To Phoenix, for Some Fantastic Food (and Lots of Photos)

While awaiting our pizzas, we started with this plate of delicious olives.

Pizzeria Bianco's Margherita pizza: Good char on the crust and delicious flavors, though surprisingly a little undersalted.

More interesting was the Rosa pizza, a gorgeous specimen with red onions, Parmigiano Reggiano, rosemary, and Arizona pistachios. I enjoyed the combination of flavors, though ultimately my preference is always a tomato sauce-based pie.

The scene inside Bianco. Now with two locations, the lines have subsided. With just two in my party, we walked right to a table at the downtown location, though with a busy eating schedule, we had limited stomach space for sampling the menu.

I'd quickly learn there are other delicious eats beyond Bianco in Phoenix. At Bink's Midtown, lunch starts with these fabulous buckwheat drop biscuits with vanilla and honey butter.

What I especially like about Bink's is the separate menu that features fresh, local produce. Here's broccoli rabe with chile, grapefruit, soppressata, and Parmesan served with grilled crostini.

More veggies: sunchokes with tangelo, scallions, and Fresno chile. Earthy and delicious.

Bink's presentation of posole with hominy, pork, cabbage, radish, onion, cilantro, oregano, and lime.

Posole with ingredients added. Decent flavor, but was hoping for more depth of flavor.

Another feature of Bink's is the Pig Sandwich of the Week. This one is pulled pork Mediterranean-style, with feta, labne, and arugula. Again decent, though I wanted something more from the pork itself--perhaps seasoning or smoky flavor.

A toast to Crudo, the restaurant I'm most likely to recommend to visitors to Phoenix. Fabulous food (everything was delicious) for the price point, and great cocktails, too. Here's the Milano Gimlet: Ford's gin, Fernet branca, lime, grapefruit, basil, and grapefruit cinnamon syrup.

Crudo offers various coursing options in which you can choose 3 items (in any category) for $35, 4 for $45, and 5 for $55. Given the restaurant name, my dining companion and I each started with crudo courses. In the foreground: butterfish with tomato, lardo, and arugula.

Crudo of yellowtail with controne, bottarga, and chive.

Side order of pig tail with foie gras fegatelli.

From the Cheese section of the menu, this is burricotta (a cross between burrata and ricotta) with beets, citrus, and olives. I really enjoyed the sweetness of the beets against the richness of the cheese.

From the Cotto (Cooked) section of the menu, this is the dumpling of butternut squash with pork and Parmesan. Rich comfort food.

One of Crudo's most iconic dishes is this risotto with squid ink, chilies, tuna, and tomato. A definite highlight that lived up to the billing.

From the Griglia (Grilled) section, this is seafood zuppa: loup de mer, soffrito, and escarole.

For a turf option, I enjoyed this brisket with cannellinni, spinach, tendon mamellatta, and ceci. A rich dish, with the beans a delightful accompaniment to the meat.

Local pastry chef Tracy Dempsey does the desserts for Crudo. This brown butter buckwheat cake had earthy flavor, and came with blueberry lemon marmalade and maple creme fraiche.

In Phoenix, some of the more interesting restaurants are in unexpected locations. Bink's Midtown is one example, and Tuck Shop is another. I visited this home of "neighborhood comfort food" on Valentine's evening. A set menu on a busy night isn't ideal for evaluation, so I instead present a couple of photos, starting with this chili lime lump crab and avocado salad with heirloom tomato.

Also at Tuck Shop: Spiced Madeira-glazed duck breast with red spinach, white asparagus, and Okinawa purple potatoes.

With all the great produce I'd been eating, I wished I had more time to visit some of the sources. I was able to make a quick trip to Agritopia, a community in Gilbert with an urban farm that feeds the locals and supplies local businesses. (I'm a little leery about any community that is religiously based, as I'd heard about Agritopia, but didn't have time to learn more about this, other than noting the Christian school in this "Eden.")

There are a cluster of businesses at the heart of Agritopia, including an honor system farm stand. The Coffee Shop is a place for baked goods and beverages.

Joe's Farm Grill at Agritopia is open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving meals made with as many local products as possible. The milkshakes are refreshing in the hot sun, especially when the Medjool dates (the trees are in sight of the restaurant) are in season.

Speaking of frozen treats, Sweet Republic in Scottsdale serves some delicious ice cream and sorbet. Pictured: basil-lime sorbet on the left (with Arizona basil) and honey blue cheese on the right (with Arizona honey).

My most upscale meal in the Phoenix area was at Kai restaurant, based at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass in Chandler. The hotel is situated on the Gila River Indian Community, and the restaurant incorporates the essence of the Pima and Maricopa tribes into the menu. Regarding the menus, each is unique with artwork that tells a story.

The essence of the Pima and Maricopa tribes extends to the décor of the restaurant as well. It's a quiet and comfortable place for a meal. The service is attentive and respectful, and the food is fantastic. Kai is a continual winner of Forbes Travel Guide's Five-Star Award and AAA's Five-Diamond Award.

Mesquite-charred pumpkin and squash puree with mesquite bean-glazed Duroc pork belly, aji amarillo, compressed squash, and nopales & tart apple spume. (Native meals frequently feature the "3 sisters" of corn, squash, and beans.)

Seared Hudson Valley foie gras with Sonoran-spiced funnel cake, along with powdered foie gras sugar, caramelized apple & Bosc pear preserve, aged port & saguaro syrup reduction. Playful and delicious!

Intermezzo of apricot-orange sorbet with cranberry-gooseberry syrup, done in a beautiful presentation. (Note: the meal started with an amuse bouche of mole-seared ahi tuna and an interesting assortment of breads.)

Grilled tenderloin of tribal buffalo with smoked corn puree, cholla buds, Merquez sausage and scarlet runner bean chili, and saguaro blossom syrup. The meat was tender and slightly sweet.

Bellota Iberico llomo-wrapped high country elk loin with winter truffle risotto, wild mushrooms, Comte cheese, and natural jus & truffle emulsion. Like the buffalo, the meat was sweet and quite succulent. A very rich dish that I'd especially enjoy on a winter's day--but great anytime.

I wouldn't expect Kai's desserts to be anything but beautiful. This is the Gila River mesquite short bread with Crow’s Dairy goat cheese, roasted fig & dates, Fontainebleau, spiced pears, honey dust, and pear gelée. Following this, a selection of single-origin chocolates to officially end the meal. Following this, a selection of single-origin chocolates to officially end the meal.

A look from the outside in at the lobby of the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass.

Here's the upper lobby of the Sheraton, with a view to the mountains.

And now the lower lobby.

Here's a closer look at the murals perched high above the lobby. There's rich history in the hotel, with many art objects, books, and people willing to provide further explanation. The property also sports a golf course, spa (with Native treatments), and an equestrian center that offers horseback riding.

Guest room accommodations at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass are incredibly comfortable, with gorgeous views.

Ko'sin is the place for breakfast (and other meals) at the Sheraton. The word means "kitchen" in the Pima language. Staying with Native-influenced foods, here's the breakfast fry bread: fluffy Pima fry bread with scrambled farm eggs, chorizo, Tepary bean refry, vine-ripened tomatoes, queso fresco, and salsa verde. I really enjoyed this dish.

Also at Ko'sin for breakfast is this Estrella frittata: an open-faced omelet with smoked ham, mushrooms, roasted peppers, onions, cheddar, and chipotle aioli.

After two nights at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, I moved to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale. With music playing on the premises (I laughed listening to Rick James' "Super Freak," wondering if the kids knew the song), it's a very different environment, active with people enjoying the five swimming pools, golf, tennis, spa, and the numerous indoor/outdoor dining options.

Here's a look inside one of the guest rooms at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. There are 649 rooms in all at this large, AAA Five-Diamond property.

The most acclaimed restaurant at the Fairmont is Michael Mina's Bourbon Steak, but I instead opted for a snack at La Hacienda by Richard Sandoval. Here you can order a tasting of guacamole three ways, but I went for the basic version, prepared tableside. Quite creamy, wanting some salt to boost the flavor.

Having heard good reviews, I also ordered the tacos de langosta made with fresh Maine lobster, black bean, and chile de arbol sauce. Three very small tacos will cost you $20, so prepare accordingly.

If it's dinner and show you're after, be sure to order one of La Hacienda's flaming coffees. The pyrotechnics are great fun!

And here's the finished drink, this one with 1921 tequila de crema and whipped cream.

I couldn't resist seeking out hole-in-the-wall, lesser-known Mexican restaurants in Phoenix. Here's the menu for Tacos Atoyac.

This trio of tacos includes lengua (tongue) and al pastor--which would be my favorite of the meal.

Another pair at Atoyac: tripe and cabeza (head).

Finally, the fish taco at Atoyac, made with battered swai topped with cabbage and onion slaw, plus spicy cream sauce. Delicious, and well worth a detour.

Immediately after Atoyac, I went to Carolina's Mexican Food, as numerous people told me they have the best tortillas in town.

Here's the menu board, above the ordering counter. Peer to the right of the counter, and you'll see the staff making tortillas for your order.

Here's an enchilada combination from Carolina's. Tasty.

And here's a burro. It looks a little sad by itself, but the flavor's good, and the tortillas are pretty pillowy.

I also recommend a stop at Rito's Mexican Food, situated right across from a school. Order inside, then eat outside.

Here are the menu boards at Rito's.

This is a popular place for reasonably priced Mexican food, so expect to wait.

My enchilada-style burro. Loved it!

Near Rito's is Ranch Market, a palatial store full of Mexican food products. The tortilla center is fascinating.

Real food at Ranch Market.

Back at the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass, that's me riding off into the sunset. (Or was it the sunrise?)