Page 33 - Taste_and_Travel_International

PHOENIX DESTINATIONS

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Mesa is the largest of the 22 communities which make up
Greater Phoenix and the largest suburb in the US, with a
greater population than Miami. Mesa is a Spanish word for
table and the locals refer to it as “our table of plenty.” It is
surrounded by desert which means easy access to the
Sonoran wilderness.
“Would you like to try our breakfast wine?” asks Brian
Ruffentine, co-owner of Garage-East Winery, holding out a
grapefruit. A blend of grapefruit juice, white wine made with
))%Ũ
grapes grown in Southern Arizona and sparkling water, it is it
delightfully fresh. Garage-East is one of the makers at
SERVES 6
BARNONE, a collective of skilled craftsmen which include
the micro-winery, a micro-distillery, woodworkers and Beet Salad
restauranteurs, in the town of Gilbert. BARNONE also houses
a medicinal garden (think modern-day apothecary) and a Ũ Ũ Ũ &# #)/-Ũ- & Ũ ),Ũ .Ũ
culinary machinist who designs kitchen tools. The winery is &)0 ,-VŨ ,)'Ũ ) c-Ũ ,'Ũ ,#&&VŨ1" , Ũ #( ,-Ũ
in a garage, but the name is also a play on the term (Ũ- Ũ." Ũ*,) / Ũ." .Ũ ,#0 -Ũ." Ũ' (/Ũ
“garagiste,” mechanic in French, a wine term derived from a !,)1#(!Ũ#(Ũ # & -Ũ ,)/( Ũ." Ũ, -. /, (.U
renegade group of Bordeaux winemakers in the 1990s who
broke with tradition to produce what they called “garage
Beets 1 IN a large pot, cover
wines” which developed a cult following. Most wineries who 8 medium the beets with cold
now refer to themselves as “garagistes” try new techniques
Red Wine water, bring to the
and produce small lots of limited production wines. Wine Vinegar boil then lower the
tasting wasn’t something I was expecting to be doing in the ½ cup heat and simmer until
desert, but I found out that Arizona has three wine-growing
Extra Virgin tender. Drain and when
regions, one near Sedona and two near Tuscon.
Olive Oil cool, peel and cut into
Chef Anthony De Muro of Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs ½ cup large dice. ŗû
Resort Restaurant tells me “Everything we use is seasonal.
Sugar
Right now it’s winter greens, mushrooms, apples and pears. I ½ cup 2 WHILE the beets are
can always find what I need nearby.” As far as what else cooking, toast the
Kosher Salt 1 Tbs
grows in Mesa’s back yard — oranges (blood and navel), pecan pieces in a dry
lemons (Lisbon and Ponderosa), tangerines, peaches, plums, Freshly Ground skillet, taking care not
blackberries, apples, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, broccoli, Black Pepper to let them burn.
1 Tbs
cauliflower, beets, cabbage, green onions, carrots, spinach,
3 WHISK together the
snap peas, radishes, artichokes, eggplant, olives, dates, Fresh Mint vinegar, oil, sugar, salt
garlic, green beans, kale, Swiss chard, collard greens, black finely chopped, and pepper. Pour over
peas, turnips, pumpkins, squash, potatoes and even high 2 Tbs the beets and toss.
quality pima cotton. Pecan Pieces
“The 6th C in the Arizona state seal is for Canadians,” they ¼ cup 4 GARNISH with the
tell me at Queen Creek Olive Mill and Spa. The family-run Blue Cheese blue cheese, pecan
olive mill, in Queen Creek, a town near Mesa on a fertile flood crumbled, ¼ cup pieces and mint.
plain at the base of the San Tan Mountains, is owned by a
Canadian couple. Brenda, originally from Montreal and Perry, ûŗ
Ũ3)/Ũ*, ,Ũ .-Ũ1#.")/.Ũ." Ũ' --VŨ&))%Ũ ),Ũ
from London, Ontario, moved to Arizona in 1997 and planted 0 //'j* % VŨ ))% Ũ .-Ũ#(Ũ." Ũ*,) / Ũ
1,000 olive trees on 100 acres on the outskirts of Queen #-& Ũ .Ũ3)/,Ũ-/* ,' ,% .U
Creek. They now have over 7,000 trees, grow 16 varieties of

JANUARY–MARCH 20185 TASTE;5TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL 31