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 find some of Flagstaff's best bowls of soup, stew and chili

Soup and salad combo at Wildflower

"Soups, stews and chilis"
By Angele Sionna

From chowder to chili, gazpacho, bisque, borscht, gumbo, goulash, consommé and more – soups are a body-warming must when there’s a chill in the air. Whether an entrée or appetizer, a good soup is hard to beat. Here’s a look at a few great spots to grab a bowl of winter goodness…

Wildflower Bread Company
530 East Piccadilly Drive (at Butler and Lone Tree)
From vegetarian favorites like butternut squash to classic chicken noodle to hearty veggie beef stew, Wildflower is the first place that pops to mind when I crave soup. They have six choices daily... something for every whim. Potato cream cheese, vegetarian chili, French onion, chicken and dumplings, chicken coconut curry, forest mushroom, roasted corn… the list is seemingly endless. Order up a bowl of one of their thicker varieties in a bread bowl for maximum fullness. Or have a soup and sandwich or soup and salad combo. Really, any which way you do soup here, any time of the day, you can count on it being delish. Check out their soup of the day menus at wildflowerbread.com/soup.

Simply Delicious’ CAFé Daily Fare
408 E. Route 66
The homemade soups at Café Daily Fare are eclectic as the rest of their cuisine. There are two to four choices daily during the winter, including a vegan and a gluten-free option. Selections can include New England and Manhattan clam chowders, tortilla lime, white bean kale, southwestern quinoa, mulligatawny, classic minestrone, split pea wild rice, classic chicken noodle and others. Call for the soups of the day: 774-2855.

It’s About Coffee
2620 N Steves Blvd
It’s About Coffee is a popular spot for soup enjoyment. They offer two choices Monday through Saturdays. One is always the vegetarian and gluten-free tomato lentil. The other soup o the day changes between sausage three bean, chicken enchilada, red potato ham, chicken wild rice mushroom and split pea. That chicken enchilada is gluten-free and ever so tasty! They can run out of soup so get there for an early lunch. Call for today’s soup at: 779-1053.

Beaver Street Brewery & Whistle Stop Cafe
11 S Beaver St., Flagstaff
Beaver Street is a Flag staple for many reasons, including their hearty soups and chilis. Their choices change daily and usually include a chili of the day plus a soup of the moment. All I’ve tried are satisfyingly tasty but of particular greatness – Beaver Street’s thick, creamy and spicy southwestern corn chowder and any of their chilis. In fact, I’d dare say Beaver Street is the place to beat for chili in town. Order up a bowl, a beer and some of that ginger stout cake- and you’ve got yourself a delightful tummy-warming winter meal. Call for the soup and chili specials of the day: 779-0079.

Satchmo’s
2320 N. 4th St
Satchmo’s is home to Flagstaff’s Cajun soul food and barbeque. During the winter in addition to their popular gumbo and jumbalaya, you can also sometimes find fresh pots of cheddar ale soup, a zesty chicken soup and/or what they call Trust Chili –with locally raised beef from Flying M ranch plus other hearty ingredients like black beans and Anaheim chilis plus Satchmo’s smoked spice blend. Call to see what soups are on at 774-7292.

Mountain Oasis International Restaurant
11 E Aspen Ave
Mountain Oasis prides itself on its homemade soups. This upscale yet relaxed café in the heart of downtown serves up several soups per day, which change periodically. The variety can range from a special cream of carrot to an old school split pea as well as inventions like their unique curry salmon chowder. Mountain Oasis consistently includes at least one vegetarian soup choice.  Check to see what the soups of the day are at 214-9270.

*This article originally ran in the December 16, 2010 issue of Flagstaff Live!, also written by me, of course!*

Satchmo's Update (12/16/10) Flagstaff, Arizona

Satchmo's BBQ

2320 N. 4th St

Flagstaff, AZ
Satchmo's is open in it's new location, in a small unassuming shopping complex on 4th st just south of 7th ave. The brightly colored Louis armstrong-themed decor lifts the spirits on your lunch break, sans any spirits offerings. The tables are covered in paper with a box of crayons in the condiments baskets for doodling as you wait for your order to be delivered. When you walk in, head to the counter and check out the menu -there are a few changes since they first opened in the tiny old location, most notably no turkey sandwiches.
There are some additions worth trying too... Like the trust chili, made with local free range beef. This is an almost soupy gumbo like style of chili. It's quite tasty and warms both the mouth and the tummy. And it comes with a nice little cornbread roll. Order a small /2 pint for $3.50 or a large pint for $6. Another must have, the satchmos tots. These babies are deep fried then coated with satchmos special seasonings. Quite a tasty treat.
On the barbecue front, satchmos has pulled pork, brisket and chicken sandwiches plus ribs, all of which you can order as a basket with a side or stand alone.
The house made barbecue sauces are right on the table. Choose either sweet or spicy. Both are thick and flavorful options.
Satchmos doesn't have their menu posted anywhere officially yet, so check out the below photo for the menu as of December 16, 2010:

Do note they're closed on Sundays and Mondays. Check their website for current hours.

Lucky Foods for the New Year (and where to find them at Flagstaff restaurants)

Would you believe that good luck in 2010 may be as simple as eating the right things to ring in the new year? All over the world, there are New Year’s customs that involve eating special foods to bring good fortune over the upcoming twelve months. Here’s a look at some of the customs and where you can find some of the foods in Flagstaff…

Southerners eat up black eyed peas and collard greens to bring luck in the new year. Tinderbox (34 South San Francisco Street, 226.8400) is your best bet in Flagstaff for some Southern charmed foods. (If you were wondering, the legend of the lucky black eyed peas comes out of Vicksburg, Virginia during the civil war. The town supposedly ran out of food but was saved when they discovered black eyed peas.)
Southerners also add corn bread to their New Year feasts, corn bread symbolizing the wealth of gold. You can find corn bread at Big Foot BBQ (120 N. Leroux, 226-1677), Beaver Street Brewery (11 Beaver Street, 779-0079), and Satchmo’s (1924 East Arrowhead, 774-7292).
Another on the lucky list: noodles. The Japanese find good fortune in them. Get served a tasty helping of Japanese-style noodles at Karma Sushi (6 E Rte 66, 774-6100) and Sakura (1175 Old Route 66, 773-9118).
Cabbage and sauerkraut are considered to bring luck. You can find authentic German sauerkraut at the Matterhorn Grill (103 S Birch, 226.7388). For cabbage, check out the Corned Beef and Cabbage at Collins Irish Pub (2 N Leroux, 214.7363). They’ve also got you covered with their Fish and Chips – made with lucky cod.
If all else fails – anything green from broccoli to lettuce to grapes, even green jello will supposedly buy you some new year’s luck, as green represents money. On that note, a salad’s got you easily covered with all the green. Add an extra blessing by adding shrimp (a Japanese food eaten at the new year to represent long life). So for that extra lucky, long life salad try the Southwestern Shrimp Caesar at Oregano’s (605 Riordan Road, 773.8600). Speaking of green things, keep 12 grapes in your pocket to eat at midnight. In Cuba and Spain, this is considered to bring good fortune in the 12 months ahead.
For your sweet tooth – consume your luck by devouring a filled donut, as is the tradition of several European countries. Stock up ahead of your New Year’s Eve bash with good ones from Malone’s Bakery & Deli (1490 S. Riordan Ranch Road, 913.0133) or Mountain Delights Bakery (inside the Flagstaff Mall).
Whatever you do – don’t eat lobster or chicken to ring in the new year, both are considered to bring bad luck.
But do leave a little something of each food on your plate, no matter what you order. It’s considered to symbolize a well stocked pantry and luck for the year ahead, at least according to the Germans.

Sources for background on lucky foods for the New Year: epicurious.com and fabulousfoods.com.


This story also will appear in Flagstaff Live's December 31, 2009 issue.

Satchmo's barbecue in Flagstaff

• Satchmo's
  
• 129 E Arrowhead, just of Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ
• Menu online at: satchmosaz.com

The Food (taste/flavor/quality of food & drinks)
>>>= good, but not great

The Atmosphere (environment, wait staff, comfortableness)
x= if the food’s good enough, still worth going, otherwise forget it

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

Value (what you get for your money)
* = overpriced period, food isn’t good enough to make up for the cost

Satchmo's is a relative newcomer to Flagstaff, located just off of Route 66 a few miles east of downtown, in a small building with a drive thru and walk up window. There are two tables outside to sit at if you opt to "dine in." They have limited hours/days they're open - Wednesdays thru Saturdays from 11am-2pm and 4-7pm.

Satchmo's serves up barbequed sandwiches and pork ribs plus gumbo and jambalaya. The ribs are only available from 4-7pm on Saturday nights. They say they do run out, so go early if you're craving ribs. The sandwich options include pulled pork and beef plus smoked turkey. Sides include Kansas City Pit style baked beans, red potato salad, cornbread and slaw.

Satchmo's has a lot of hype, so it is a place I had to try. But ever time I've gone I've left feeling hungry and disappointed. I've tried their large beef sandwich, large turkey sandwich and small jambalaya. I asked the difference between the small and large sandwiches besides the $1.50 price - I was told the small was 1/4 pound of meat and the large was 1/2 pound. So I was expecting a nice size sandwich for my $7 a pop -no sides included, but that was not the case. The portions were far from generous and our large sandwiches looked much closer to a quarter pounder. (For only $12 you can get a full pound of meat over at Big John's down the street. And his pound of meat is way more than double of what's on Satchmo's large sandwich.)

As far as taste goes, the beef has good flavor on its own. It is seasoned well and a touch towards the salty side. But the sauces don't add much. The sweet barbeque sauce is thick and the better choice here, as the spicy sauce doesn't taste like barbeque sauce at all. It tastes more like chili powder in a watery tomato base. The turkey was tender and good. But again I was disappointed because it tastes more like Thanksgiving turkey than the smoky flavor of barbequed turkey.

As for the jambalaya, I would expect a small for $3 to be somewhat filling, as jumbalyaya is commonly served as a dish on its own in the south. But the small is definitely more of a side dish here. It wouldn't be filling for anyone but a little kid. Makes me wonder how large the large is. The flavor was spicy but was missing the big ol chunks of stuff. Instead the sausage and celery was in really small bits.

All in all Satchmo's was a let down when considering price, portions and taste. The flavorings were decent but there's several places in town with just as good or better taste where you also get more for your money.