March 27, 2010
“So said the ever-quotable chef James Porter at Petite Maison, who just unveiled the new spring menu. One of the new additions has suddenly become one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant: frog legs.”
“Frog Legs Are the New Chicken Wings” at Petite Maison
The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed.
January 19, 2010
Biggum Wings at Oregano's
Waiting for a table + parking always a downer at this Joynt. The place with the silly billboards and extrovert servers.
Went for the staff’s recommendation for half traditional style medium half italian gold (honey mustard BBQ) sauce blend. She was from an unamed area of Upstate New York and appeared to have clout as a result. 14 very large wings appeared for $8.49, one could also order 9 for $6.49. They were huuuuuuge, ate like a meal. Crunchy & saucy, good amount of vinegar and mustard tang. I did have to ask for blue cheese or ranch on the side as I did not receive it by default. It was not included in the price of the wings as they charged seperately for the pleasure. No celery or carrots on the side. It was a little cold outside, and this may have contributed to the wings not being very hot when arriving on the top layer. Overall a very tasty treat and one that I will return to eat…assuming someone else does the parking and waiting beforehand.
The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed.
October 26, 2009
Bold move by Admiral Bostonian, I’ll be reporting live from the scene shortly.
The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed.
August 28, 2009
From @loloschicken on Twitter: Our new late night hours (5pm-3am) at our Scottsdale location will only be on Friday and Saturdays.
August 14, 2009
Arizona Restaurant Week is returning the week of September 19-26 and will feature nearly 120 restaurants in the Phoenix area and another 30 or so in the Tucson area. Each restaurant will feature a three course meal and some even include an alcoholic beverage to accompany the meal all for the stunning price of $29 per person. For the non mathematicians that’s $58 per couple! That’s quite a deal especially considering some of the high-brow and otherwise expensive restaurants highlighting the list- Bourbon Steak, NOCA, Roka Akor, Vincent’s, Atlas Bistro and Metro Brasserie.
Just a word of caution, some restaurants on the list though are not really worth the price of the prix-fixe menu (eg- Z’Tejas or Four Peaks) both have tasty dishes, but I’ve easily gotten out of both of those places for well under $29 per person including drinks.
The link above has a full list of all the participating restaurants and the menus they will be serving.
The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed.
July 1, 2009
Wings starting on the top left (clockwise), suicide, some other wings you need not worry about, death (hottest). @ Teakwoods, Scottsdale
Having emerged victorious from their encounter with wing mega chain, Buffalo Wild Wings, our heroes set off in search of a new challenge (and find one) in a deep, dark corner of the Scottsdale System. The setting of our adventure is Teakwoods Tavern and Grill. The ensuing battle would be epic in proportion and gorged with carnage.
Cash and Curry:
Suicide: The suicide wings were not menacing in appearance. Standard orange/red wing sauce and a bit dry when compared with most. The bouquet was mostly of vinegar, with some pepper. Taste wise, they weren’t outstanding, mostly mirroring the scent detected. The heat level was quite well contained, on the hot side, but not uncomfortably so. I would eat a dozen, but there are better wings out there.
Death: The toothpick that stabbed the celery stalk on the middle of the plate was an unheeded warning of what was to come. The wings were darker than the suicide, with quite a bit of sauce coating them. The aroma was less vinegary than the suicide up front, far more peppery, and with a hint of charred intestine. We purchased a half-dozen and figured that no matter how hot, we could emerge victorious. I won’t discuss flavor much, as it becomes undetectable after the first few bites. What I do remember was quite pleasant, before the pain set in. I made it through the first wing, sweaty and red-faced. During a short break before starting on the next, my lips caught fire and began to feel numb and swollen. During the second I started to lose the sense of sound, it’s as if an Atom Bomb had exploded in my face and all I could see was a white flash. Consuming the third was debated internally for a few minutes, and I decided to inhale it as quickly as possible. The burning lasted for about 1 ½ hours, the pain for about an hour. The aftereffects are too grim to mention. Eating these wings reminded me of the scene in Lawrence of Arabia when T.E. Lawrence crosses the Nefud Desert. There was no relief in sight, but we knew we had to walk on boldly. We almost lost our will, thought about turning back with every bite, but felt compelled by our audience to continue.
Experience: Walking in, the place is quite casual. There are a trough of peanuts and stack of bowls when you walk in. It is expected that you will discard the shells on the ground, make sure you bring your bowtie. The service was quick, attentive, and sympathetic at times. The selection of beverages was ample, and the wings were of a high quality. The texture was crispy and brothy on the inside. They had quite a bit of meat on them, and tasted freshly prepared. The flavor was not as deep as I had hoped though. Teakwood’s presents excellent value, especially during happy hour. Wings were $4.80 a dozen, and premium pints were $2.50. The heat is unparalleled; I have never had a wing this hot in my life. Consider yourself warned if you wish to follow in our flaming footsteps. Think of your visit as a pilgrimage to the center of the sun.
Guido:
Suicide: Unlike last week, Teakwoods number two wing warriors were less saucy then their more formidable cousins and had a glazed, fiery orange appearance. They possessed an intense vinegar aroma that seemed to mask any other detectible scent strata. At first bite, the flavor is a tangy, salty (perhaps too much so), traditional wing flavor featuring plenty of vinegar and a decent amount of pepper spice. However, as I finish my portion, I realize that the spice lacks the vigor that one would expect given its grim moniker.
Death: These, on the other hand, are, as the name would denote, potentially harmful to your well being. They are presented drenched in an imposing looking sauce brandishing visible flakes of various peppers. In fairness to the wing, much like the bright hues of the dart frog or the frills of a lion fish, it has tried to warn us of what will take place should we continue. I take my first bite and immediately have second thoughts. This is something different. The first wing leaves a sting on my tongue and lips that incessantly lingers. The second onslaught presents an immediate burn and the singe spreads to my palate. By the time I push through the final wing I am somewhat delirious and unconsciously consuming copious amounts of celery and water until, at last, I survive. As I sit, triumphant, looking down upon my thwarted foe, I am reminded of Trent Reznor’s lamenting autobiographical protagonist in his ballad of bleakness, “Hurt.” Should these be granted the gift of song, I can only imagine their canticles of despair.
Experience: Teakwoods seems to have a country-sports vibe with an emphasis on golf. They apparently pride themselves on catering to FBR Open fans, which, is understandable given their vicinity to the TPC of Scottsdale. The country feel must come from the backwoods décor and the scattered peanut shells that litter the floor. Overall, Teakwoods is an economical option for those looking to throw back a few beverages and casually take their lives into their own hands.
So our heroes live to see another wing. Join us next week for the exciting conclusion!
The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed.
