Page 37 - Taste_and_Travel_International

PHOENIX DESTINATIONS

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Just down the street is another market, the lively
Phoenix Public Market. A casual hang-out, the cafe
features hearty sandwiches on house-baked bread, robust USA
salads, wood-roasted rotisserie meats and dishes made
from the adjacent farmer’s market, pastries (seven pastry
chefs are on site) as well as local wines and craft beer. The
day I visited, local couples were expertly ballroom dancing SERVES 6
on the side-street, the historic Westward Ho building a
backdrop. Coconut Curry Soup
The Westward Ho is just one of many downtown
historic buildings with colourful histories. Built as a hotel in Ũ j Ũ Ũ ),Ũ." Ũ /&)/-Ũ-+/ -"Ũ
1928, it was named the Westward Ho after an English -)/*Ũ- ,0 Ũ .Ũ ") (#2Ũ / &# Ũ ,% .U
town of the same name. Before the hotel fell on hard
times, it was one of the most modern hotels around, with Extra Virgin 1 HEAT the olive oil in a large
“refrigeration” (air conditioning) and it attracted the likes Olive Oil 2 Tbs saucepan and caramelize the
of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. It was rumoured Butternut butternut squash, cooking
for years that the Westward Ho appeared in the opening Squash 1, peeled undisturbed for about 10
sequence of the Alfred Hitchcock movie “Psycho” but in and chopped minutes until the underside of
fact it was the Hotel San Carlos nearby. The Spanish Garlic 3 cloves, the squash is starting to brown.
Colonial-style Hotel San Carlos is a rare example of a chopped Turn the pieces and allow to
historic inn still in use. In the 30s and 40s it was a retreat Onion 1, diced brown again, adding the garlic
for celebrities from Hollywood who wanted to escape the when the squash is almost
paparazzi. Bronze stars on the sidewalk showcase the Leek 1, white done. Continue to cook for a
signatures of many Hollywood celebrities, including part only, sliced few seconds until the garlic
Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. It has not undergone a Turmeric is fragrant then remove the
renovation, so it’s still possible to see many original Art- Powder 1 tsp squash to a plate and set aside.
Deco details. Fresh Ginger
Phoenix’ artist community perhaps best expresses itself a thumb-sized 2 ADD a little more olive oil and
through its many murals, a form of street art which adds piece, chopped sweat the onions and leeks until
to the city’s gritty charm. In downtown Phoenix’ Water 4 cups translucent. Stir in the turmeric,
flourishing arts district, Roosevelt Row, murals adorn the Coconut Milk ginger, garlic powder and onion
walls of almost every building, from funky restaurants and 1 can powder.
coffee shops to the sides of bare apartment buildings. Yellow Lentils 3 BASH the stalk of lemongrass
Neglected warehouses have been transformed into ¼ cup with a mallet or the heel of your
galleries and modest bungalows have been turned into knife to release the fragrance.
cycle shops and book stores. Salt 1 tsp Add it to the pot along with the
It’s not surprising that one of the most famous Jalapeno reserved squash, lentils, bay
th
architects of the 20 century, Frank Lloyd Wright, chose 1, de-seeded leaf, thyme and water. Cook
to make Phoenix his winter home. Taliesin West, and chopped until the squash and lentils are
established in 1937, is nestled in the desert foothills of the Green Curry very soft. Turn off the heat,
Phoenix mountains. Visiting Taliesin, it’s easy to sense how Paste 2 tsp allow to cool a little, then stir in
deeply connected to the desert he was. Garlic Powder the coconut milk.
From agricultural to architectural gems, it’s all here in 1 tsp
the Arizona desert. Onion Powder 4 TASTE for seasoning and add
1 tsp salt if needed. Remove the bay
leaf and lemongrass. Purée the
Lemongrass
# ( ŗ (1#&&ŗ #-ŗ ŗ ),)(.)Ě - ŗ1,#. ,ŗ soup with a stick blender or in
1 stalk
( ŗ*").)!, *" ,ŗ1")- ŗ *,#(!ŗüúûýŗ batches in a blender.
&# % ,.# & ŗ ),ŗ ċ ŗ)(ŗ ,) .# ŗ1 -ŗ()'#( . ŗ Bay Leaf 1
Fresh Thyme 1
it # ( ŗ &)!-ŗ .ŗ111Ą- 0)/,3*& ( .Ą sprig, leaves only
),ŗ." ŗ (. ,( .#)( &ŗ )& (ŗ (ŗ 1 , Ąŗ

JANUARY–MARCH 20185 TASTE;5TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL 35