Nanay's Filipino Restaurant is my friends' go-to Filipino spot in Arizona. I love the Filipino food I've tried it the past, so I was excited to try this homestyle restaurant.



The restaurant is fairly spacious, and the food is served in a cafeteria style. In order to place my order, I did a mix of listing items from the menu on the wall and pointing at options behind the case.



They had lechon (suckling pig), pancit (stir-fried noodles), pork BBQ, adobo (stew), lumpia (eggrolls-ish) and more.



I almost wish I would have taken a sample of everything they had to offer so I could explore some other dishes I've never had before.



But, everything I did select was delicious. Deeply flavorful and everything seems to have veggies incorporated. So, that gave a little bit of a crunchy texture. I enjoyed the marinated and vinegary flavors most.



Lumpia, though, may be my favorite eggroll-esque vehicle. I like them a bit crispier than these year, but still so good.



What is your favorite Filipino dish?



Grade: A

If there's one cuisine sorely lacking in Appalachia, it may be Hawaiian. Prior to my visit to Aloha Kitchen in Arizona, the extent of my Hawaiian food experience consisted of "Hawaiian chicken" in a pineapple sauce at the local mall food court.



This fast-casual restaurant has been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. And, it was fairly busy when I visited. The decor is minimal and well-worn. The menu has a bajillion options that all looked amazing: coconut shrimp, saimin, kalbi and more.



I went with Mixed Plate #4: Bulkogi Beef and Teriyaki Chicken with two scoops of rice and macaroni-potato salad. Plus spam musubi. Plus manapua.



The mixed plate teriyaki chicken was charbroiled then drizzled in a teriyaki sauce, which was a delicious bittersweet flavor. The bulgpgi could've done with a drizzle of the teriyaki as well. But so tasty, and I love the cool, creamy macaroni-potato salad on the side to add some balance. The spam musubi is just spam, rice and nori - and it's glorious. It's the freshness of a sushi roll with the salinity of SPAM. The manapua had the perfect barbecue pork filling inside that fluffy bun. so, so good.



Grade: A

Cherry Blossom Noodle Cafe in Phoenix festures noodle dishes from all over the world. From ramen and udon to pad thai and bolognese. Talk about making my dreams come true!



I truthfully would have loved to try half the menu, but I settled on an udon noodle with shrimp. I love thick, chewy udon noodles and shrimp is maybe my most favorite protein.



So, this was a match made in heaven. I will say I wanted a richer sauce - not like deep notes of soy but more so lighter to match the shrimp in my mind. Otherwise, great chewy noodles and plump shrimp.



A sweet little fruity cocktail on the side didn't hurt.



Grade: A

SoJo's Donuts is my friend Kaitlynn's favorite donut shop ever. Part of it, I think, is due to the tasty donuts. But another part of it, I think, is because it has become like her "third" place in the city when she moved out west. It's not work, it's not home, it's that other comfy space that you enjoy. Either way, I was excited to visit this spot she enjoys dearly.



SoJo's Donuts makes handmade vegan donuts and breakfast sandwiches from local, responsibly sourced and organic ingredients.



Their standard options include: Vanilla, Vanilla Sprinkle, Maple, Maple Bacon, Chocolate sprinkle, Strawberry sprinkle, Chocolate bar, Maple bar, Salted Caramel Twist, Cinnamon Twist, Apple fritters, Lavender Lemon, Blueberry Lemon, Cookies and Cream, Strawberry Shortcake, Boston Cream, Raspberry Jam Filled, and other Seasonal flavors



Lavender lemon is her all-time favorite, which I did enjoy. I'm hit or miss with lavender flavor. Sometimes, it can be too floral for me.



But the cookie d'oh and pecan pie filling donuts were more up my alley. Very rich glaze with a delightful chewy dough.



Grade: A

"The Village Coffee Roastery is one of the oldest independent coffee houses in Arizona and has a proud history of utilizing science and technology. Opened in 1996 by Craig Sellmen, a chemist, the Village was the first in the United States to employ technologies to minimize human error. In 2006 Craig retired and sold the coffee shop to longtime customer Lisa Stroud who had an extensive background in Restaurant Development and management. Over the last 22 years the Roastery has experimented with the finest Arabica beans from across the world, bringing out the natural essence of the region from which it comes," reads the website.



Espresso
Our espresso is a handcrafted 5-bean blend allowing a multi dimensional flavor that is unsurpassed.

Yirgacheffe
Yirgacheffe is considered among the finest coffees from anywhere in Africa. A complex flavorful coffee, with hints of citrus and fruit in the top notes, Yirgacheffe’s rich flavor is balanced by its moderate body, while delighting the senses with its aroma and lingering aftertaste.

Sidamo
The flavor of Sidamo is alluring and complex. Gentle floral scents waft from the cup, imparting a tart and a complex fruitiness. The crisp acidity gives it a lively finish and leaves you wanting more.

Harrar
This coffee is noted for its resemblance to a dry red wine and full bodied presence. The flavor is amazingly layered with subtle hints of berry and mocha with an earthy backdrop.

Sumatra
Sumatra is noted for its lush, sultry earthiness. The coffee is full bodied, complex and delivers a smooth finish.

Mexico Chiapas Jacinto
Chiapas notes a mildly rustic sweetness with a brown sugar aroma. The coffee has a moderate brightness and is fairly short in the aftertaste.

Costa Rica
The flavor of Costa Rica is sweetly smooth, full bodied and pleasantly acidic. The coffee is noted for its nutty undertones, clean aftertaste and balance.

El Salvador Santa Leticia Borbon
This coffee notes a bold chocolate flavor with hints of berry in both taste and aroma. The flavor is delicate, bold, rich and clean.

Guatemala
This coffee notes a surprisingly rich coffee with a vibrant flavor. Guatemala is medium in body, with a sharp acidity and spice like after taste.

Village Blend
A 3 bean handcrafted blend. This blend is perfectly balanced and offers a smooth and layered flavor.

Colombian
The flavor of Colombian is chocolaty and slightly fruity. This coffee notes a sweet aroma with a floral hint. This varietal is heavy in body and well rounded.

Tanzanian Peaberry
The Tanzanian Peaberry notes deep richness, the flavor is bright and lively. This coffee is Light bodied with a winey acidity. The Tanzanian Peaberry is an intense flavor for the palette.

Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea is a lighter bodied coffee with delicate notes, depth, complexity, and brightness. The range of flavors and subtleties of this cup give it a sophisticated character.

Celebes
The deep-toned flavors and maple-syrupy body sets Celebes apart, and results in a stunning, clearer taste. Celebes notes low acidity, great body and a deep brooding flavor.

Panama Boquete
Panama is a brightly toned coffee with a vivid floral aroma and clean fruited note. This coffee is smooth, balanced and light in body with a maple after taste.



The coffee shop has plenty of pastries and sweets in addition to the drinks. Plus oatmeal, bagels, burritos and more.



This spinach and feta lattice pastry was not only beautiful, but it was also flaky with a smooth and creamy interior.



To balance out all of that savory, I snagged a slice of banana bread. Banana bread is one of my favs - when it's moist. And, this one was definitely sweet and moist.



The frozen caramel latte rocked my world. I think maybe because it was extra frozen. So, it was super refreshing in this hot part of the country.



Grade: A

Yelp ranked the top 100 ice cream shops of 2023 and Page's Dairy Mart in Pittsburgh was ranked 16th on the list.



The iconic ice cream shop has been around for 50+ years and serves milkshakes, sundaes, swirls and more. It's cash only, and there's usually a line.



when I got up to the window, I saw the sign for Thr Yinzer. How could I not order that?



The Yinzer is blonde brownie with white and milk chocolate, whipped cream and caramel.



There's no way you can go wrong with that combo. But I do especially like how everything tasted so fresh with quality ingredients. Definitely my jam.



Grade: A

Sedona is a desert town known for its red-rock buttes and steep canyon walls. I went to visit with my friend Kaitlynn, and we grabbed lunch at The Hudson while there.



"Perched on a hillside overlooking the scenic red rocks of Sedona, The Hudson serves lunch and dinner daily featuring seasonal American fare with unique twists on trusted comfort food. We pride ourselves on our bruschetta, burgers, salads, hand cut 45 day aged prime steaks, ribs, fresh seafood, homemade desserts, specialty cocktails, wine and local craft beer," reads the website.



The bruschetta is what really caught my eye here. there are several different types, and you can arrange a flight. I actually ended up trying five different ones.



Goat cheese, with sweet and spicy pepper jam - I loved the combo here of both flavors and textures.



Brie, apples, and fig jam - this was almost like a dessert bruschetta, and it was delicious.



House-smoked salmon with pesto cream cheese, caper and red onion - while I do love this flavor combo typically, it was not my favorite rendition here. I think the salmon for me was just a bit off.



Funghi with mushroom, roasted garlic, ricotta, cheese, thyme and chive - this was an umami bomb in the best way.



Warm artichoke spread with roasted garlic and romano cheese - this one didn't have quite as much flavor compared to some of the others, but even though it was mild, it was still good.

Deconstructed Banana Cream Pie - Graham cracker crust, bananas, sugared pecans, whipped cream, strawberry - this dessert was next level delicious.



Grade: A

JOJO Coffeehouse is a breakfast and brunch restaurant that is known for its coffee flight.



A flight is typically small samples of various wines or beers. So, the concept of incorporating it into another craft drink - coffee - is a natural progression.



At JOJO's, the flight consists of five iced coffees:

- Cold Brew
- Mocha
- Latte
- Carmel Macchiato
- White Mocha



My favorites were the caramel macchiato and white mocha, likely because they were the sweetest ones. But they also had a bit more complexity on my palate that I enjoyed.



"The JOJO Coffeehouse blend is a signature blend with chocolate and berry notes. It very balanced and medium acid. In fact, when choosing the JOJO blend, we did several blind taste tests with local and national competitors. The coffee blend we selected was number one or two on every blind taste test survey making it the clear fan favorite and choice as our signature JOJO coffee & espresso. Try the JOJO special, and original coffee flight which includes white mocha, ice latte, mocha, caramel macchiato, and espresso shot. JOJO is not your typical coffee shop, at our coffeehouse you can enjoy your coffee with friends or family while enjoying live music, breakfast & brunch," reads the website.



To go with all of that caffeine, I ordered some breakfast tacos.



They consist of three flour tortillas, scrambled eggs, pepper jack cheese, bacon, onions, tomatoes, and sour cream with avocado on the side. I also added some fresh berries on the side.



These were pretty tasty. There was a freshness to them, rather than being heavy with too many ingredients or bold flavors. Instead, they were light and refreshing and a great way to start the day.



Grade: A