Popular dishes, like the grilled tenderloin of tribal buffalo with smoked corn puree and cholla buds, encapsulate a style wholly unique to Kai: contemporary American with Native American flourishes. The dining room is elegant (not stuffy), and the service is gracious (not overbearing), but the highly original and artfully plated food by chef Ryan Swanson is the real star. This is where Kai, the first Native American–owned and operated AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star Award–winning restaurant, delivers on all counts. Though fine dining might have fallen out of the spotlight, at some point, an occasion is going to warrant a meal that’s a bit more polished. 60 At Kai, the first Native American–owned and operated AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star Award–winning restaurant, chef Ryan Swanson cooks contemporary American cuisine with Native American flourishes. Because when Chris Bianco started making pizza in back of a Phoenix grocery store over 25 years ago, little did the rest of the country know just how transcendent and life-affirming a humble Neapolitan pie could be. 60 Ĭhances are you’ve already heard of this place, and for good reason. If you’re seeking lighter fare, Beckett also makes magic with vegetables in colorful, balanced salads. (Translation: It’s hearty, approachable and deeply, deeply comforting.) The deviled egg of the day, which is sourced from local Hickmans Family Farms, makes for the ideal starter, and mains like the green chili pork stew signature short ribs will satisfy even the biggest appetites. (Though it should be noted that this list excludes Scottsdale and Tempe, which we’ll save for another time.) Here are 14 places you can’t miss during your next visit to Phoenix.Ĭhef Justin Beckett makes the kind of food we want to eat every day of the week, no matter the occasion or the company. From James Beard Award–winning chefs to perfectly charred and lush Neapolitan pizzas, it’s easy to see why the dining scene in the Valley of Sun is worth paying attention to. Unsurprisingly, the culinary landscape of Phoenix is just as diverse as its agricultural offerings. (It’s also one of the state’s 5Cs, elements Arizona considers crucial for its economic health copper, cattle, cotton and climate are the four others.) In fact, Arizona agriculture is a $17.1 billion industry, and citrus is a key crop. Though it can get blisteringly hot during the days, especially come summer - the city’s record high was 122 degrees on Jthe surrounding land (the Sonoran desert) is incredibly fertile and home to a bounty of farms.Īs it turns out, the desert is great for growing.
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It’s the sixth-largest city in the country, with a population of over 1.6 million. Here are couple facts you might not know about Phoenix, Arizona.