The best fried foods in Flagstaff

There’s something about fried food that just tastes so good… when it’s done right. People have been frying food for ages. The first frying pans came to be in ancient Mesopotamia. And when people taste a good thing, it spreads like wildfire. SO it’s no surprise that fried foods span the globe taking on new life with each culture. From fried veggies to fried desserts, here’s a look at some fried favorites of Flagstaff… just remember to not go too fried crazy too often, your pants will thank you for that.

Karma

6 E Route 66

Head to Karma for a tasty fried dessert. They do a marvelous Bananas Tempura with a chocolate drizzle that will knock your fried socks off. And if you are celebrating a birthday, tell the waiter and it will arrive with a giant sparkler on top to boot. (Note: They’ve got good tempura everything here, so tempura veggies and shrimp would make a good full fried meal to top off with your bananas tempura, should you desire it.)

Pasto

19 East Aspen

Pasto has a unique spin on fries… they do portobella mushroom and egglant slices delicately battered and fried. Then they serve it with a fancy homemade balsamic port reduction to dip them in as you would ketsup but 100 times more tasty. I think about these ALL of the time they’re so delish.

Criollo

16 N San Francisco

If its fried calamari you have a hankering for, then head straight to Criollo. They do this app right. The calamari is battered in coconut and masa then fried up and served with mango slaw and cilantro aioli. This is a must have!

Diablo Burger

120 N. Leroux

Those DG fries are so incredibly delish that I have to nominate them as the best fries in town… and therefore the only ones I’m putting on this list. (Though there are several other places that come a close second.) DB knocks the fries (aka “frites”) out of the park double cooking them in peanut oil Belgium-style and tossed with fresh rosemary. They smell as delightful as they taste! They’re served with special homemade dipping sauces including ranch, Hatch Chile Mayo, spicy honey mustard and pesto.

Louie’s Chicken Shack

2116 E Route 66

Louie’s has some great homemade chicken strips. They're big ol strips of chicken breast dredged in a homemade mix of paprika, spices and flour and fried up in peanut oil. They're light, crispy and quite tasty. Try their homemade Louie Sauce for dipping. (If you're from Utah or have traveled there you'll find it similar to Fry Sauce.)

Bigfoot

120 N Leroux (in the Basement Marketplace)

While there’s a plethora of fried goodness on the menu at Bigfoot, try yourself one of their Shrimp Boats. This fried basket of yum has10 Redhook Ale battered shrimps served with a homemade remoulade sauce. But wait there’s more – you also get French fries and hush puppies. You’ll be ready for a salad for dinner after this one!

Granny’s Closet

218 S. Milton

Granny’s is a cozy little spot that serves up a southern fried classic – chicken fried steak. At dinner, the chicken fried steak entrée comes with veggies plus mashed potatoes and gravy, or as they call it down South “the works.” So just sit back, turn on the tv at your table and prepare to chow down.

Lumberyard Grill

5 S. San Francisco

The Lumberyard occasionally makes Mac ‘n Cheez balls, as they’re known. When you see these on their specials of the day menu, order up. These are mac and cheese balled up, rolled in batter and fried. They taste so good and go so perfectly with a nice cool beer. Why would you not?

Mountainaire Tavern
110 Mountainaire Rd
For deliciously bad for you fried goodness in onion ring form, check out the Mountainaire Tavern. This dive does it right with homemade beer battered rings. You can also get beer battered fried mushrooms, zucchini, cauliflower or broccoli. All served with ranch. Now you can tell mom you're eating your veggies every day!

Where to celebrate April food holidays in Flagstaff

Pasto's Portabella & Eggplant Fries

Did you know April is national grilled cheese month. A whole month dedicated to this comfort food that can be so very different, depending on how deluxe you make it – that’s awesome! This month is also national soy foods month, soft pretzel month and garlic month. Now let’s take a look at the more food holidays and where to celebrate them in Flagstaff…

April 12: Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day – So not only is this the month of grilled cheese, but April 12 is also the official grilled cheese eating day of the year. That means you have to head to Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux St # 112) and try their Uncle Dee’s grilled cheese done right with three cheeses, pesto, grilled tomato, fresh basil and a fried egg, if you so desire. And they come with those scrumptious DB fries!

April 16: National Eggs Benedict Day – This day calls for going to none other than La Bellavia (18 S. Beaver St). They have more than a dozen types of eggs benedict. Here they serve up eggs poached on an English muffin topped with hollandaise sauce plus a pancake or country potatoes (hard choice!) with all sorts of toppings choices from avocados to artichokes to Canadian bacon and so much more.

April 16: Day of the Mushroom – Right in the middle of the month is a day devoted to mushrooms. They’re so versatile and so good. If you too love mushrooms, check out Beaver Street’s (11 S Beaver St) juicy rustic portabella sandwich, Pasto’s (19 E. Aspen) light and airy portabella and eggplant fries served with a balsamic butter sauce, Cuvee 928’s (6 E. Aspen Ave) baked mushrooms with farmer’s cheese, truffle oil and grilled bread, and Salsa Brava’s (2220 East Route 66 ) grilled portabella fajitas and portabella and spinach enchiladas.

April 22: Earth Day – It’s Earth Day, so respect the earth and its offerings and head to Picazzos (1300 S. Milton Rd) where you can get organic cocktails, organic salads, organic pastas, and even organic pizzas. They serve local and sustainable foods, use recycled stuff as well as recycling stuff. Perfect for celebrating the Earth!

April 22: National Jelly Bean Day – If you need a reason to get on FourSquare on your smart phone, national jelly bean day is it because Brookside Chocolate (120 N Leroux, Suite 103) gives everyone who checks into their shop on FourSquare a free ¼ pound of Jelly Bellys, no purchase necessary. How awesome is that!

April 24: Easter – Okay, not an official food holiday, but you can celebrate with a fine burnch buffet in Little America’s ballroom (2515 East Butler). They’re having roasted prime rib, honey glazed ham, a chocolate fountain and much more.

April 26: National Pretzel Day – This day demands a trip over to Wildflower Bread Company (530 East Piccadilly Drive) for their homemade pretzels. They’re delish!

April 29: National Shrimp Scampi Day – Check out Horsemen Lodge (8500 Highway 89 North) for this food holiday. They have deluxe shrimp scampi sautéed traditionally with fresh garlic and herbs in a white wine butter sauce. (And you can even find a coupon for 20% off on their website: horsemenlodge.com).

For more food holidays this month, check out TheNibble.com.

This article was written by me orginally for Flagstaff Live!

Easter Sunday Brunch at Bishop's Lodge in Santa Fe

In honor of the upcoming Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa invites guests to wear their best Easter bonnet to the traditional Easter Brunch at the resort. The guest with the best bonnet will win an overnight stay and breakfast for two at Bishop's Lodge. An Easter Egg hunt, complimentary digital family photos, and tours of the historic Lamy Chapel will also be offered this Easter at the resort on Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011.

The traditional Easter Sunday Brunch will be offered from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The menu for Easter Brunch includes items such as New Mexico Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce, Bishop's Benedict, Smoked Salmon, Poached and Chilled Shrimp, Oysters on the Half Shell, and an array of desserts. Brunch is $48 person, $39 for seniors and $21 for children 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are free. Price does not include tax and gratuity.

For reservations, call (505) 819-4035