I had read that Citizen Public House was known for its drinks and has been recognized by Esquire, Thrillist, Zagat, and USA Today.

It's located in a beautiful area of Scottsdale, which we walked around and took in the beauty of this area. It's different from the mountains of home but beautiful in its own way.

We had the whole gang at this dinner, so that was exciting.

I ordered - I think - one of my most favorite drinks I've ever had: SOCIALITE - Honeydew Absolut vodka, baked cranberry shrub, lime, orange oleo saccharum, up. Give me this every day for the rest of my life please.



I ordered a salad to share at the table because I had heard wonders about it. And the hype was RIGHT.

THE ORIGINAL CHOPPED SALAD smoked salmon, couscous, arugula, Asiago cheese, currants, pepitas, dried super sweet corn, marinated tomatoes, buttermilk herb dressing. WOW.

PAN SEARED SCALLOPS - sweet corn grits, Hampshire bacon lardon, wilted snow pea greens, cola gastrique


My gosh, this was so good. In my food memories go that drink and that salad. The scallops were good, too, but wow.

It seems like every region has a hot dog that it's known for. In Arizona, the Sonoran hot dog is king.

The Sonoran hot dog is a style of hot dog popular in Tucson, Phoenix, and elsewhere in southern Arizona. It originated in Hermosillo, the capital of the Mexican state of Sonora, in the late 1980s. It consists of a hot dog that is wrapped in bacon and grilled, served on a bolillo-style hot dog bun, and topped with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, and a variety of additional condiments, often including mayonnaise, mustard, and jalapeño salsa. The Sonoran hot dog is prepared and sold by vendors called "dogueros" at street carts. It was estimated in 2009 that over 200 places in Tucson purvey the Sonoran hot dog, and that Phoenix has even more. (WIKIPEDIA)

We walked about a mile through a suburban neighborhood (maybe not our best decision) until we ended up at this food cart that had a few patrons already enjoying their dogs. Nogales is known for their hot dogs in this area, so it was worth the trek.

The hot dog had bacon, beans, onions, tomato and mayo. Now I know that all sounds a little crazy, but it was actually really good!

Pizzeria Bianco is known across the country - maybe even world - for helping to spearhead the wood-fired pizza movement.

Sure, we hear that all over the place now. But these guys are the real deal.

Chris, who won the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southwest in 2003, helped spawn a generation of independent and artisanal pizzeria’s, lending his advice, wisdom and food philosophies to dozens of fellow chefs and restaurateurs. (SOURCE)

We started with some freshly baked bread and olive oil.

And we snacked on Spiedini - fontina wrapped in prosciutto.

The margherita pizza was perhaps one of the thinnest I've ever had. But it was fresh with tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella.

Which one would you order?

Postino Wine Cafe is known for their unique varieties of bruschetta - I mean, say no more. I'm sold. Wine + bruschetta = happy happy happy.

This trendy cafe is the perfect brunch spot - mimosas, snacks and a light, airy vibe.

You choose four bruschetta options, so I went with: brie & apples with fig spread, prosciutto with figs & mascarpone, warm artichoke spread, and burrata, bacon, arugula & tomato. Honestly, all of the options are right up my alley and I would've been happy with any of them.

Look at our spread!

More mimosas, please.

Which ones would you have chosen?

After dinner, ice cream (or in this case, gelato) is always necessary.

The Gelato Spot is a gelato shop that had about a dozen flavors. It shares a space with a pizza shop, so it was open late - perfect for apres dinner!

I got a salted caramel gelato, which came with this cute cookie straw. This is how you cool off in Phoenix!