Two new Chick-fil-A open in Tucson today

Tucson opened it's first two Chick-fil-A's today and it seems that fans were camping out overnight to be the first in line and in the city to get their favorite chicken sandwich. Actually they were camping out because the first hundred patrons of the new restaurants received 52 combo meal coupons, one for each week of the year! The new Chick-fil-A's on Broadway and on Oracle Road took over buildings that were previously occupied by Krispy Creme doughnuts.

I personally don't understand the following that Chick-fil-A has; there was one located in the food court of my hometown mall when I was a teenager and the sandwiches reminded me of those served in my high school cafeteria. But, I do understand what it's like to absolutely love a food so much that you'll stand in line for two hours to satisfy a long standing craving (can you say Double Double animal style?) When In-N-Out Burger opened in Phoenix several years ago I made my husband drive me up only to wait in line for two hours to get my food that I had to enjoy in my car because there was nowhere to sit inside the restaurant. Made a mess of my car but it was worth it!

Tucson's Armitage Wine Lounge a dissapointment

So I finally went to check out Armitage Wine Lounge at Tucson's La Encantada shopping mall. I actually went twice in about a two week time span, and I'm glad I did because I got two very different impressions each time. My first visit was on a Thursday night at about 6:30. When you walk in it can be difficult to see as the lights are really dim, but there are candles everywhere so it's really romantic if you're with the right person! I didn't feel like Armitage was very big; there's a large bar on the right side with about 10 seats and a few TV's. On the left is a casual seating area with large leather sofas and lounge chairs. In the back are maybe eight wooden tables, some chairs and benches for seating. The feel of this area almost reminded me of an Irish pub; small, tight and dark. There's quite a bit of seating outside on the patio, which has about 8-10 tables with chairs and a few outdoor lounge sofas as well as a flat screen TV. Dress code is Tucson casual with the Catalina Foothills flair, which means everyone will stylish and hip.

When my friend and I arrived the place was already busy. We walked outside to see if there were tables but found everything full. I'm actually glad we didn't sit outside because although there is a sign that says "No Smoking", there was someone sitting just outside the patio door puffing on a cigar. We headed back inside and found a high pub table by the window so we sat down. Did I mention that's it's dark in there? Though we had an outdoor light shining through the window onto our table, my friend still had trouble reading the menu. If you have problems with your eyesight bring a flashlight!

The menu at Armitage looks pretty interesting. They have a great wine selection, but everything is extremely overpriced. My husband and I really like Rombauer Chardonnay, which can be found for about $30 a bottle if you know where to look. Armitage charges $19 for one glass! I decided on another Chardonnay which ran about $12 per glass and was very good, but was probably also overpriced.

Armitage offers smaller menu items, similar to a tapas menu, and then a few salads, sandwiches and dinner entrees. Prices range from $4 to $20 depending on what you get. Their "Starter" menu had a few neat selections, like Hummus and Pita bread or a daily cheese board. On this visit my friend and I choose the Bruschetta. You can generally find this item at any Italian restaurant, but Armitage offers eight different varieties and gives you a choice of four. We decided on the Pesto Chicken and Roasted Tomato, Prosciutto, Chevre and Roasted Tomatoes, Brie and Green Apple and Chopped Tomatoes and Roasted Garlic. Each consists of a slice of crusty french bread with the various toppings. If you're sharing it can be difficult to spilt portions so be prepared. I thought each was pretty good, but not outstanding. The bread was a little tough and flavorless but the toppings were tasty so I'd call it a draw.

For our next course my friend decided on the Hearts of Romaine salad with Nutless Pesto Chicken and croutons, and I decided to split a half Italian sandwich with a small Spinach salad. I really enjoyed my salad, and it's toppings are very similar to those that North has on their Spinach salad; baby Spinach with crispy Prosciutto, Chevre and dried cranberries with bacon vinaigrette. The half portion of salad was big enough to be a full meal, but I also had the Italian sandwich which was really good. It's Focaccia with assorted Italian meats, Mozzarella, Roasted Tomatoes and Pesto; slightly greasy but extremely good, just keep you napkin handy! My friend also enjoyed her Romaine salad; it had large ripe tomatoes, shaved Reggiano cheese and big pieces of juicy chicken lightly covered in Pesto (can you really go wrong with anything that has Pesto on it?) We didn't have room for dessert that night but I was happy with my evening's choices so I didn't feel like I was missing out. The service was good; although the server was busy he was attentive and kept up with our pace so we never needed to ask for anything.

About a week and a half later I visited Armitage again with my husband and one of his co workers. This time we arrived at about 5:30 and headed directly to the patio. There were two people at the bar and one table of ladies outside on the patio, so we were able grab a nice patio table to enjoy Tucson's great temperatures. The first thing I noticed once we sat down was that a woman at the table next to us was smoking, even with the "No Smoking" sign on the glass window right in front of her. Now my understanding of Tucson's smoking ordinance is that you can smoke but you must be 20 feet away from the business entrance/exit. This woman was two feet max. Luckily she and her party left about 10 minutes after we sat down.

Since I had enjoyed the Bruschetta on my first visit I recommend we try it that night as well. We also decided on the Baked Brie with Honey and Smoked Almonds and the Prime Rib Sliders. Unfortunately most of the food was a disappointment. We tried the same Bruschetta variations I'd had before, but these we dry and virtually flavorless. The baked Brie was very poor; the small portion was cold, somewhat dry and also flavorless, with no honey that we could find. The Prime Rib Sliders, sliced Prime rib on soft rolls served with Au Jus for dipping, weren't bad, but the rolls were cold and the only flavor came from the Horseradish dipping sauce. Luckily I had gotten my Spinach salad which again was good so I was happy. I'd been saving room for a dessert called Chocolate Brix cake, but when I asked the server about it he said he would check to see if it was available because he thought they were out. He returned 15 minutes later and didn't even mention it.

One of the biggest problems during this second dining experience at Armitage was the service. From the moment we sat down the server was neglectful, and there were few other diners to draw his attention so I'm not sure what the reason was. I was a food server for about 10 years when I was young, so I'm very patient and understanding, always trying to give the benefit of the doubt, but I didn't even see an attempt on this guy's part. Water glasses were left empty, no check backs to see how everything was, no mention of my dessert request and a rush to drop off the bill and get paid.

I guess I really wouldn't recommend Armitage to anyone unless

1. You enjoy overpaying for wine that's not that unique

2. You really don't care what the food is like

3. You don't mind cigarette smoke in a non smoking establishment

4. You have super human eye sight that allows you to read in the dark.

Although Armitage does offer some great drink specials like half price bottles of wine on Wednesday, even those won't bring me back.

Tucson's newest In-n-Out Burger opens tomorrow!

It seems like just yesterday when the very first In-n-Out Burger opened in Central Tucson. Tomorrow our second In-n-Out will open in Marana, or NW Tucson, almost two years after it was to be completed. Better late then never I guess. It feels like we've hit the big time now!

Tucsons's Turkey wars

The competition has begun for Tucson area grocery stores in their quest to sell the most turkeys! Tucson's weekly grocery sales ads came out today and it looks like Safeway and Frys are both offering to match their competitors prices. Now I don't really know who has the best deal. I guess it depends on which brand you prefer, Jennie-O, Manor House or Honeysuckle. I don't know if brands matter; as long as the bird is crispy outside, juicy inside and has lots of gravy in a boat next to him I'm happy.

Safeway's price is regularly between $1-$1.20 per pound depending on which brand you choose. Frys is regularly $1.49 per pound. These are all "club prices", so you don't get that sales price if you're not part of the club!

If you'll only eat an all natural turkey, you can find that at Ike's Farmers Market for a hefty $2 per pound! These turkeys are individually boxed if you choose to give them as a gift. Kind of crazy!

Tavolino offers some of Tucson's best Italian

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about Tavolino Italian restaurant is "make a reservation". The second thing that comes to mind is that I'm close to enjoying some of the best Italian cuisine in town. This little family run restaurant (and I do mean little; there are only 12 tables) has been hopping since it first opened in 2004. Though small, Tavolino has a lot of charm in an elegant, urban sort of way. With white walls and tables clothes, subdued lighting and candles on each table, dining at Tavolino can be a romantic experience if you want it to be. Still, the tables are very close together, so don't say anything you don't want you neighbors to hear! Whenever I've dined there I've seen more small groups then couples, but it's never been so noisy that I couldn't hold a conversation, so it's great for whatever your planning. There's a small bar which may seat four or five people uncomfortably (pretty crammed), but the liquor selection is limited so the bar isn't a place where people hang out anyway. Service has always been great whenever I've dined there, and the wait staff seem to know their business. Tavolino is located in a strip mall (the Safeway shopping center) in NW Tucson, but don't let that fool you. Once you get inside you'll forget your in Tucson.

As I said the food at Tavolino is some of the best Italian you can find in Tucson. The menu consists of a small number of entrees, maybe 12, but there's a lot of variety so you sure to find something you'll like. Tavolino offers several appetizers, but I never order these because I'm always saving room for desert. I also tend to fill up on the warm ciabatta bread and olive oil they bring to the table. I do love my carbs! Still I try to eat a well balanced meal so I make sure I start with a salad. My favorite is the insalata Tavolina, which is fresh romaine with garlic croutons, vinaigrette dressing and a few sliced tomatoes to garnish. It's a nice, lite salad that's a great start but not too filling.

Entrees at Tavolino include several pasta options, steak, chicken, lamb chops and generally some type of fish. When I dine Italian I always go for the pasta, and you'll find incredible selection here because it's all homemade. I think I've mentioned I like clean flavors that aren't overwhelming, and everything I order at Tavolino satifies that desire. The Lasagna is my favorite. Though lasagna tends to have the same ingredients (layers of pasta filled with creamy cheese and a meat ragu), Tavolino's is very fresh and doesn't feel quite as heavy as some. I've also enjoyed a wonderful Penna pasta with mushrooms and sausage in a tomato cream sauce. Yum! During a current visit my girlfriend ordered the Ravioli filled with butternut squash and topped with a lite butter sage sauce. This combination of flavors was incredible and perfect for Fall. Another friend fell in love with the grilled chicken that's marinated in lime juice and rosemary. Although I don't like to eat anything that's on a bone (I don't like anything that requires too much work to eat) I have to admit it looked and smelled wonderful. The roasted vegetables and red potatoes that accompanied it made my mouth water. Entrees at Tavolino aren't too big so you won't be left with that "what have I done" feeling after your meal.

As I mentioned Tavolino does have a bar but if you want something other then wine your choices are limited. There are a few beers and liquors, and a good wine selection that's not too pricey. My husband and I don't drink much Italian wine so we usually depend on our server to help us make a selection. The wait staff is very knowledgeable about the wines offered and we've gotten great recommendations.

I mentioned that I always save room for dessert, but when I've gone overboard and don't have a lot of room left I go for the Affogato (vanilla gelato with a shot of espresso on top). It's still lite and gives me that much needed pick me up after a hearty Italian meal and wine. Tavolino also has an incredible Tiramisu and a to die for chocolate custard with caramel sauce (the Bonet).

After all my great experiences with Tavolino I have to say it's one of my favorites. The prices are a little higher, with most entrees running between $12 -$20, but the food makes it all worth it. Dress is business casual (don't wear torn jeans and flip flops!). And remember, make a reservation!

Arizona DUI laws are tough (thank goodness)!

While visiting Doug Trudeau's blog I came across an article I found interesting but also important. It seems that every week I hear of some type of car accident involving minors and alcohol. It's not just the minors either; a lot of people drive after throwing back a few and just don't realize that their abilities might be compromised. The holiday season is almost upon us and it's important to remember that even one drink can be too much for some drivers. Anyway, I thought Doug's entry was great so I've included a link.

http://www.tucsonrealestateblogs.com/2007/11/01/dui-laws-in-arizona-are-tough/