Parc Central – My New BFF

I always love it when new restaurants come to town – makes me giddy with excitement to see if it will be a place that I can call home. I had heard about Parc Central for a few months from friends who talked about their amazing Happy Hour and the live bands that play Thursday – Sunday. Needless to say, I was super excited to go check out this place in the Scottsdale Quarter. Just like the name suggests, Parc Central’s ambiance and surroundings are inspired from Central Park – down to the swanky lounge atmosphere with unabashed New York City glamor set against Arizona’s desert landscape. I was blessed to sit on their patio and enjoy a cool spring evening. Before I sat down though, I checked out both bars (that’s right – 2 bars!), their private dining room, and of course the restrooms – I admit, I am always curious to see how they are decorated.

I saw this glorious Wine Wall and thought I died and went to Heaven. Do you think they’d let me move in?

First up was the City Garden – which was a bubbly blend of cucumber vodka, peach schnapps, champagne, and lime. Two of my favorite ingredients (champagne and lime) in one drink – sign me up! Ok, I might have had two… but shhhh, our secret.

I was happy to be there with my partner in crime, J.E. Pizarro with Foodies Like Us as we tried some of their Happy Hour menu. I have to say, that I was pleasantly surprised by the offerings, but also, about the prices. They sure know what Happy Hour means! The evening started out with a bowl of crispy beet chips. I need to state for the record that I *hate* beets. Seriously do. Well, let’s just say, I love beet chips! Wow. I almost ordered a second bowl. We then shared the Prime Beef Carpaccio that came with Kalamata olives, salty capers, fresh arugula, and a tangy dijon vinaigrette for $6. Look at all meat on this plate! The Carpaccio was full of flavor and the arugula accented the beef beautifully.

Next up was the Fromage and Charcuterie Board, complete with figs, stuffed olives, and artisan crackers. If you don’t know this about me by now – I love cheese. So anytime I can order a meat and cheese board, I’m on it. It came with three different types of meat and cheeses – I was in carnivore heaven! Hmmm prosciutto…

For dinner, J.E. chose the Grilled Lobster Lasagna and it came with a ton of lobster on top and on each layer. It was made with fresh-made lasagna noodles, fontina, baby wilted spinach, and buerre blanc. I kept asking for bites of this dish so I could taste the layers of flavors. I had never thought to put lobster into a lasagna and would definitely recommend this dinner to any seafood lover. This was paired with Sterling’s Sauvignon Blanc – the dryness of the wine brought out the rich flavors in the sauce.

I have had a lot of steak over the years… it is by far my favorite meal. This is the first time I have had one with Boursin Cheese melted on top of it. This Bousin Cheese Crusted Ribeye is my new bff. A succulent, juicy ribeye drizzled with a truffle sauce as the Boursin cheese lends this steak a remarkable flavor. It is really hard to describe. I just know I want it again! The ribeye was coupled with au gratin potatos and a wild mushroom-asparagus ragout. I paired this beautifully with Rosenblum’s Zinfandel – the richness of this wine balances well with the robustness of the ribeye. Match made in foodie heaven I tell ya.

What was cool about this night was that I had an assortment of friends join me over a few hour period. None of them had ever been to Parc Central before and I was happy to make the introduction. The servers here are so freaking nice and attentive, I was stunned – was I really in Scottsdale? One thing that Parc Central could improve upon is to have more gluten-free choices, or better yet, a whole gluten-free menu. One of my friends had a hard time with the menu because of his severe food allergies.

Call today to make reservations – you won’t regret it. They do take walk-ins, but why chance it? This is a great place to bring your client for lunch, a perfect place to celebrate your birthday, and a romantic dinner setting for your anniversary. On a first date? Pony up to the bar and relax with one of their signature Martinis.

Parc Central
15323 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
480.907.5333

info@ParcBrands.com

Share on Facebook

Weigh-in Wednesdays: Rockstar

I’m just gonna say it – I partied like a Rockstar this week and lost… drum roll please…. 4 pounds!! I couldn’t even wait to get to that part of my blog. I was like a little kid on Christmas when I stepped on that scale this morning. Can I get a Woot Woot? I stared at the number and thought I was seeing things… what a great way to start the day!

This last week is kind of a blur actually. I had some low points of insecurity, but for the most part, I felt my mind and heart opening up and flying free. Most of the week I felt surreal, like I was in another space, another moment in time. I felt confident, sexy, mindful, and very conscious of my place in this world. Those are some strong emotions to have in one week. Sometimes I felt my heart exploding as I allowed new friends in, honestly met people who my soul thought I had known my whole life. Surreal indeed.

From Thursday through Monday, I had an event every night. Surrounded by old and new friends alike, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment and not worry about what any of it all meant. If you couldn’t tell by my previous blogs, I am a worrier… not my worst trait, but one that does keep my mind reeling at night. I had an amazingly good time at the #Beer4Brains event put on by @FoodiesLikeUs that helped support Trish’s brother who has brain cancer.

One thing I started to do this weekend that I haven’t done in YEARS was dance. Ended up at Narcisse Champagne Lounge on Friday night and who knew that my hips and shoulders wanted to move to the music? I couldn’t stop myself. So there I was – enjoying the company I was with and dancing. It was actually quite liberating. One dark moment though occurred this night – I felt I looked really good – then I went into the restroom and saw my reflection and realized I was twice the size of all the Skinny Giants that were roaming around the lounge. My confidence plummeted, my mood became dark, and I had a serious moment of what the f*ck am I doing here? Thanks to my girlfriends for telling me it doesn’t matter, just enjoy who I am and be confident in all of my attributes. So I did. Took me a bit to come out of that awful place, but smiles and laughter from my friends helped. Flirting sure helped too.

Love to see them laughing!

The highlight of my week was the @TheWillingWay Oscar Party Launch by Morris Callaman, Mariel Hemingway, and Bobby Williams at the Hotel Valley Ho. Their mission is to spread the greatness of living authentically both physically and mentally. I am very excited to see what this new company is up to! Now back to the party…

I had this amazing black halter dress that looked amazing on me, and my friend Stephanie Bond made me the most absolutely beautiful jewelry to go with my dress, custom-made for me. I felt like a Princess! Irene Groh graciously did my makeup – love her!

Let’s talk about dancing – I was a dancing queen, shocked my bff Lisa that I was dancing. Seriously shell shocked. Who knew that I could be that free, that happy, that instead of worrying about, well, anything, I just enjoyed the moment? I truly enjoyed each and every moment. I knew about half the people there (mostly from Twitter) and had some great conversations. I was on a natural high. Felt like I owned the night. I felt liberated. I felt alive. I finally felt free to be just me. I was a happy girl.

What a great night for The WillingWay!

Weight Loss:

Lost 4 pounds – OMG – can you BELIEVE it??

What I Did Right This Week:

• Worked out 7x – You read that right!! I have been in a zone. I even tried that crazy Insanity workout!
• Went to Yoga 0x – I definitely missed this. Sure hope I can budget for it again in March.
• Made my Green Protein Shake 2x
• Had Kombucha 6x – I love this stuff! Love being back on Kombucha! I need stock in this company.
• Still drinking a glass of wine everyday – this is the secret to my weight loss!

What I Did Wrong This Week:

• My eating schedule is whacked. Can’t remember sometimes when I ate, although I know I did.
• Drank Pepsi 4x

Goals For This Week:

• Drink Kombucha daily.
• Make my protein shake 3x.
• Workout 5x and go to home yoga 3x
• Drink more water
• Not to drink too much this weekend! Hahaha, right.

My trainer even noticed I have been in a zone lately – I’m doing everything he recommends and sometimes even want more. I finally took @SherilynMcClain up on her recommendation to come to her weekly boot camp. I walked in and they were doing Insanity, took all my willpower not to walk back out the door. I am STILL sore from that workout on Saturday! OMG it was a killer, but I was so proud of myself for even trying to do it.

This week my intention was Empathy. I honored my mother by practicing this everyday. I have a very caring and loving soul and truly try to sympathize and empathize with those around me, even if they are the ones that hurt me the most. It is good to realize that we are all people with emotions and feelings. You have no idea why people do what they do, so try not to assume their motives, just ask them. Be open to what they have to say.

My intention this week is Clarity. Ahhh clarity – this is the one attribute I struggle with the most. I am one of those that always needs to know what is going on, where I stand, and the details of the situation. This kind of drives the people in my life crazy. But it makes my oh so happy. Clarity makes me feel settled, secure, whole. I try though to remember that just because I ask a question for my own well being, not everyone wants nor has to answer it. It is hard for me to move on from situations without clarity, or to move forward in new relationships. Clarity, my bff and mortal enemy – let’s work on you this week.

Share on Facebook

Mill Avenue Farmer’s Market Makes its Fresh Debut in Tempe

By Kristi Trimmer, Guest Blogger, Foodies Like Us

Mill Avenue has a unique blend of urbanites and college students mingled in with some new mixed-use buildings. Nestled within this eclectic community is the 6th Street Park that hosts the new Mill Avenue Farmer’s Market every Sunday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm.

This market showcases unique perishable and consumable goods and offers a friendly open-air market where growers, residents, and businesses come together.

Early shoppers are out and about.

James Neal is the brain child behind the Mill Avenue Farmer’s Market. He is also the owner of Chronic Tacos that is located in the same area, and he lives in the building adjacent to the 6th Street Park.

To say he has a vested interest in what happens on the avenue is an understatement. I was impressed when I learned he had a commercial agriculture background and what was currently growing in his garden. I actually found someone else who could talk for hours about vegetable gardening!

I asked James why he chose to hold the market on Sunday rather than the normal Saturday for Farmer’s Markets. He replied, “Sunday’s tend to bring out the culture in a community. In this specific Tempe area, Saturdays are more thought of as the area’s hot spot for some good night life. Tempe’s shops are a little sleepy on Sundays and needed an energy injection. At our farmer’s market, our patrons can shop for organic greens, listen to music, and even play croquet.”

Phil Malinowski, a patron of the Mill Avenue Farmer’s Market said, “This market is a real asset to the downtown atmosphere. I look forward to coming here every Sunday for my produce and am always curious to see what new vendors will have with them.”

Mr. Neal doesn’t allow carnie vendors, arts and crafts, or jewelry – he only wants consumable goods at this market. Spaces rent for $50/year with a 10% commission and the market is open from September through May. This market isn’t going anywhere either since they have signed a three-year lease with the City of Tempe.

As I was milling around (like the pun?) I stopped into Boxed Greens and was impressed with the freshness of their vegetables and was inspired to learn that they are a distributor for small, organic farms across the Southwest. Eating organic is a high priority for a lot of consumers and is sometimes a difficult search to find growers who instill the practice into their farming.

Bright and colorful produce from Boxed Greens

Boxed Greens’ citrus is locally grown in Arizona; the broccoli, celery, and lettuce hail from Yuma, and the honey-crisp apples are from Washington. Boxed Greens has a great program where they deliver organic groceries directly to your front door.

One of the most unique vendors there is Coffee Cartel Lab, where they serve coffee with a conscience. Did you know that each coffee bean comes from a coffee cherry that has two beans each inside? I didn’t either.

Their beans are hand-picked from 15 farms in Latin America including Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Bolivia. When asked why they only use these farms, I was told, “We deeply believe in Direct Trade with the local farmers and building relationships with them. This is different than Fair Trade, which has more to do with government regulations.”

Cartel Coffee Lab's commitment to beans is unparalleled.

This boutique coffee house started out roasting beans two years ago. I also learned that the beans come in green and are roasted for over 10 hours. Who knew?

I was very happy to see Bobbi’s Flowers of Tempe at the market. In my past life as a florist, I often worked with them on different projects. One of my favorite being cooperative delivery throughout Phoenix. At this farmer’s market, they carry Stargazer and Asiatic lilies, plus many other stunning blooms available per stem. They can also make a beautiful bouquet for you to take home to grace your dining table. Having fresh flowers available is a real asset to the market.

Take home fresh flowers for your organic dinner party.

Next I checked out Pork on a Fork ~ gotta love that name and anything that proudly puts meat in its name. They are USDA- approved and do not put any antibiotics or steroids in their meat. Even Guy Fieri found their meat to be outstanding! I loved the fact that they allow their little piggies free reign on their family farm in Nebraska and don’t box them into pens without a place to roam. I took home their thick cut bacon and pork chops. That bacon was out-of-this-world good and I can’t wait to pick up more to make bacon-wrapped meatloaf.

Sidney Miller who creatively bakes Sid’s Viciously Good Cookies needs to be given an award for those Scotchies. I had never tasted a butterscotch cookie before – well, let’s just say – I had to refrain from taking a dozen home with me and rolling around in them.

Sidney Miller's cookies are indeed viciously good!

Sid used to be a corporate recruiter and was tired of the rat race. I wondered why she left job security in these economic times and she told me, “I happily left, had a baby, and started baking an insane amount of cookies to keep my lights on. One dozen for a friend resulted in a great business opportunity.”

She made over 500 dozen cookies her first six weeks in business! Send these cookies to your favorite person anywhere in the world – they will thank you for them.

I tried my first raw White Cheddar Cheese from Willamette Valley Cheese Company. I was in total bliss tasting the rich, full-flavored cheese.

Raw cheese assortment

Have I ever mentioned my insatiable love of cheese? I just might have found my new cheese pusher. The other great thing about Willamette Valley Cheese is that their cheese is handmade on a farmstead in beautiful Salem, Oregon, where they take great care of their animals. They have happy cows.

Raging Raw Organics had flaxseed crackers that are gluten-free, all vegan, all raw, and made with Agave nectar. These crackers are high in fiber, protein, and Omega 3s. My vegan friends swear by these crackers and are regular customers of Raging Raw Organics.

Vegan Friendly!

The Health Foodie brings organic honeys from small bee farmers. The Mountain Wildflower honey is made from honeybees at 8,000 feet! The Black Sage honey had notes of anise, lavender, and green apple. Eating locally produced honey has had a great effect on reducing your allergies and bee pollen is a great topper on your organic salad greens.

Queen Creek Olive Mill also graces the Mill Avenue Farmer’s Market with their unique and full-bodied tasty olive oils and vinegar blends. They have a locally sustainable farm and produce some of the best tasting extra virgin oil olive infused with unique flavors. I enjoyed the White Truffle Olive Oil and the Fig Balsamic would taste fantastic on those pork chops from Pork on a Fork.

James Neal also owns the Mill Avenue Catering Company where he has Chef Ben make up a new yummy creation each Sunday.

This bright sunny day was enhanced by this very delicious prime rib sandwich with grilled onions on grilled bread. It was served with a three-bean chili with black, kidney, and pinto beans in a tomato base accented with onions, double-roasted Hatch chiles that have been roasted and smoked by Chef Ben himself. On other weekends, you can find anything from ribs, tacos, to curry clam chowder.

My delicious lunch!

Mill Avenue Farmer’s Market has a good mix of products and prices for every kind of Foodie. Check them out this Sunday from 9:00 – 2:00 and help support local businesses.

Share on Facebook

Melted Cheese on meat? Chocolate on fruit? Behold the joy of Melting Pot’s newest location!

By Kristi Trimmer, Guest Blogger, Foodies Like Us

I have always been a big fan of fondue… dipping yummy treats in cheese and chocolate – what’s not to love? I even hosted a fondue party for my 35th birthday last year, complete with three different types of cheese fondues and two pots of chocolaty gooey goodness. I absolutely loved having a party that was a little bit different form the norm.

I first heard The Melting Pot was opening in The Citadel was almost three years ago. It has been a long three years. One day I was sitting at Next Coffee when I saw some guys come in wearing Melting Pot t‑shirts. I was so excited that they had finally arrived in my favorite Glendale neighborhood.

In the last three weeks, I have been there three times! I’m not kidding! Let me just say, they have some amazing drinks in their bar. While there I have talked to the new owners, staff, and even their happy customers and other business owners in the community.

Did you know that The Melting Pot has fondue restaurants in all but 13 states and Arizona is lucky enough to have four? I will tell you, they might all look similar, but it is really the owners and amazing staff that truly put their fingerprints on each location.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Regional Manager Kelly Cooper and General Manager Gavin Otsuka the day after their opening night. They were happy to report that there were no snafus. I asked why they had chosen the Citadel in Glendale to open their new restaurant.

Cooper said that their customers have been asking for years for their fondue funness to be brought to the Westside. They have received an open-armed response from the community, plus they participate in Wednesday’s Twilight Farmer’s Market from 4:00-8:00 pm where you can taste their yummy chocolate covered strawberries.

Lauren Fisco, the Director of Next Coffee said,”We couldn’t be happier that they have joined us, they are a true asset to this unique vibrant community.”

I love to know quirky things about people ~ Melting Pot’s management is no exception! So I asked some rather odd questions of both Cooper and Otsuka. Sadly, neither have a foodie tattoo, but Cooper is a fan of Worst Cooks in America and Otsuka regularly tunes into Good Eats. Both consider themselves to be home foodies, but don’t necessarily plan their vacations around what restaurants they want to try. Shocking, I know.

Otsuka suggested a couple of custom drinks made by The Melting Pot, the Basil Strawberry Lemonade and the Yin Yang. The Basil Strawberry Lemonade ($9) is made with Smirnoff Vodka and is just perfect for a warm spring day. The Yin Yang ($10) is blended with Godiva White Chocolate, Stoli Vanilla Vodka, ice cream, then topped with chocolate shavings. Oh so good!

Yin Yang - yummy!

Yin Yang martini–I feel more balanced drinking it.

The Melting Pot had a huge Grand Opening where they invited their family, friends, members of the community, and local business owners. I had such a great time and learned so much about this unique restaurant. Manager, Tracy Harris, coordinated this event beautifully. The tables were decorated brilliantly and showcased the amazing experience that awaits you at The Melting Pot. I wanted to take those stunning floral arrangements home with me. But I refrained.

Quite a Spread for the Glendale location's Grand Opening

I have fallen in love with a new wine that I tried at their Grand Opening. Have you ever had wine over ice with a twist of lime? Neither had I! Let’s just say, New Age has rocked my vinophile world.

While trying their various wines, I chatted up quite a few of their guests.

Rose Griffin from Glendale said, “We have waited a long time for The Melting Pot to open. We have spent our anniversary for the last 11 years with them.” Peoria native Dave Jones told me, ”So glad to have a new place to head to for Happy Hour. I was excited to see burners at the bar, too. I might never leave!”

What makes the Glendale location one-of-a-kind it that it has romantic dining areas with curtains for those special nights when you want your privacy. There are plenty of regular tables for when you are having a Girl’s Night Out and want to be seen. The really large tables are my favorite, complete with two burners and perfect for my next dinner party!

A benefit of writing food articles is being able to taste and experience a restaurant’s unique character. A typical night at The Melting Pot takes over two hours. I never thought I would be able to eat for two straight hours, but I surprised even myself!

I tried the Big Night Out ~ definitely enough for two people. Let me just say right now, that I cannot live without cheese – I love it so. I happily started out the evening with the Cheddar Cheese Fondue that is made with aged, medium-sharp Cheddar and Emmenthaler Swiss cheeses, lager beer, garlic, and seasonings. If you try this at home, the trick is to lightly flour your cheese before you put it into your fondue pot.

Cheese. Melted. Not much is better.

Next came the very tasty Alpine Ridge Salad. This is a specialty salad that they don’t always have on the menu, but when they do, make sure you dive in. The Alpine Ridge Salad is a bed of mixed greens with oven-roasted tomatoes, Gruyère, Raclette and Fontina cheeses, plus hard-boiled eggs, mixed with honey-roasted almonds, then topped with a hearty shallot vinaigrette. Love that vinaigrette!

When you try the Big Night Out, there are three different versions you may try. The main difference is whether you have a lobster tail added. The Fondue Feast ($82/couple) does not have any lobster, and the Fondue Fusion ($89/couple) is served with one lobster tail.

Flaming meat on a stick. Hollah!

I tried the Lobster Indulgence ($94/couple) which came with two lobster tails, Sauerbraten NY strip, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bratwurst, Hefeweizen marinated shrimp, roasted garlic crusted chicken, sun-dried tomato ravioli, and fresh vegetables.

Love lobster tails!

I wanted to sample the Coq au Vin ($7/pot) cooking style that included an abundance of fresh herbs, mushrooms, garlic, mixed in burgundy wine. I chose the Court Bouillon since it is a homemade, seasoned vegetable broth, and the most calorie-conscious choice. Yes, I know – calorie conscious with all that food? Well, I tried.

The Green Goddess dipping sauce is my hands-down favorite and is brought out with the meat dippers. This amazing sauce is made with sour cream, cream cheese, parsley, chives, and fresh onion. My other favorite, which was surprising to me, was the curry sauce. The curry flavor was actually quite mild in this yogurt sauce. Yum!

The lobster was definitely the winner of the night, followed very closely by the bratwurst. Try cooking a mushroom cap in the Court Bouillon then filling it with the Green Goddess sauce ~ you can thank me later.

Various kettles of joy.

What really should have been the first course, the Flaming Turtle arrived to make my night complete.

This treat was flambéed tableside with milk chocolate, caramel, and pecans. I dipped into that heavenly body of chocolate with Oreo covered marshmallows, fresh strawberries, pound cake, and creamy cheesecake. I would like some more please!

Throughout the entire meal, our server Nicole was spot on. That’s one thing about the Glendale location: Their staff is absolutely amazing. Cooper and Otsuka have done a fantastic job motivating a great crew. They have definitely instilled a high-level of customer service back into the dining experience. My gratitude is immense.

Valentine’s Day is upon us and I would be remiss if I didn’t mention how romantic and special an evening shared at The Melting Pot truly is. Whether you are rekindling an old flame or starting a new fire, The Melting Pot is the perfect choice to stir up some romance.

Their Valentine’s Day package includes:

• Four-course Gourmet Dinner
• The infamous Love Quiz
• Souvenir photo for each couple in a custom frame
• Gift Bags and Bonus Return Gift Certificate
• The restaurant is decorated to set an even more intimate mood
• $150 per couple plus tax and 20% gratuity for dinner on Saturday 2/13 and Sunday 2/14
• $130 per couple plus tax and 20% gratuity for dinner on Thursday 2/11 and Friday 2/12

Flowers, Balloons, and a Teddy Bear = Get out of Jail Free Card

Don’t forget that you can have fresh flowers delivered tableside! I saw a couple order a bottle of red wine and it was transferred into a wine snifter. Love that! Another couple was celebrating their anniversary – the man scored huge points with fresh flowers, a teddy bear holding the card, and a balloon bouquet. Whether you are in the doghouse or celebrating a special occasion, don’t forget to ask about all the little extras that really put a lasting touch on your fabulous night out.

Welcome to the neighborhood Melting Pot! I know where I will be for Happy Hour!

Share on Facebook

Next Coffee ~ Not Your Ordinary Coffee Shop

By Kristi Trimmer, Guest Blogger, FoodiesLikeUs.com
This is a reprint of the original blog posted on foodieslikeusblog.com on 01/17/2010

I am the first to admit that I don’t know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino,and certainly can’t explain an espresso except perhaps, caffeine on steroids?? I have a lot of clients who enjoy meeting at coffee houses, while I secretly wish we could meet at a wine bar instead!

Early for a lunch appointment in Glendale recently, I ventured into Next Coffee to kill some time. I ordered a caramel apple cider and my dining companion ordered a latte. I was stunned when the bill was over $9. Seriously? In fact, the cider was not up to my expectations. I admit I was disappointed.

A week later I headed to Starbucks in search of free WiFi and was not treated very well by the staff when I ordered my non-coffee drink nor when I asked about their WiFi. I really wish restaurants (and coffee shops) would understand the meaning behind good customer service, a welcoming smile, and a friendly attitude. I am very conscientious as to where I spend my hard earned dollars, so I decided to head to Next Coffee and give them another chance, because although I didn’t care for what I ordered, their staff was super nice and they are locally owned.

I have to remember that independently owned places prices do tend to be a tad higher priced than chains, but that the majority of money spent locally stays within that local community. During this second visit to Next Coffee I really took in my surroundings. Big comfy couches and leather chairs were everywhere with large square tables that fit four people with laptops quite comfortably and high bars that run along the windows as well. I kept taking everything in – from the conference room that is available for rent with audio/visual equipment and a printer/scanner to the stage area that also had long cushy couches that were just waiting for me to take a nap on them. The lighting is perfect too for reading or computing ~ very sunny and natural. I just might have found my new spot to hang out.

This time I ordered a vanilla steamer and it was delicious. The barista was very cheery and made me smile. Most times I feel foolish being in a coffee place when I don’t like coffee. Not sure if you’ve noticed, coffee drinkers and baristas can sometimes be snobbish if you don’t know how to order, or even, what you are ordering. Thankfully that was not the case this day.

Happy helpful staff makes all the difference

Fortunately, I sat at a table next to the Director of Next Coffee, Lauren Fisco. I love to hear how businesses start out and what makes them tick. It really energized and inspired me. Lauren was happy to tell the tale of how Next Coffee came to grace this Glendale neighborhood. Back in 2006, Next Student was the third largest student lending marketer behind Citibank and Sallie Mae. The owners of Next Student opened Next Coffee across the street from Midwestern University to help attract students to their coffee house and to their very approachable version of student lending. Of course they did not foresee the market crash. With the lending market at a virtual stand-still, the owners looked around at their prime real estate and state-of-the-art coffee house and realized that the coffee business was now going to be their primary business.

I learned right away was that not all coffee establishments are created equal. Next Coffee’s baristas hand craft every drink. There are no push buttons here, plus, they layer and mix all the concoctions so that the flavors are exact. I had no idea that there was so much to some of these specialty drinks!I had no idea how many ingredients and complexity exist for some of these specialty drinks! They use high-end Monin syrups that are more expensive but the highest quality. One resounding concept Next Coffee strives for: to be the best and to have the best.

Lauren offered me their signature drink, the Him Ham, short for Himalayan Hammer, which is a blend of chai tea and espresso. I sampled the blended concoction and couldn’t believe that I actually loved this coffee drink! It didn’t taste like coffee at all and yet gave me the caffeine boost I so desperately need. I have returned to the Him Ham several timew now and I am happy to report that barista Rhonda blends the best!

Not only does Next Coffee strive to serve the best drinks, they have been successful in adding in some tasty treats. They posted an ad on Craigslist looking for a professional chef who could create a high-end gourmet menu that specialized in sandwiches, salads, and hand-crafted soups.

They found Executive Chef Rose Fisher, the previous personal chef to Director Steven Spielberg and who created most of the menus at New York, New York in Las Vegas. I was stunned that they found someone of such high caliber on Craigslist! Not only did she create a very yummy menu but also added handmade pastries and hearty breakfast treats.

Hand-crafted Vegetarian Minestrone Soup

I have tried quite a few things off of their menu and overall, have been pleasantly surprised by how delicious the food is. My hands down favorite is the Chicken Salad that has just the right amount of mayo and is loaded with tons of walnuts, cranberries, and uber fresh grapes. The Chicken Cordon Bleu was these little balls of chicken with a soft cheese filling – so yummy! It was quite tasty but it honestly could have used a side of dipping sauce because the outside was so crunchy. One thing that impressed me was the ready made to-go sandwiches that looked and tasted amazing. Specialty sandwiches can also be created to meet any foodie’s palate!

Yummy Chicken Salad

They also offer a unique and healthy all-you-can-eat buffet for only $5. They actually have this Monday-Friday from 3:00-8:00 pm with the purchase of any specialty coffee, wine, or beer. ($9.99 without the purchase of a beverage.) YES I did say wine or beer! I can’t believe it has taken me this long to mention it! They have specialty import beers and some really great wines on their list. I just might move in!

My Favorite ~ Wine!!!

Their buffet options vary by ethnicity. I enjoyed the Mexican with the pork carnitas and cheese enchiladas with Spanish rice. One word of caution on the enchiladas was that they were filled with jalapenos. Now I know that I think mild salsa at Taco Bell is spicy, but I honestly was not expecting jalapenos in my cheese enchiladas. I loved the lasagna on Italian night but was sad that they ran out by 6:00 pm. The lasagna was served with Italian sausage and peppers plus butter beans and garlic bread. All for $5! Next Coffee also offers full service catering.

They cater too!

Next Coffee has live music on Fridays from 8-10 and a Comedy Night the last Tuesday of every month. Clearly, this isn’t your typical coffee joint. There is no folk music here! The musicians mostly play jazz, instrumental, vocals, and contemporary music.

Next Coffee has a Loyalty Program that doubles as gift cards that when patrons spend $50 (50 points), you receive $5 back in reward bucks. Tuesdays are double points days and Wednesdays are Lotto days!If I spend more then $8 they hand me a Powerball ticket. Great promos!

I have found my new writing home at Next Coffee. If anyone needs me, I’ll be at Next Coffee!

Hours:     Monday–Thursday: 6:00 am–8:00 pm
Friday:                          6:00 am–10:30 pm
Saturday:                     7:00 am–10:30 pm
Sunday:                        8:00 am–5:00 pm

Next Coffee is located at 19420 N. 59^th Ave Glendale, AZ 85308

Share on Facebook