After spending the past year cooped up, we were so excited to get out and explore the beautiful city of Scottsdale, Arizona! Top of our attractions to-do list was taking a food tour with the locally based Arizona Food Tours. Not only has Owner/Operator Zach Egedy been blazing a trail of tantalizing treats for more than a decade, his rave reviews have also earned them a top position on TripAdvisor for Food and Drink in Scottsdale.
Our tour was scheduled for a perfectly sunny Sunday afternoon. And to our delight, our fellow food tour participant was none other than another food tour purveyor, Tracy, from Orlando, Florida. We knew right away that we’d be in for great food and even better company!
Zach began the tour by introducing us to a bit of history. He told us interesting facts such as how Scottsdale was founded by U.S. Army Chaplain, Winfield Scott in 1894. We saw the first school, the Old Adobe Mission church, and the some original buildings in the heart of Old Town that made us feel like we were on the set of an old Western movie.
We continued to learn more about Old Town throughout the tour. But enough with that…on to the food! Here’s a recap of our five unique destinations to get your mouth watering:
To get the party started, we headed to The Mission where Chef Matt Carter is known for his punchy Latin flavors and elevated dining experience. Our plates consisted of a double header of delicious savory tastings – a pulled pork taco with a pineapple glaze, and, one of my all-time favorite foods, grilled street corn, also known as Elote. We then had our choice of a red sangria or a house margarita. We enjoyed the ambiance on the back patio underneath the shade of an umbrella.
Corn hole, a chill environment, cold beer, and great food – all can be found at Brat Haus! We were served a house-made pork brat with all-spice and parsley, sauerkraut, Belgian fries, Bavarian pretzel, and a delicious beer cheese fondue. Again, we sat outside under an umbrella and even had a small chat with the manager. Everything was delicious and very hearty!
Our Tour Leader, Zach, said that you can tell if a Thai restaurant is serious about their food by assessing just one dish: their tom ka gai soup. And boy, did Malees Thai Bistro deliver! This rich soup is composed with coconut milk, chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, ginger, and lime kefir. We also indulged in a mini vegetarian fried spring roll. My husband and I are always a sucker for good Thai food!
If you’re a Food Network junkie like us, then perhaps you’ve heard of Bootleggers, which has been featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Their award-winning barbecue is smoked daily right on site. We enjoyed a tray full of their beef brisket hash nachos with guacamole, chipotle cheddar sauce, and jalapeños. And of course, we just had to try their Apple Pie Moonshine, which pays homage to the restaurant’s name and theme.
Rounding out the tour and our palates was a lusciously sweet treat from Shakes & Cones. They’ve been churning up their organic vanilla bean soft serve since 2014. We indulged in the Sundae made with dark chocolate fudge, whipped cream and peanuts. Yes, we were pretty full by the end…but it was worth it!
Thank you to Zach for showing us the sights and tastes of Old Town Scottsdale – we loved it! If you find yourself in Phoenix, Scottsdale, or Tempe, make sure to set aside some time for a tour with Arizona Food Tours. Tell them we sent you!
And of course, if you find yourself in Colorado, we’d love for you to join us on one of our food tours! Join us for weekly public tours, or set up a private tour for your group, as we explore delicious food and drink in our own backyard. Check our calendar for upcoming availability here.
Cheers, Samantha from Your Rocky Mountain Food Tours Team
(So, what’s a food tour, anyway…?)
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