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

"Inspired by timeless elegance, Olive & Ivy is a Mediterranean restaurant that offers you a quiet escape from the ordinary. Rich in flavor, our menu will transport you to the warm, relaxing French Riviera with seafood dishes like sea scallops and shareable plates like Lamb Meatballs in a warm pita. Sip a warm cup of coffee as you savor a freshly baked pastry at our beautiful Marketplace. Enjoy an occasion worth sharing like a sunlit lunch on the patio with friends, a quiet dinner for two, or a lively happy hour full of laughter. Our extensive variety of signature cocktails, craft beers, bold reds, refreshing whites, and celebratory bubblies are sure to provide you with the perfect glass to toast the day, toast the night, and toast this grand life."



It certainly paints a picture, right? It's a lovely café with light offerings that feel fresh and creative. When I'm in the desert, I crave food like this.



I ordered a beet salad with arugula, goat cheese, pistachio, red wine, vinaigrette and shrimp. I ordinarily would have went for the bruschetta flight, but I coincidentally just had one of those. The salad was fresh but still had bold flavors.



We also did some hummus with pita, cucumber, tomato, red onion and feta. This one was just OK for me, but that's because I prefer my hummus with an unacceptable amount of garlic.



Grade: B

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 Green Chili Shootout returned to the Capitol Market this weekend after a haitus due to COVID. There were about 40 different chilis to enjoy. I had fun judging the team competition. People's Choice: Muffin's Meat Shack
1st Place (Team): Phill Williams of Johnnie's Fresh Meat Market
Best Booth: Mountaineer Food Bank
3rd Place (ICS): David Mallory
2nd Place (ICS): Jessica Ahlgrim
1st Place (ICS): Lynn Berkebile