As someone who tries to follow a Stoic philosophy in life, I know that the key is to have zero expectations. Which when it came to visiting Arizona is exactly what I had.
I recently headed to Phoenix for a short visit, with no idea what to expect or imagine. What I did find was a fantastically vibrant and colourful city, packed with history and depth. A place that was the centre of a rich and ancient Native American culture, with lots of food and vegetation unique to this part of Southwest America.
Fact: “Arizona is home to some of the oldest documented food traditions in North America.”
The icing on the cake though was what can only be described as one of the best restaurants I’ve discovered over the years. Valentine.
A bit of scrolling online described this place as having "New Arizona Cuisine” with a menu that explores the regional Sonoran Desert through the dishes. Of course, when it was time for a meal. I had to go see what it was all about.
What I didn’t realize is that others had also seen its potential, with Esquire naming it as “Best New Restaurants in America 2022” and the New York Times saying they had one of the “Top Restaurant Dishes of 2022”. And boy, I can’t disagree with any of this.
LA, Bahrain, NYC, Dubai, London…you have much to learn from this desert outpost. I’m petrified of describing it badly and not giving it the justice it deserves, but here goes…
Valentine is laid back and unassuming, cool without trying, has a menu that explores local produce without being overruled by it and is a true all-day dining spot. Go in the a.m. with your laptop and have one of their popular pastries, head for lunch with some friends or even a dinner a deux.
It truly hits the jackpot on all-day dining, whilst also having a huge vintage store attached with actual, real finds at decent prices. Walk in hungry, walk out well fed and with a thrifted leather studded jacket for under 50 bucks. Or in my case with a MCM green goblet the size of a globe, that i had to hand carry on two flights and three car rides, sans box, just to treasure the memories of this excellent restaurant!
My visit was at brunch time (and if the food gods allow, I will fly back again just to eat here for dinner later this year) and we ordered Steak & Eggs that came with pork belly beans, freshly made tortillas and huitlacoche butter as well as the Taco Trio including one with Anasazi beans. A thoughtful menu that made me feel nourished from the inside out.
I may have set out to be a stoic explorer, but Arizona had other plans for me! I left sad wanting to stay longer. But happy that I had discovered this fascinating state with so much more for me to explore.
