Elite Traveler Spring 2019

EXPLORE SCOTTSDALE GUIDE TO SCOTTSDALE

The desert is not dead — certainly not in Scottsdale, Arizona. Located on the outskirts of Phoenix, the city sits next to some of the Southwest’s most pristine and accessible desert landscapes, and it has a lively nightlife scene, which means you can have a fun, outdoor vacation that isn’t overly healthy, and enjoy a dose of culture as well. Scottsdale’s restaurant scene is booming, and chefs let local ingredients (and even some local wines and spirits) take center stage. You’ll find everything from perfect street tacos to Michelin-worthy fine dining. Scottsdale is best known for its amazing weather and jaw-dropping natural beauty, which is at its best at dusk. Every night has picture-perfect sunsets; be sure to find a prime spot to watch unbelievable shades of pink and red streak across the sky, tinting the saguaro-dotted landscape a rosy hue.

by Kristen Shirley

DESTINATION DINING

Virtù When it opened, Virtù was an instant success with locals and attracted national attention when it was nominated for a James Beard Foundation award for Best New Restaurant. The menu changes almost daily, reflecting chef Gio Osso’s strong commitment to locally sourced ingredients and using them at their peak, perhaps the reason it’s so popular with locals in the know — you won’t have the same dining experience twice. Artfully plated, Mediterranean-inspired dishes fill the menu, including excellent antipasti, handmade pastas and imported seafood. virtuscottsdale.com

The Mission Head to Old Town Scottsdale (or its Kierland Commons location) for dim lighting, sultry decor, inventive cocktails and fabulous food. French-trained chef Matt Carter imparts a fresh take on Latin cuisine, pulling a variety of influences from classic dishes and adding his personal twist. While there are tasty crowd-pleasing favorites — get the 12-hour slow-braised pork shoulder tacos and tableside-prepared guacamole — there are unique dishes like New Bedford diver scallops in a merquen mussel broth with pepita butter, and green chile duck confit with serrano peanut mole. themissionaz.com

Café Monarch One of the city’s most elegant restaurants, Café Monarch is beautifully decorated with vivid Spanish art, warmly lit chandeliers and plush chairs. A favorite spot is the dreamy outdoor space, where the walls are covered in trailing jasmine vines, and the decor includes palm trees and hanging lanterns. It offers a four-course tasting menu with dishes like Maple Leaf Farms duck breast with foie gras bread pudding or a surf and turf trio with filet mignon, Chilean sea bass and lobster ravioli. And there’s also a thoughtfully considered vegetarian menu from chef/owner Gus Lewkowicz. cafemonarch.com

FnB This longtime Scottsdale favorite, a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement in the state, was the first restaurant to feature an Arizona-only wine program (the list has expanded over the years, but don’t knock Arizona wine until you’ve tried it!). Charleen Badman, chef and co-owner, has been nominated every year for the past five years as Best Chef: Southwest by the James Beard Foundation. Start with the chicken fried gizzards with green goddess dressing, move on to a salad with crunchy radishes and pepitas, and finish with Creole-style barbeque shrimp with fermented hot sauce. fnbrestaurant.com

Photos Halie Sutton Photography Lonna Tucker