December 31, 2008

Best cookies in Flagstaff

[*NOTE: This article originally appeared in Flagstaff Live! on 12/25/08, I am the author*]





It’s a Christmas tradition—leaving cookies for Santa on Christmas Eve. Whether it’s for a bribe or a thank you, you’re gonna want to leave something scrumptious there by the tree for old St. Nick (wink, wink). Here’s a look at a few Flagstaff spots to find fantastic cookies for Santa and yourself.
Macy's European Coffeehouse, Bakery and Vegetarian Restaurant
14 S. Beaver

Macy’s has been a Flagstaff must for coffee since 1980, but if you’ve never tried their sweet treats you’re missing out. Macy’s serves several types of cookies everyday, and the type depends on who’s in the kitchen. Their pièce de résistance are the chocolate chip cookies, made with a recipe from one of the chefs’ moms. But their peanut butter cookies melt in your mouth and are not to be missed either!

Copper Coyote Café
Flagstaff Mall

This little mall joint has 10 different cookie choices everyday.







Coyote’s most popular is chocolate chip (not a shocker). But the ones to try here are the mint chocolate chip. They’re perfect for the holidays. Santa would definitely appreciate some of these refreshing goodies under the tree. Other options every day at the Coyote include classics like oatmeal raisin and sugar cookies, and more unique choices like gingersnap and sugar cookies with M&Ms.

Malone’s Bakery and Deli
1490 S. Riordan Ranch Road

Malone’s has several types of cookies everyday. Chocolate chip is a regular, of course. But Malone’s claim to fame: snickerdoodles. They’re soft and chewy. If you haven’t tried snickerdoodles—they’re basically a sugar cookie with a cinnamon twist of flavor—be sure to try the ones that Malone’s bakes up fresh in their ovens. Yum.

Café Express
16 N. San Francisco

Café Express is another coffee house, bakery and breakfast joint that serves up ambrosial delights. They usually have four to choose from: oatmeal, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter and their best cookie of the bunch, the shortbread with raspberry filling. My grandma used to make cookies like this as a treat—oh so good! It’s a unique choice that you should try next time you’re walking around downtown.

Josephine’s Modern American Bistro
503 N. Humphrey's

If you’re looking for an upscale cookie that is more than just a sweet snack and bridges into full-on dessert territory, then Josephine’s “Half-Baked Peanut Butter Cookie” is for you. The ooey-gooey peanut butter and chocolate chip cookie is serve hot (and only partially baked as the name implies) with vanilla ice cream melting on top. It’s reason enough to head to Josephine’s for a nice after-dinner treat, even if you just ate your meal somewhere else.










December 30, 2008

Chi's Cuisine Chinese & Thai Food

Chi's Cuisine Chinese & Thai Food

114 N Cortez, Prescott, AZ



The Food (taste/flavor/quality of food & drinks)
>>>>= a favorite, can count on it being good every time

The Atmosphere (environment, wait staff, comfortableness)
xx= nothing to write home about

Price (what to generally expect to pay per person per entree)
$$                 $10

Value (what you get for your money)
**** = worth it - you won’t be disappointed with what you get for your money


Chi's is a little whole in the wall Chinese restaurant in downtown Prescott. It has a few simple tables on two floors. The food is the best I've had in Northern Arizona.

Prices for dinner entrees are around $10, but the portions are generous. During the week Chi's has lunch specials too. For $6, you get to pick to of the items of the day plus get fried rice and lo mein.

While the name says Thai food, don't go looking for Thai. There's not much Thai on the menu. But the Chinese is plentiful with lots of variety. Particularly of note: the orange chicken and chicken lo mein.
Other items I've tried and like include: spring rolls, garlic broccoli, green beans, beef broccoli and wonton soup.

Chi's has changed management in the past year and the waiters and waitresses can barely speak English but the food is still great, full of flavor and not too salty. I wish they had one of these in Flagstaff!