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AUGUST 2000
Tequila Grill & Girasole

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A small distance away from the 5^th largest shopping mall in the country sits the Tequila Grill. At night, fiery torches on 10-foot tall brick pillars act as beacons for this classy establishment. This restaurant not only dishes up some great southwestern fusion eats, but the whole place itself is like some sort of architectural fusion. From the veritable wood and steel fountain of more than 40 different tequila bottles on display in the center of the expansive bar, to the hanging halogen lights no larger than a quarter, but extremely powerful, Tequila Grill is something to see for the décor alone. It almost seems like an art gallery melded with a restaurant.

To the core, though, Tequila Grill is about new and exciting southwestern cuisine. You'll find original sandwiches, fresh and zesty salads, tacos, wood-fired pizzas, pasta and plenty of scrumptious "Chef's Specialties" here. Try a Tequila Grill Quesadilla (build it yourself from the extensive list of fresh ingredients - $9.35) for the whole table to munch on for starters. We had a Spinach & Herb tortilla with Marinated Chicken, Roasted Peppers and Monterey jack cheese. Dozens of culinary combinations are possible - so you can be very creative!

We also liked the Cuatro Dips 'n Chips (a mound of warm tortilla chips, served with fresh salsas and a diablo cheese dip - $3.95) and the Margarita Kebobs (two large skewers loaded with grilled tenderloin, marinated chicken and shrimp, served with a habanero & soy dipping sauce - $10.95). The kebobs have been "de-skewered" for your dining pleasure, and are a little spicy. Our plate also had two grilled jalapenos on it, for those with a wild side.

There are so many wonderful dishes here it would be hard to describe all of our favorites, so we'll mention two that stood out for their originality. The Chimayo Chile Crusted Ahi Tuna is simply divine. (Ahi Tuna fillet crusted in chimayo chile seasoning and topped with red chile and avocado sauce - served with grilled asparagus and tri-colored potatoes - $18.95.) Although we were full after eating this magnificent creation, we wanted to order one to go, just so we could devour it again at home. There wasn't so much as a speck on the plate once we were done with this one, it was absolutely fabulous with just the right spice and tang. The asparagus was prepared perfectly and the potatoes were great - this could easily become Tequila Grill's signature dish.

Secondly, the Bourbon St. Southwest is a great twist on the popular Jambalaya dish from Louisiana. It's smoked andouille sausage, shrimp, chicken, red onions & mixed peppers, tossed with tri-colored orzo and served in a southwestern cajun sauce, topped with green onion grass - $14.95. This dish went well with one of Tequila Grill's margaritas, of which there are plenty.

Tequila Grill has a number of fantastic dishes at your fingertips in a comfortable, choice atmosphere that will please just about anyone.

Girasole Pasta & Grill . 4400 N. Scottsdale Road
480.421.9969

In April of 1998, we featured a favorite Italian restaurant called "Raffaele's Italian Cuisine." You won't find that restaurant in Arcadia anymore, but you will find Raffaele's latest culinary delights at his new restaurant in Scottsdale, called Girasole (pronounced Jeer-Ah-Sole-Ay, it means "sunflower" in Italian).

Much like his previous restaurant, Raffaele likes to present a different menu every month. Some favorites will carry over, but there will always be something new and fresh each month. While all of our dinner selections may not be available when you dine at Girasole, we thought we'd describe a couple of the lovely items we sampled.

We loved the Prosciutto E' Mango (mango wrapped in imported prosciutto - $6.95). The sweet mango, combined with the smoky, salty flavor of the prosciutto was a definite hit. We also enjoyed the Insalata Di Finocchio E' Anguria Alla Michelina (baby greens tossed with fennel and watermelon, in a citrus dressing - $7.95). The salad was crisp and juicy, and a very refreshing appetizer for a summertime meal.

For the main course, we enjoyed the Ravioli Di Bosco (pasta stuffed with wild mushrooms in a red wine and mushroom sauce - $13.95), the Lambottina Di Maiale (pork chop stuffed with prosciutto and four cheeses in a mushroom marsala demi glaze on top of garlic mashed potatoes - $16.95) and a couple other fantastic dishes. We hesitate to expound too much on the main courses, since the menu does change. However, our experience leads us to believe that you won't be disappointed. It would seem that Raffaele likes to ensure this as well, as he took a brief leave from the kitchen to greet his diners and make sure all was well.

Girasole has a full bar, excellent wine list and some outstanding desserts. All in all, it was a tremendous dining experience that we will remember fondly for a long time. Raffaele's philosophy (as it states on the menu) is, "Leave Girasole with a full belly and a happy heart." And that is indeed what we did.