Profile: Fournos Restaurant- Ivan Flowers, Chef/Owner
- Open for just over a year
- 3000 Hwy 89A, Sedona AZ 86336
- 928.282.3331
- www.fournossedona.com
- twitter: fournossedona
- facebook: Fournos Restaurant
Examiner: What makes your establishment unique?
Ivan: That every dish is cooked by the chef himself...Guests receive 5-star cuisine in a casual, intimate atmosphere.
Examiner: What is a little known factoid about your place?
Ivan: I have a secret stash of wines, so always ask what OTHER wines are in the building!
Examiner: What is your specialty?
Ivan: Declectic cuisine. My first priority when cooking a dish is to always make it delicious. Additionally, the dishes he creates are a fusion of Italian, French & New American, thus eclectic.
Related articles
Ivan: It is really all about the food. For not only the guests but for me as well.
Examiner: Anything new on the horizon that people can look forward to trying?
Ivan: The spring menu & the ever changing boutique wine list.
Examiner: What is the top thing you recommend visitors to your city do/see - besides your business, of course?
Ivan: Oak Creek Canyon. It is an unexpected oasis in the middle of Sedona. Canopy of trees, flowing creek and of course, spectacular Red Rocks.
This article is part of a travel series profiling chefs, owners, managers and people behind the scenes of restaurants, hotels and other things of interest to tourists and locals alike across the Western US. These profiles also include a local favorite thing to see or do from the person at the helm in addition to him or her sharing the local flavor of their place.
By Angele Sionna
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The best Mexican food I’ve had in Arizona... that about sums up Sedona’s Javelina Cantina in one sentence. Located south of the “Y” on Highway 179 in the upscale Hillside Shopping Center, this restaurant is welcoming as soon as you walk in the door. The décor is modern southwest with stone and metal used heavily throughout. It really reflects the city’s chic artsy atmosphere. Large windows let patrons enjoy the famous Sedona scenery without the heat. But the best spot to sit is on the patio, which features a relaxing red rock waterfall and a great view of the city.
For the main course, I had the South of the Border Combo Uno ($14.95), one of Javelina Cantina’s signature meals. It comes with one cheese enchilada, one green corn tamale, and one taco plus rice and beans. The enchiladas were, simply said, awesome. A tortilla filled with hot cheeses topped with a flavorful tomato-based sauce with just enough kick but not spicy. Also, thankfully, they weren’t greasy like too many other Mexican restaurants. The tamale was about twice the side of typical tamales. It was covered with melted cheese and served without a husk. It was nice to have a vegetarian tamale. Too often you don’t get much variety in this dish. The masa was thick with a corn, cheese and green chile center. Again, full of flavor but not spicy. I’m thinking that must be a trait of Sonoran-style Mexican food, which I’ve honestly never heard of before eating here. The chicken taco was my least favorite part of my combo but still decent. It was filled with super-thinly shredded chicken but a little dry and bland in comparison to the other items. I added some of the guac we had for an appetizer and it really improved it. My dad opted for beef tacos on his combo and thought they were much better than the chicken ones.
My husband ordered the Steak Fajitas ($17.95). They were perfect for one, but probably not enough to share like at other places. The steak was marinated and grilled with onions, tomatoes, and red peppers. The juices all ran together making a savory sauce. The meat itself was very tender and far above your average fajita meat. The fajitas come with warm flour tortillas, guacamole, and a special spicy sour crème sauce that they call crème fraiche. Javelina Cantina also serves chicken ($17.95), shrimp ($18.95), Tilapia white fish ($17.95), or garden vegetable ($14.95) fajitas.
Not to be overlooked are Javelina Cantina’s margaritas. What Mexican restaurant meal would be complete with one of these! This cantina is not messing around with their margarita menu. It has at least ten different varieties… from a standard frozen concoction ($6.50) to a Green Monster ($8.00), which is a standard margarita with a Midori float, to a Fiesta Titanic ($12.75), which has a mixture of mango and prickly pear margaritas with Midori and Blue Curacao added.
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