Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Cowboy Ciao

Boy does SouthBridge Smell Good

Josh Kenzer — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:10:43 +0000

SouthBridge, the cool urban district along the Arizona Canal, is heating up with all the cooking going on. In addition to staples like Cowboy Ciao, Digestif and Kazmierz Wine Bar, check out these updates and openings:

Fred Unger’s restaurants announce plans for fall season:

Metro Brasserie, a friendly neighborhood eatery featuring New Orleans-style fare, plans Monday night “Pique-Nique d-ete” wine dinners beginning in August. The savory Plates de Deux (affordable daily cuisine specials for two) will change with the bounty of the autumn season and guests will be able to enjoy live music on “Stetson Park” from the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

Estate House, the beautiful multi-level dinner house with terraces overlooking the waterfront, will begin offering lunch service in September. Monthly wine dinners (featuring fine wineries such as Far Niente, Silver Oak and others) will also be offered in the fall. The restaurant’s casual uptown city lounge, Upstairs, will continue its popular Wine on Wednesday’s Happy Hour and plans live entertainment nightly.

Joseph Gutierrez Opens Three New Restaurants at SouthBridge

Tutto opened mid-July serving authentic Italian fare, including homemade pastas, cheeses and breads.
Acua has plans to open late summer and offer Asian-influence French cuisine.
Tapas Papa Fritas will offer Spanish fare with touches from Gutierrez’s European heritage. It is scheduled to open in the fall.

Other independently owned and operated businesses at SouthBridge:

The Chef’s Loft, offering culinary classes and private events, plans to open in the fall.

Master Mixologists Serve up Innovative Drink Options

Josh Kenzer — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:19:31 +0000

As a man who knows the true meaning of cocktail culture, Peter Kasperski has dreamt up some of Scottsdale’s most delectable drink items. You won’t see soda guns or bar blenders in any of his four downtown restaurants where emphasis is placed on fresh juices and ingredients. Try the absinthe-infused Nightfly at Cowboy Ciao or Digestif’s Pretty Ugli, a mixture of fresh basil, Nardini Acqua di Cedro and lemon. For more information, visit www.cowboyciao.com.

Bill DeGroot of the SouthBridge Restaurant Group is the mastermind behind two of Scottsdale’s most infamous cocktails, the Strawberry Smash at CANAL and Pear Alsace at Estate House. The mixture of strawberries, fresh mint and potato vodka makes CANAL’s drink a real palate pleaser, and one sip of the pear-flavored drink will make you think you’ve actually taken a bite into the fruit. It’s a blend of Grey Goose vodka, pear brandy and lemon juice garnished with a fanned-out Anjou pear. For more information on CANAL, visit www.canalaz.com. For more information on Estate House, visit www.estatehouseaz.com .

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa’s newest bar, edge, has a drink menu that’s as extensive as the list at award-winning restaurant, elements. Liquid Relations founder Ryan Magarian taught edge staff the skills behind “liquid cooking,” concocting items like the chamomile breeze, a fusion of gin, honey and lemon steeped with chamomile tea leaves. And we’d be remiss not to mention the innovative spins on classics like the Tom Collins and Sidecar. For more information, visit www.sanctuaryaz.com.