Dining family-style in Flagstaff

Dining family-style in Flagstaff
By Angele Sionna

Bigfoot's Kiddie Corral

Dining with the kids can be a challenge. If they’re young – is there anything they’ll eat on the menu? If they’re older, can you all decide on the same thing for dinner? There are several Flagstaff restaurants that help ease that pain and make going out together fun, tasty and not a break-the-bank adventure. Here’s a look at just a few of the best kid-friendly menus in town…

Bigfoot Bar-B-Q
120 N Leroux St, Basement Marketplace of the Old Town Shops
Tucked down in the basement of the Old Town Shops with plenty of room to play in that ab fab “kiddie corral” and splendid for not having to fret about those little noise makers, Bigfoot has to be the number one spot for dining with kids, especially young ones! Add to that awesome days like half price wing basket Mondays and a $3 kids (12 and under) menu that includes hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken strips and grilled cheese – all with fries and a drink. Then toss in buckets of crayons and piles of paper to draw on along with free peanuts that can be thrown willy nilly on the floor. You’ve got a winner. Bigfoot is hands-down the number one place my three tots like to dine.

Café Ole
119 S. San Fransisco
In a time when the economy has left most folks needing any help they can get, Café Ole still has their FREE kids meals on Wednesdays. This is a super (tasty) deal! All day Wednesdays, both lunch (11:30a-3p) and dinner (5-9p), Café Ole serves up a free quesadilla, burrito or taco for sus niños (12 and under). Normally, the kids meals (that include a drink) are $5, still a good price. Plus this little Mexican joint near downtown and NAU has a nice colorful atmosphere that the whole fam will enjoy. Muy Bueno!

Pita Jungle
320 South Regent Street, next to New Frontiers
Ah, choices - they can make a break an out to eat experience with kiddos. Pita Jungle is the place to go for choice. They have a great $5 kids (10 and under) meal – that lets the kiddies pick from nutritious and delicious options. You pick one protein, one green and one carb – plus get a fruit cup and a drink. Proteins range from turkey to tuna to tofu (and many more). Greens include cucumbers, broccoli (make fun all you want but it is my childrens’ fav!), spinach or carrots. Carbs range from pasta to mac and cheese to a pita crisp and more. Quite a feast!

Diablo Burger
120 N Leroux, on the square behind Pesto Brothers
Seating in here is tough for little kids because of the cool high stools, but if they can sit still – Diablo Burger is a great burger joint to take the tots. They have mini versions of their divine grass-fed, locally raised burgers (or a grilled cheese sandwich) with a side of those yummy frittes for around the $5 mark. In nice weather, sitting on DB's outdoor tables and letting the kids play in Heritage square while they as much noise as they want as they burn off that extra energy is an added bonus.

Granny’s Closet
218 S. Milton Rd.
Leave it to ol’ Granny to have a super bargain for kids under six – for just $2.50 they get their shot at that classic soup and salad bar. Pretty sweet. For kids 6 to 12 it jumps up just a bit to $5.50, but still a good reason to go for either lunch or dinner. Add to that those fun booths where kids can watch TV at their table, you’ve got a winner for an entertaining time for all in your party.

Wildflower Bread Company
530 East Piccadilly Drive (Near New Frontiers)
Here’s a little freebie for kids I love – every Wednesday right after school (from 3:30-4pm) you can take the kiddos down to Wildflower for a free milk, cookie and activity. It’s completely free! Wildflower also has a good kids (12 and under) menu for about $4 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It comes with a small milk (or soda) and at lunch or dinner they toss in a chocolate chip cookie too! Choices range from French toast, pancakes or egg and cheese sandwich at breakfast, sandwiches or meatballs for lunch and pastas for dinner.

Foodie gift idea: Shop the Flagstaff Community Markets new store downtown

Flagstaff Community Markets opened a new holiday store this week - just in time for buying gifts for your foodie friends this holiday season. The store - located in the Old Town Shops (corner of Birch & Leroux downtown) features an eclectic variety of independent artists, specialty food producers, and regional growers. It has such items as regionally produced honey, jams, pasta, salsas, hot sauce, soaps, tamales, jewelry, children's clothing, yarns, pottery and more- all hand crafted by many of your favorite vendors from the Flagstaff Community Market.
The Community Market Store will be open 7 days a week 9:30 am to 9:00 pm through January 1, 2011.

Where to eat in Flagstaff on Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving is a time for gathering with friends and family and sharing your appreciation of what they add to your life… plus good food. Celebrate together without making mom and grandma cook all day. Instead let some of the city’s finest establishments prepare your Turkey Day feast. (Reservations are recommended, unless otherwise noted.)

Cottage Place
126 W Cottage
774-8431
cottageplace.com
Get in on Frank’s famous five-course meal. The Cottage Place opens at noon for Thanksgiving where you’ll enjoy an appetizer, soup, salad, a choice of about 9 different entrees including turkey of course and choice of dessert.  Price $30-$45 per person, based on which entree you choose. They’ll also have a special children’s menu for those in your party under 12.

Little America
2515 East Butler
779-2741
littleamerica.com/flagstaff/thanksgiving_brunch.html
You don’t need reservations for this annual feast. Remember that if you burn your first turkey – all hope is not lost. Little America’s Thanksgiving Day Champagne Brunch is a delight every year. It runs from 10am to 3pm. $29.95 for adults, $14.95 for children 7-11 and free for children 6 and under plus tax and tip. The meal will include turkey, prime rib, Alaskan crab legs, omelets, a chocolate fountain, desserts, champagne, tea coffee and much more. Check their website for a full menu.(Their popular holiday lights festival kicks off the next day!)

Josephine's Modern American Bistro
503 North Humphreys Street
779-3400
josephinesrestaurant.com
Josephine’s “Thanksgiving Banquet” will run from noon to 7pm. It’s $35 per person and $12.50 for children under 10. The meal features starters like scrumptious butternut squash soup and champagne vinaigrette salad, a main course of roasted cider brined natural 'Red Bird Farm' turkey, apricot preserve and clove rubbed Smithfield Ham, beef Wellington served with bordelaise sauce and cedar plank charbroiled Atlantic salmon plus traditional sides with desserts ranging from traditional pumpkin pie to a flourless chocolate torte. Check out the full menu on their website.

Radisson Woodlands Hotel
1175 West Route 66
773-8888
A carving station with everything from turkey to prime rib, entrees from chicken to pork loin, a breakfast station and all the traditional accompaniments plus champagne make up the annual turkey day feast at the Radisson. Seating times run from 10am to 3pm. Adults are $26.95, children 6 to 12 are $10.95 and little ones under 6 are free.

Mormon Lake Lodge
Main Street, Mormon Lake
928-354-2227 x14
MormonLakeLodge.com
Head about half an hour southwest of town for a holiday in the pines at the rustic Mormon Lake Lodge. Here they’ve serve up a family style turkey dinner with all the trimmings for 50 years… you even get to carve it at your table. So you’ve got all the fun of having your family in an intimate setting and leftovers but no one has to be trapped in the kitchen all day for it to happen. The family-style feast is for parties of four or more, reservations required. Smaller parties can order individual meals of turkey or prime rib, no reservation required. Adults are $19, kids 5-12 are $15 and kids 4 and under are free for the family feast. Individual meals are $18 adults/$16 kids for the turkey and $24/$18 adults/kids for the prime rib. All meals include lobster bisque soup, salad, cherry hazelnut stuffing, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, almond rice pilaf, candied yams with marshmallows, green bean walnut medley, orange-ginger glazed baby carrots, and choice of dessert. You bring home all the leftovers. Their Saloon will be open next door from 11am to 7pm that day as well to hang out together afterwards. Dinner is served from 11am to 4pm.

(originally written by me for Flagstaff Live Nov 11 edition)

New Flagstaff restaurant: Flippin Dutch

A new restaurant has opened in Flagstaff in an odd sharing of space with the delish Pesto Brothers. The new joint is called Flippin Dutch. It has an eclectic menu with what it calls "Dutchies" at its heart. Right now you can pick up a coupon for $1 off outside of the restaurant - it's in the Old Town Shops, downtown Flagstaff off Leroux. Flippin Dutch is open breakfast through dinner.
Here's a scan of their new menu (as of November 2010):

Foodie gift idea: Community Supported Agriculture membership

Here's a great Christmas gift idea for the foodie in your life - a membership to a community supported agriculture project. It's like belonging to a fresh food of the month club - but local!
To participate in the Flagstaff Community Supported Agriculture project, you must sign up for the entire season (think fall, winter, or spring) in advance. A season usually lasts 12 weeks and costs $240 ($20 per week). If you miss the beginning of the season you can sign up. Contact FCSA for details.
Folks in other areas can contact local restaurants or restaurant associations and ask for info about a CSA in their area.