Page 38 May 2 0 1 4 Must see: Uncover hidden gem at LGO’s Tasting Room By Michelle Donati-Grayson Nestled in one of Arcadia’s most beloved pizzerias is one of our community’s best- kept secrets. The Tasting Room at La Grande Orange has been open only five months, yet despite the droves of people who frequent the 12-year-old restaurant, many Arcadians haven’t yet experienced the eatery’s newest addition. LGO’s newest concept is that of a winery or brewery. The intimate space, which seats about 25, serves as a bar for the pizzeria. It is available for lunch seating during the week and also offers open seating and LGO’s full menu when dinner service begins daily at 4 p.m. Kimber Stonehouse is the wine curator for Tasting Room. Much like a curator selects art for a gallery, Stonehouse selects all of the wine and beer that is offered in the Tasting Room. Her selections are based on price, quality, flavor and value, as well as if something is missing from the shelf. The Tasting Room offers eight wines and eight beers on tap. It also offers three wines by the glass as well as handcrafted cocktails. Wine and beer range from $6 to $13 per glass and change seasonally. Current beers range from Four Peaks Arizona Peach Ale to a German hefeweizen. Wines vary from California Cabernet Sauvignon to an Italian Pinot Grigio. LGO’s signature growlers, which hold 2 liters of fresh beer, are available for $12. Re-filling a growler ranges from $12 to $30. Wine on tap is a relatively new trend. Each keg holds 26 bottles of wine, which is a space saver for bars with limited space, like the Tasting Room. Perhaps the biggest benefit of this trend is that it offers wine at cellar temperatures. This is important as most people drink their reds too warm and their whites too cold, Stonehouse says. Reds are best between 55 and 60 degrees, while whites should be consumed between 40 and 44 degrees. The Tasting Room lives up to its name by offering weekly, midweek wine tasting events. The two-hour events are an informal “flow-through” type tasting that includes three to four samples of wine. Some weeks, a single winery is highlighted, while other weeks showcase a portfolio of winemakers. Best of all, the tasting events are complimentary and are open to the public. Reservations aren’t required. Plus, guests save 10 percent on featured wines they purchase after the tastings. Stonehouse says she waits until there’s someone cool in town – such as the vineyard owner – to do the tasting. If a winemaker attends, for example, they may pour or help pour as well as talk about the wine. Events might expand in the future to include beer tastings. The room also is available to rent for private parties. Upcoming tastings are sent to LGO email subscribers and are also listed on its website lagrandeorangegrocery.com. Information on upcoming events also can be obtained by liking LGO’s Facebook page. In addition to the wine offered in the Tasting Room, the grocery at LGO carries 300 different wines. They also have a new program in which they will special order any wine they do not stock at guests’ requests. Stonehouse hopes that when someone buys a bottle of wine from LGO and takes it home, it over delivers what they paid for it. “Wine doesn’t have to be expensive to be enjoyed,” Stonehouse says. “There’s great wine at every price range; you just have to find it.” Whether you buy from the grocery, pizzeria or Tasting Room, one thing you won’t see with wine at LGO is a restaurant’s traditional 200 to 300 percent markup. Wine that costs $10 or $15 won’t be marked up to $50. Likewise, a $50 bottle of wine will be just that, $50. The reason is simple, Stonehouse says.“We want to sell wine. It’s easier and saves our guests money.” IF YOU GO: Park in the LGO’s secret, self-parking lot at 4530 N. 40th St. (40 St. and Meadowbrook Ave.). The lot is about 500 feet away from LGO’s front door. Like us on
Page 39 May 2 0 1 4 Arcadian loves to travel but always enjoys coming home By Kaley Kalil Mark Williams, originally from Laveen, AZ, has lived in the Arcadia area for 13 years. “I am proud to say that I am one of those rare third generation Phoenicians,” Williams said. In late January, Williams attended the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, along with a large group of friends. “We enjoyed the festival, as well as skiing in Deer Valley,” he said. While skiing Empire’s black diamond “Solace” run, Williams had an accident. “I took a gnarly fall, tearing my ACLs in both knees. I always wondered what it would be like to be this guy,” he said, pointing to a photo of himself being dragged down the mountain in a stretcher. “Now, I know.” Williams, along with his business partner and longtime friend, Chris Haver, run a local investment firm called Haver Williams.∆ The firm focuses on procuring opportunities within the sustainable energy, technology, finance and real estate sectors. “I am very fortunate that my work takes me all over the world,” Williams said. “After spending a few days in meetings in New York last September, Chris Haver and I flew to Cape Cod to visit with some wonderful friends and enjoy the Cape for a weekend.” From Massachusetts, the two flew to Istanbul, Turkey to attend a business meeting. After a couple of days there, they flew to France the following afternoon for a dinner meeting in Paris. The next day, they were off to Dublin for a few days to meet their new Irish business partner, Donal O’Flynn. “How Irish is that name?” Williams playfully asked. “This being my first time in Ireland, Donal drove me out into the countryside one afternoon to visit small, immaculate villages and their bustling pubs. God bless Guinness,” he said. From Dublin, they flew to London for a couple more days and a couple more business meetings, as well as to enjoy dinner with one of Williams’ best friends who had moved there from Phoenix a few years ago. “I absolutely love what I do, so my work and personal time more or less blend together,” he said. Williams now has friends and business associates in almost every country he visits. “It’s part of the reason I enjoy my work so much,” he said. When asked what type of a traveler he is, Williams responded, “I would have to say an adventurer.” “I mean, I can kick it on a beach in Croatia or Greece with the best of them, but one way or another, it all turns out to be an adventure.” Williams has traveled extensively through Europe, Southeast Asia and South America. He’s currently planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand in 2015. This July, he will visit Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Dublin and possibly Sweden for more business meetings. Cutline Despite Williams’ love for travel adventure and international gallivanting, he always enjoys returning home. “In my opinion, Arcadia provides its residents with a true sense of place and community,” he said. Traveled Lately? Email Kaley: kaley@arcadianews.com CELEBRATE RECOVERY In Christ We Grow That Others May Know Sunday Worship 8:00 & 10:45 A.M. –Traditional 8:30 & 10:30 A.M. –Contemporary 12:30 P.M. –Spanish Service Wednesday Worship 7:00 P.M. Saturday Worship 5:00 P.M. Saturday Youth-Led Worship 6:00 P.M. Sunday School / Bible Classes 9:40 A.M. (Nursery Care At All A.M. Sunday Services) 3901 E. Indian School Rd., Phoenix (602) 955-4830 visit our website www.cclphoenix.org e-mail us at christchurch@cclphoenix.org KEEP MOM COOL OR NO ONE WILL BE HAPPY Family Owned & Operated Licensed, Bonded & Insured Service & Install on all Makes & Models Free Estimates on New Equipment RESIDENTAL & COMRAL REBATES & CREDITS AVAILABLE! ITAL NEW ENVINENTALY FIEY /C SE! ROC Licenses: 80131, 80132, 80133 R E F R I G E R AT I O N A I R C O N D I T I O N I N G R E S I D E N T I A L C O M M E R C I A L 3231 East Washington 602-957-3745 www.AccuTempAZ.com Bill Murley, President ACCUTEMP IS AN APS/SRP QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR /C • HETIG • LOW EMP • I MIN & MOR! Mark WIlliams and his new Irish business partner, Donal O’Flynn, at a small village pub in Dublin. Chris Haver, Francois Chateau, Mark Williams at a business dinner in Paris. Mark and friends in Cape Cod, Mass.