Phoenix Adventure

The culinary adventure begins

September 23, 2008
by Garden Girl

This week I am in Phoenix at a convention.  My days will be filled with seminars and time spent on the trade show floor discussing the latest trends in my field. Doesn't sound like an adventure does it?  But every day and any location can be an opportunity for adventure.  It is all in what you make of it.

My adventure began today when I landed in Phoenix Arizona after a long day of flying.  (by the way kudos to Southwest Airlines.  Even with three stops and one plane change this was by far the smoothest flight I have taken in a very long time. From the curbside check in -- where we had to check in not only our luggage but my husband's allez bike -- to the friendly and happy flight attendants -- a first -- to the help in baggage claim with the bike, it was a very pleasant experience.)

Then onto the car rental location.  We took the shuttle from the airport and the driver was very helpful.  I reserved  a Ford Explorer  at Budget Rental Car.  We needed the size of the explorer since we had a bike to lug around.  Of course when we reached the service desk to pick up our car they didn't have a Ford Explorer.  However, unlike the other rental car adventures I had been through John the customer service agent at Budget offered us a couple of options.  He offered to rent us a H3 hummer for the same price as the explorer.  This was a first an option that was actually to our advantage.  Don't they know other car rental places don't work that way.  Now with happiness radiating from us instead of fury, John suggested that we needed a GPS unit since we would travel to Sedona before we flew home.  The GPS unit was a only 69.95 for the entire week. In our glee we couldn't say no.  As we walked to the slot housing our H3, I thought whoa did John just cleverly up my rental?  For a slight moment my elation dropped.  That was until we pulled away from the rental location and headed for the hotel. All of a sudden a lovely voice guided us to our hotel.  This was the first time that my husband and I found a hotel without an argument involving frustrations, hurt feelings and accusations.  As we pulled up to the Springhill Suites by Marriott, I realized that John really was looking out for us.  He wasn't just making a buck, he was assuring that we had a pleasant driving experience.  So thanks John!

After a long day of nothing but airline peanuts, I was ready for one of my favorite adventures -- Dining.  See in my mind dining is as much of an adventure as hunting, skiing or any other dare-devil sport imaginable.  Think about it dining can be risky, it takes luck as well as skill to achieve the perfect dining experience and  no two meals are ever the same.  So dining in Phoenix was an adventure I was willing and anxious to take.

My husband and I love to find restaurants that are unique and embedded in the community (you know a locals hang out).  So we tend to avoid chain restaurants.  Although they can be very delicious places to eat especially in Phoenix, they don't provide enough of an adventure.  So we took a quick peruse through the pamphlets in the lobby and found a steak house called Durant's.  We keyed the address into the GPS and off we went (by the way GPS is my new favorite gadget -- maybe I need a gadget to keep me from going through Batesville to get to the river.  Oh well that's another story and a very funny adventure). 

The GPS unit quickly and efficiently directed us to the restaurant.  Placing us right in front of the coral-pink building.  Not exactly an aesthetic beauty.  We pulled into the parking lot next to the restaurant.  I asked my husband "what do you think"  He replied "what the heck some of our favorite restaurants didn't have a glitzy and beautiful exterior."  As we walked into Durant's the atmosphere changed drastically.  The place had a warm inviting feeling with it's rich wood and elegant decor.   Speaking of a warm inviting feeling, the server closest to us acknowledged us in the same comforting way you would a newcomer to a large family gathering -- gently guiding us to a wonderfully accommodating gentleman who found a lovely romantic table as he apologized for not having a larger table  since they were all taken  through reservations.  We were happy with the  immediate seating since we didn't have a reservation.  The table was positioned next to a wall and I could see the true beauty of the red flocked wall paper with it's velvet embellishments.  The wall paper was above the beautiful rich wood chair rail.  Under the chair rail, fabulous tufted red leather with button tuck points resided.  Above our table were several plaques of recognition for the Durant's including "restaurants of the year" awards.  The ambiance of the restaurant was further enhanced by the exquisite floral arrangements placed strategically around the room.  Each table had a glass vase containing two lemon yellow carnations and the lighting showcased every aspect of the room.  The restaurant was lit well enough to easily read the menu yet soft enough to create intimacy.  With the large semi-circle booths fashioned with the same leather that was on the wall, the restaurant reminded me of a scene out of the 1950's.  A time when elegance and quality was the norm not the exception.

As I took in all of the wonderful ambiance, Sylvia our server greeted us with a plate of ice chilling black olives, green onions, celery and carrots and scrumptious dip.  She suggested that we check out the wine list specials.  In an effort to keep their wine selection fresh and extensive, they place wines in which they have only one or two bottles on special.  We chose a Icooper Hilll that had a delightful taste.  Sylvia was a fantastic server describing the daily soup in such detail that I had to have it.  It was a three onion cheese soup and the distinct flavor wof each onion was evident yet cleaverly infused together with the chesse and enhanced with a slight essence of bacon.  When Sylvia brought my soup and my husbands spinach salad with pine nuts and purple onion, she brought a small loaf of bread cut into 4 pieces sitting in a wonderful olive oil and topped with an artichoke and baisl topping.  This bread was a perfect accompainment to my soup.  I believe I could exsist on this bread alone if I had to.

After a brief break filled with delightful conversation and an observance of people coming in and out of the same door that servers were bringing food from, Sylvia brought us the main attraction.  I ordered a new York strip and garlic mashed potatoes and my husband ordered a honey basil salmon with garlic mashed potatoes.  It has been a long time since I have had a steak of this caliper.  The outside of the streak was perfectly charred while the inside was a deep pink at the perfect temperature.  Every bite basically melted in my mouth, so tender is I barely had to chew.  The garlic mashed potatoes were a heavenly delight of whipped goodness with a subtle undertone of garlic.  My husband's salmon was flaky yet supplewith the blend of a sweet savory taste.  I would love to describe their desserts but Durant's entrees are so fulfilling that I had no room for dessert. 

The food wasn't the only superior component of Durant's.  Their service is a fine dance of meeting your needs without intrusion.  Sylvia was available for conversation yet her tables never went more than a minute without her full attention.  When I asked about the people coming in and out of the same door as the servers, she explained that the real parking for the patrons was at the back of the restaurant.  Now I understood why the parking lot we were in seemed empty yet the restaurant was crowded -- locals know where to go when tourist don't.  In our conversations Sylvia also told me that this Phoenix restaurant was established July 13, 1950 (hope I remebered the date correctly).  Guess that is why you feel the elegance of that 50's era.  Yet the decor looked fresh and not outdated.

I can say whole heartly that any other adventures in Phoenix dining will have very big shoes or should I say plates to fill.  The best advise I can give when searching for a place to eat in Phoenix is to think outside of the box.  Glitz and glamour don't necessarily mean the food is good.  The next time you need an adventure try dining, it one of my favorite adventures. 

Can't wait to see what dining adventure I have tommorrow.

Tags: dining, restaurants, Phoenix, steakhouse