In an effort to find the best eats around the globe, I’m connecting with food-loving locals and putting my stomach in their hands. Follow along as I challenge them to take me to five of their fave spots for my Eating With A Local series. The only criteria? Good food. The kind you want to share with friends.
Local Glutton (LG): Christina Barrueta. Food, beverage and travel journalist with immense knowledge about the Scottsdale culinary scene. Can’t live without pasta (her last meal on earth would be pasta topped with truffles). Hates calf’s liver. Once ate Witchetty grubs on an Aboriginal food tour in Australia. She became interested in the narrative of food at an early age while flipping through the pages of her mom’s back issues of Gourmet Magazine. Her favourite midnight snack is popcorn with butter and parmesan cheese. Culinary hero? Where it all started: her mom.
Photo by Stephanie @sassymodernmom.
Where To Eat In Scottsdale According To Christina
1. The Mission Old Town
What do you love about this place?
Christina (LG): They serve all day so you can roam around Old Town Scottsdale and wander in for food/cocktails. The vibe at night is really energetic and I really like their unique menu with a Pan-Latin flare.
My Two Cents: These guys take Latin cuisine seriously with their homemade tortillas, arepas, salsas and dishes that pull influences from Mexico, Central America, South America and Spain. The flavours awaken the palate, the ambiance is dark and mysterious (love the Himalayan salt block wall and flickering candlelight) and the service is exceptional.
Who would you bring here?
Christina (LG): It’s a great place to dine with friends or meet up with friends. The last time I came, I met up with a chef and we drank lots of mezcal together. This is a great restaurant for double dates too!
My Two Cents: Definitely a great date night kind of spot. I’d cozy up in a booth and have a long, leisurely meal with hubster.
If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?
Christina (LG): Almejas Al Vapor. It’s a Peruvian clam stew with rock shrimp, chorizo and clams.
My Two Cents: Same! Served with yucca bread, the clam stew is something I could eat weekly if I lived in Scottsdale. Such a beautifully-balanced and vibrant dished with nice heat. I also recommend ordering the Primarita margarita and pork shoulder tacos (it takes them two days to prep the meat which is brushed with an incredible house-made pineapple glaze).
2. Super Chunk Sweets & Treats
What do you love about this place?
Christina (LG): Their unique creations (some have been featured on the Food Network) and the fact that they’re family-owned.
My Two Cents: The husband and wife duo at Super Chunk make everything from scratch — from their ice cream and marshmallows to their brittle and jellies — and you can taste the difference. They also serve up the unofficial chocolate chip cookies of Arizona (made with mesquite flour and nutmeg) which is on Nat Geo’s top 10 cookies to travel for!
Who would you bring here?
Christina (LG): I bring people here ALL the time — friends, family, guests visiting from out of town. Sometimes I’ll even swing by to pick up sweets to take home.
My Two Cents: Anyone with a sweet tooth. Super Chunk is basically dessert heaven in Scottsdale.
If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?
Christina (LG): The John & Yoko cake because I LOVE her honeycomb.
My Two Cents: Same! Think: three layers of honey cake soaked in cinnamon tres leches, layered with mascarpone whipped cream and topped with honeycomb. Dreamy, right? It’s crunchy, creamy and light all at the same time!
3. Craft 64
What do you love about this place?
Christina (LG): The owners are fantastic and have created a welcoming hub for the community. They also source many of their ingredients locally, make their own cheese in-house, smoke their own sausage and have farmers’ market specials.
My Two Cents: The building (one of the oldest homes in Scottsdale) is unassuming from the outside, but once you step food inside it has such a warm, local vibe. I was only expecting to see beer on the menu, but was pleasantly surprised when they handed me their wine app (yes, they have one curated by their four sommeliers) which features over 200 wines!
Who would you bring here?
Christina (LG): I’d perch myself at the bar and have a chat with James — he can teach you everything you’ve ever wanted to know about beer in 15 minutes.
My Two Cents: My beer-loving friends. Yes, this place is more than just beer (the pizza & wine are outstanding), but it’s the most comprehensive local craft beer list I saw while in Scottsdale so I think everyone who loves a good brew needs to visit.
If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?
Christina (LG): Pizza!
My Two Cents: The restaurant is known for their pizza so I recommend grabbing a pie or two — I was a big fan of the Aji (mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano, house-smoked fennel sausage, smoked onions, ricotta spinach and spicy Aji jalapeño sauce) . Don’t leave without trying one of thirty craft, local beers on the menu; I loved the Smooove Hoperator (an approachable west coast IPA). They also serve up a nice mead (fermented honey) from Superstition Meadery.
4. House Brasserie
What do you love about this place?
Christina (LG): The location of the restaurant (in an old home on a residential street) and beautiful patio. They also have a really great craft cocktail scene that is well-thought-out and constantly evolving. It’s a fantastic place for brunch too.
My Two Cents: I immediately fell in love with House Brasserie as soon as I laid eyes on their patio. It is gorgeous. The entire resto is actually — such a great layout that offers guests different kinds of experiences/ambiances depending on where they’re seated.
Who would you bring here?
Christina (LG): I would meet up with a bunch of my girlfriends and drink pink champagne on the patio.
My Two Cents: This is definitely a girls’-night-out-on-the-patio kind of place in my opinion. Rounds of cocktails, shared plates and lots of stories!
If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?
Christina (LG): The Maine Lobster Gnocchi.
My Two Cents: I really loved the Chef’s Choice Charcuterie (especially the smoked burrata, Point Reyes blue cheese and the hot coppa), Seared Diver Scallop (chorizo saffron cream, zucchini, trumpet mushroom and black rice) and my fave dish was actually a side: Dungeness Crab Fried rice!
5. ZuZu – Hotel Valley Ho
What do you love about this place?
Christina (LG): I just think Chef Russell and Pastry Chef Audrey are so talented. The atmosphere and vibe at ZuZu is also great — I always have a fun time!
My Two Cents: Many of you know that I’m obsessed with Mad Men so I loved every inch of this mid-century modern property. And the desserts: OMG, see below for the deets…
Who would you bring here?
Christina (LG): Guests visiting from out of town. Everyone I bring here enjoys it. Even as a local you feel like you’re on vacation here!
My Two Cents: Anyone who appreciates design or has a love for freakshakes!
If you could only order one dish/item what would it be?
Christina (LG): There are lots of delicious items on the savoury menu, but on the sweet side you have to try one of Chef Audrey’s shakes. I love the Banana Cream Pie when it’s featured.
My Two Cents: The Show Stopper Shake is a must. Not only is this EPIC dessert Insta-worthy (just search #ZuZuShowStopperShake on social and you’ll see what I mean), but it actually TASTES amazing. Essentially an oversized shake topped with a baked good and whipped cream, it is a treat you’ll want to try monthly when the flavours rotate. The Strawberry Shortcake shake I had was unbelievable — not too sweet and big enough to share with a friend or two.
Photo by Stephanie @sassymodernmom.
Our accommodations, meals and activities in Scottsdale were complimentary as part of a press trip to the city. As always, all reviews and opinions are entirely my own. A huge thanks to Experience Scottsdale for partnering with us and Christina for taking the time to share her love of food with a stranger.
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