Originally published by TEXAZTASTE on June 22, 2022.
This is the second of four posts covering the Dine Like a Local contest hosted by The Scout Guide Phoenix & Scottsdale. This year you may notice that I am posting the winners on a quarterly basis and have focused each post on a specific area of the Valley. If you missed my first post on Central, Uptown and Downtown Phoenix, you can find it here.
In each category, the winners are listed first, followed by one of my choices from the nominated restaurants as indicated by the stars**. My hope is for you to try some of these spots, and as always, please drop me a line to tell me what you think! If your favorite is not on this list, be sure to nominate and vote in the fall of 2022! In the meantime, eat and drink well locally! xoM
COFFEE & SWEETS
ESSENCE BAKERY & CAFE
3830 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018 | www.essencebakery.com | Eugenia Theodosopoulos is an Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame and Pastry Chef Extraordinaire who, along with her French husband Gilles, have operated Essence Bakery Café since 2007. Essence sells outstanding croissants, baguettes, and other baked goods (pick up a palmier!), plus they serve breakfast and lunch during the hours of 6:30 am and 2 pm Wednesday through Sunday. Don’t forget to pre-order her award-winning macarons for gifts or just a special treat for yourself.
CHESTNUT FINE FOODS & PROVISIONS
4418 E Osborn Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85018 | www.chestnutaz.com | Originally opened in 2012 by Kirsten Steele at the northwest corner of 44th St. and Camelback, Chestnut Fine Foods & Provisions has since moved into The Vintage Arcadia at 4418 E Osborn. Breakfast and lunch are served from 8 am to 4 pm daily, and a Bar Menu is available from 4 to 9 pm Thursday to Saturday. Get there early for the Blueberry Pop-Tarts and wash them down with one of their fresh-squeezed juices or coffee concoctions, like the Lavender Honey Latte.
BRUNCH & LUNCH
LA GRANDE ORANGE
4410 N 40th St, Phoenix, AZ 85018 | www.lagrandeorangegrocery.com | La Grande Orange, or LGO for short, describes itself as a “curated general store”, offering a little bit of everything, from dine-in or to-go breakfast, coffee, lunch, and dinner, plus wine, dried goods, pastries, and clever gifts. Everything on the menu is great, from the salads—the kale quinoa is a weekly staple for me—to the best pimiento cheese in town, rotisserie chicken, sushi, and pizza (which you can only get after 4 pm). Bob Lynn opened LGO with help from the creative geniuses of Craig and Kris DeMarco and named it for the citrus groves that once graced this part of town.
POSTINO WINE CAFE (ARCADIA)
3939 E Campbell Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85018 | www.postinowinecafe.com | Speaking of Craig and Kris DeMarco, they opened the first Postino WineCafe in the old Arcadia post office next to LGO. After having returned from a vacation to Italy in the late 90’s, they realized Phoenix needed a place where you could get a good, affordable glass of wine and a bite to eat. Postino WineCafe was born, and now there are 17 across the country with plans for more. Brent Karlicek is the beverage director who ingeniously creates a seasonal wine-based cocktail menu to pair with their tasty dishes like their famous bruschetta, panini sandwiches and savory salads.