in Scottsdale (now called South Scottsdale??), might have made it harder to see what we have here.

Over the past years I've lived in Washington DC, Huntington Beach, Kauai and Oahu. Though I've been back about 5 years and knew there were some great restaurants here and love many of them, I still thought we were not even close to the same league as the coasts (SoCal, San Fran, NY, etc.). I even kind of had a moderate disdain for the state in that regard - felt AZ was pretty lacking in character in general - the land of malls, strip malls and chains.

It wasn't until I found Chowhound (about a month ago) from searching on Binkley's after an incredible meal and landing upon your review, that I started reading about the hidden gems & started actively searching out places.

Since then, I (and my wife as well) have had a complete reversal in my/our opinion of Phoenix in general. I came back because my family was here & always kind of felt that I was missing out on stuff (food for one) by living here. I've done a 180 and have a much, much greater appreciation for the food we have here and for the character of Phoenix in general. Searching recommendations out from the board and driving through different areas of the city has let me see that there is much more to AZ than the malls & chains. There is a ton of character in the little places you mention.

In fact I'm totally indebted to Chowhound. I've gotten rid of that nagging worry that I'm missing out by living here. I'm digging the city I live in and grew up in. I just want to find the next great place to go.

Recent chowhound inspired hits - Rito's, Fry Bread House, Pane Bianco, Lux, DaVang, LGO, Binkley's, Carolina's, Galileo's, Arlecchino's, Phoenix Ranch Market.

Firsts on deck - Marcellino's, Tarbell's, Tradiciones, The Roosevelt, Richardson's, Pizzeria Bianco, Lo Lo's Chicken & Waffles, Barrio Cafe, Cyclo, Blue Fin.