Where to celebrate July's food holidays in Flagstaff

Right in the heat of the summer comes a variety of food holidays with such varied tastes. July is National baked Bean Month, Bison Month, Culinary Arts Month, Grilling Month, Hot Dog Month and Ice Cream Month. It’s also home to the following food holidays…

July 6: National Fried Chicken Day

Get some finger lickin in on Fried Chicken Day at Louie’s Chicken Shack (2116 E Rte 66). They made their own unique batter that makes for juicy chicken strips. Mmm mmm good.

July 9: National Sugar Cookie Day

Sugar Mama’s (116 S San Francisco) has your sugar cookie fix for today. They make a mean sugar cookie with royal icing. Perfect for an afternoon snack break along with a cup of coffee to really get your energy levels going.

July 10: National Pina Colada Day

If you like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain, this day falls at the perfect time for Arizona residents, usually in monsoon season this time of the year. Refresh as you watch the rain sprinkle down from the patio at Picazzo’s (1300 South Milton) with a tropical tasty pina colada in hand. They’re not technically on the menu there, but you can order one anyway made with their organic liquor.

July 13: National French Fries Day

Without any hesitation whatsoever, head to the best spot in Flag for fries: Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux St). Theirs are scrumptiously cooked and tossed with Herbs de Provence for the perfect aromatic presentation for your nose, mouth and tummy.

July 20: National Hot Dog Day, National Ice Cream Soda Day and Fortune Cookie Day

Hope you’re hungry today with all these food holidays. Start off with a plump juicy dog with your favorite condiments from Primo’s (113 S San Francisco). Then head over to the Galaxy Diner (931 W Rte 66) for an old fashioned Ice Cream Soda (Go for the Brown Cow). For dinner, get your Chinese on at Golden Dragon (2730 East Lakin Drive) and finish up your meal with a fortune cookie.

July 24: National Tequila Day
With over two dozen tequilas in house, Plaza Bonita (1551 South Milton) is the place to go for a tequila taste testing party tonight. Whether you’re looking for silver, reposado, anejo or gold, they have the full spectrum of price points for all tequila lovers to enjoy including top shelf favorites like Don Julio, Tres Generaciones and others.

July 27: National Crème Brulee Day
Celebrate this sweet holidays with a desert stopover at Jospehine’s (503 North Humphreys). They make some of the best crème brulee around. Their creamy sweet cup of heaven tastes even better with a cup of coffee out under the stars on their relaxing patio.

July 24: National Lasagna Day

Celebrate lasagna day a little early and head to Frank’s Daily Bread (1490 Riordan Ranch Rd) on Wednesdays when lasagna with meat sauce is the lunch special of the day. For $7 you get a big slice of lasagna, side salad, garlic bread and a drink. It’s the only day lasagna is available there.

July 30: National Cheesecake Day

Beautiful Leaf Bakery (2028 North 4th Street) makes over a dozen varieties of cheesecake from their most popular traditional and strawberry cheesecakes to unique blends like Black Forest, Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate, Lemon, German Chocolate, White Chocolate Raspberry, and many others. Plus, they’ll make any other flavor you desire. All are available in 3-9” sizes.

Check out more food holidays happening in July from TheNibble.com.

(Note: This article was written, also by me, for Flagstaff Live!)

Where to celebrate June food holidays in Flagstaff, AZ

June is the time for fun in the sun… and apparently a sweet tooth. This month is filled with celebrations of sugary tweets from National Candy Month to 25 days of the month that celebrate everything from hazelnut cake and rocky road ice cream to gingerbread and peanut butter cookies. And yet, there’s still room for other food celebrations. Here’s a look at a few of the 45 food holidays celebrated in June and where to sing their praises in Flagstaff…

June 3: National Egg Day

National Egg Day calls for a trip to La Bellavia (18 S. Beaver). This breakfast joint serves up egg-cellent trout and eggs, steak and eggs, egg burritos, eggs benedict, omelets, chorizo scramble, quiche, fiesta eggs, Italian eggs, vegetable garden eggs and Eggs Bellavia.

June 4: National Cheese Day

New Jersey Pizza (2224 E Cedar Ave) is the place to head for National Cheese Day. They make their very own fresh pulled mozzarella, which you can buy at their eatery or at the Flagstaff Farmer’s Market on Sundays (which starts soon). It also tastes heavenly melted on their ever so delish pizzas.

June 5: National Gingerbread Day

Celebrate this day of sweet delight with dessert at Beaver Street Brewery (11 S Beaver). Their Apple Ginger Stout Cake is made with apples, spices and their R&R Oatmeal Stout and comes topped with caramel sauce and whipped cream. It is a creative twist on traditional gingerbread and one of THE very best desserts made in Flagstaff.

June 10: National Black Cow (aka root beer float) Day

For all things diner-ific, including Black Cows, the Galaxy Diner (931 W Route 66) is a must stop. This retro diner takes you back in time with their ice cream sodas, malts and milkshakes.

June 17: Eat All Your Veggies Day

You won’t have any trouble celebrating this day of good for you goodness at the 1899 Grill (307 W. Dupont Ave, across from the High Country Conference Center and Drury Inn and Suites). Start your dinner off with a bowl of the pepper and gouda soup followed by the spaghetti squash that’s sautéed in olive oil and garlic and tossed with fresh pomodoro sauce and basil.

June 18: International Picnic Day

Grab hot dogs - go for the Chicago-style Easy Dog classic- from Primo’s (113 S San Francisco), burgers from Mama Burger (12 E. Route 66) or sandwiches –try The New Yorker or The Paisan- from Stage Left Sub Shop (on Beaver St between Aspen and Route 66) and head up to the Snowbowl for the perfect summer picnic spot.

June 22: National Onion Rings Day

Drive a few miles south of town for some of the best onion rings you’ve ever had the pleasure of devouring at Mountainaire Tavern (110 Mountainaire Rd). 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! (So maybe come here on June 17^th too!)

For a full list of the 45 June food holidays, go to TheNibble.com. 

This article was originally written for Flagstaff Live! by me!

Where to celebrate March Food Holidays in Flagstaff

Here we are to March, as we take our trip through the year looking at national food holidays and where to celebrate them in Flagstaff. Be sure to look out for Chocolate Chip Cookie Week is the second week of the month! Every single day in March actually has some sort of food holiday, so here are just the highlights and where to hit up in town to feast those days...

March 6
National Frozen Food Day is on the calendar, so just heat up lunch in ye ol microwave… or take a different take and go for drinking something tasty and frozen like a frozen margarita at Salsa Brava (2220 East Rte. 66) or one of the delish milkshakes at Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux, on the square), as they both have something frozen in them worthy of your tasting.

March 14
It’s “Pi Day” in math geek circles (as “pi” is 3.141414) so celebrate in solidarity and eat some homemade pie goodness at Miz Zips (2924 E Route 66 ) or the Galaxy Diner (931 W Route 66). Really any reason to celebrate pie is a good one and these two spots make ones worthy of merrymaking.

March 17
Today is Corned Beef And Cabbage Day – of course, as it is St Patrick’s Day! Head to Collin’s Irish Pub (2 N. Leroux St.) downtown. They serve this classic Irish dish up every day slow cooked just how it should be. Down a pint (or two) of Guinness just to be in the spirit of the day while you’re there too.

March 18
Warm your tummy with sweet baked goodness on Oatmeal Cookie Day. Try out the ones at Macy’s Coffee House (14 S. Beaver St.). They don’t do oatmeal everyday, but when they do – mmmmm. You can, however, special order them to celebrate your love of Oatmeal Cookie Day or any other day for that matter.

March 19
Poultry Day should take you to Cottage Place (126 West Cottage Ave.) to dine on the finest birds in town. Opt for their Chinatown duck roasted in an Asian Marinade and served with a plum sauce or try the artichoke chicken for a fancy grilled take on a chicken breast entree.

March 21
National French Bread Day, so you know where to go – The Village Baker (1237 S Plaza Way), home to every type of wonderfully scrumptious bread you can think of made by hand in town.

March 23
It’s National Chip and Dip Day so head for some pita chips and hummus dip at Pita Jungle (320 S Regent St.). They have traditional hummus (made with chickpea puree, tahini sauce, fresh garlic and lemon juice), a roasted bell pepper hummus plus a cilantro jalepeno hummus that adds some extra zing.

March 28
For celebrating Something On A Stick Day, take a trip to the Greek Islands (109 East Phoenix Ave.) and welcome the traditionally delightful flavors of beef or chicken souvlaki (that’s beef or chicken on a skewer stick, if you’re not familiar).

March 31
The month ends on Tater Day. So for some of them good ol’ fried up taters, mosey on over to Satchmo’s (2320 North 4th St.) for tater tots with their secret seasonings and/or Bigfoot BBQ’s (120 N. Leroux in the Old Town Shops basement) tater salad for a lip smacking tater tribute.

Every single day of March has a food celebration. You can check out every single one of them at TheNibble.com, should you desire to do so, then think of your fav spots in town to celebrate them.

(This article was written by me originally for Flagstaff Live!)

Where to get a Thanksgiving pie in the Flagstaff area

Pie and turkey are a must at every Thanksgiving feast. The following places in Flagstaff and Williams are good options and take pre-orders for top notch pies. Most also serve up pie by the slice any other day of business. Yum!

Pine Country Restaurant
107 N Grand Canyon Blvd, Williams
928-635-9718
This is “the big mama” of the pie world in northern Arizona. They have 30 different pies available for your devouring every day! The Pine Country pies are so delish and served with a generous slice filling up the plate. You will want to go back for another slice at your next meal, even for breakfast. The options abound and they’ll fax you over a complete list if you give them a ring. That way you can have your choices narrowed down before you get there because once you gaze into that refrigerated pie case, you’re going to be tempted to get several. Pies are sold by the slice or whole and they only need a few days notice most of the time but for Thanksgiving it’s best to get orders in earlier. Pies range from traditional flavors like apple, pumpkin and Double Chocolate (see photo) to more exotic delights like Double Butterscotch, Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter and Hawaiian Delight. Let’s just say it’s a good thing there’s about 30 miles in between Flagstaff and Pine Country for your waistline.

Galaxy Diner
931 W Route 66
774-2466
A classic diner of course serves up this staple – by the slice or the whole. Among the options: cherry, apple, coconut, lemon meringue, and pumpkin. Order by November 19 for Thanksgiving.

Miz Zips
2924 E Route 66
526-0104
Monday is pie day at Miz Zips! There’s lots of choices from chocolate, coconut, pumpkin, rhubarb, peach, cherry, blackberry, blueberry and more. Other days of the week they have pies too but just not as many options to choose from as on Mondays. Order two weeks in advance for Thanksgiving.

Macy’s
14 S Beaver
774-2243
Pies are back with the fall weather at Macys. They generally will whip one up every few days, but you could get lucky and it could be more often depending on who is in the kitchen. Flavors include pumpkin, apple blackberry and others. You can special order pies for Thanksgiving or any other day.

Village Baker
1237 S. Plaza Way, University Plaza Shopping Center (This is their new retail location)
773-9320
Village Baker usually has pies in its new retail location on Fridays and Saturdays, sometimes by the slice, sometimes by the whole. You can always special order a pie. And they can do just about anything you can think of. For Thanksgiving be sure to get your order in early.

Caked
2028 N Fourth St
522-9195
Normally a bakery reserved just for cheesecakes and the like, Caked makes special mini-pies about 4.5” big (or small) starting the week before Thanksgiving. They make pumpkin, pecan, apple and cherry. You can preorder anytime. They just need 24 hours notice on the orders and are closed Sundays and Mondays.