32 SEPTEMBER 2017 ArcAd A News By Michelle Donati It’s the most edible time of the year. Each fall, food lovers get the opportunity to take a tasting tour of restaurants across the state during Arizona Restaurant Week. The 10-day event runs Sept. 15-24. Steve Chucri is the president and CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association and a Valley native. He said the idea for the annual event started cropping up shortly after he joined the association 15 years ago. “Growing up here I used to say we had two types of food, Mexican and other Mexican. But Arizona’s culinary landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade. It has evolved with the diversity of our population,” Chucri said. The association organized the first Arizona Restaurant Week in 2008 with just over 90 participating restaurants. The list has grown considerably during the past decade, more than doubling to almost 200 restaurants participating this year. Given its early success, and demand from restaurants and diners alike, the association expanded the food-focused event by adding a spring restaurant week in 2011. During the week, diners can experience culinary magic from some of the most renowned chefs in Arizona via a prix-fixe dinner for $33 or $44 per person, excluding beverages, tax and gratuities. In addition to the special menu and pricing, guests may also order á la carte from the restaurant’s standard menu. It’s estimated that more than 3 million people, which is almost twice the population of Phoenix, have dined at a participating restaurant during the annual culinary event. And those restaurants experience about a 20 percent increase in sales during the highly-anticipated week. LON’s at the Hermosa Inn, an AAA Four Diamond restaurant, has participated in Arizona Restaurant Week every year since its inception. Jeremy Pacheco, executive chef at LON’s, said it is a great opportunity to draw in new customers. “We offer everything that is to be expected from LON’s at a great price point for our customer,” Pacheco said. “We hope to find new friends that will return in the future every restaurant week.” In addition to LON’s at the Hermosa Inn, other restaurants participating in fall Arizona Restaurant Week include: The Dhaba, Different Pointe of View, Sumo Maya, Marcellino Ristorante, Sonata’s, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Artizen, Match, Nobuo at Teeter House, Café ZuZu, The Keg, El Panzon y Frida, Christopher’s & Crush Lounge, The Capital Grille (Phoenix & Scottsdale) and Arrowhead Grill. “It’s been that siren that says look at who we are as a culinary destination,” Chucri said. “We are more of a foodie town than ever.” Participating restaurants and their menus are available at arizonarestaurantweek.com. Reservations can be made online and are strongly recommended as restaurants fill up quickly. Arizona Restaurant Week celebrates a decade of delicious PHOTO: MARCELLINO RISTORANTE PHOTO: CHRISTOPHER’S & CRUSH LOUNGE PHOTO: GRACE STUFKOSKY Gamberie Feta Duck Cassoulet Sumomaya 2820 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix 602.957.7540 www.manuelsaz.com Serving the neighborhood since 1964. Sat: 10am to 11pm Sun: 10am to 10pm Mon-Thurs: 11am to 10pm Fri: 11am to 11pm NOW SERVING BREAKFAST & MENUDO SAT & SUN DUI CLASSES ONLINE! 3200 N Hayden Rd ~ Suite 170 - Just South of Osborn Rd 480.429.9044 SCOTTSDALETREATMENT.COM HOME • OFFICE • TRAVEL ANYWHERE YOU CAN “LOG ON!” ONLINE SERVICES: COURT & MVD MANDATED DUI SCREENINGS SR22 INSURANCE • DUI COURSES 24/7/365 ALCOHOL SCREENINGS, EDUCATION & TREATMENT ARIZONA’S FIRST ONLINE DUI SERVICES Compare our rates. CALL US LAST! Classes available 24/7/365!

33 SEPTEMBER 2017 ARCAD A NEWS PLACES WE LIKE By Nick Smith If you are a professional bodybuilder, you won’t bat an eye the first time you walk into ProteinHouse. If you’re like the rest of us, you may need a moment to adjust to the surroundings. After all, how often does the woman taking your order behind the register look like she could bench press your entire body 25 times? ProteinHouse is located a little ways to the north, at the crossroads of Scottsdale Road and Mayo Blvd. Their mission is to “provide nutritious, all natural, quality recipes that promote both physical and mental wellness,” and nothing about the setup is subtle. The décor is clearly supposed to make the visitor feel like they just walked into their gym cafeteria, with jars of protein powder sitting on shelves and pictures of a young Arnold Schwarzenegger on the walls. However, any feelings of not belonging are quickly dispelled upon interacting with the staff. ProteinHouse caters to everyone, with friendly employees guiding customers through the menus. Which is great, since the menu is a lot to take in. There are over a dozen sections on the menu, with numerous meals and drinks in each section. For the morning people who jog before the sun comes up, breakfast is available, with breakfast sandwiches, bowls and coffee. But it is the protein pancakes that stand out, with options like the Chocolate Monster Pancakes, which gets you two whey protein chocolate chip pancakes covered with bananas, walnuts and sugar free chocolate protein sauce. For lunch, ProteinHouse offers dozens of salads, bowls, burgers and wraps to choose from. You can go plant-based or lean meat for the bowls. The Southwest is a lean bowl that would seem to appeal to a large portion of customers, filled with popular ingredients such as tomatoes, red peppers, low fat cheddar, black bean salsa and avocado, mixed together with tender bistro filet. The bowl that might be the hardest to resist is the Boss Bowl, which features double bison meat, tossed together with sweet potatoes, red onions, green onions, red peppers and jalapenos. Although everything comes together to make the bowl a standout, the star of the dish is the jalapeños. You definitely don’t get shorted, they taste very fresh and are spicy without completely overwhelming you. There are several ways to go with the burgers, which you can get featuring grilled chicken, seared ahi tuna, turkey and salmon. A fan favorite is the aptly named Muscle Builder. You need be hungry for this, as you’re going to be going up against two bison patties, low-fat cheddar and caramelized onions, with Canadian bacon being the surprising ingredient to bring it all together. Every burger can be made with a gluten-free bun for just an extra dollar. Visitors can supplement their meals with protein shakes and cold press juices. Arcadia residents are in luck, as ProteinHouse is planning to open a location near the corner of 32 nd street and Indian School Road in the coming months. Whether you’re a serious bodybuilder or a curious passerby looking to give this a try, ProteinHouse is a place where you can think your meal is delicious and feel good about yourself when you’re finished. PROTEINHOUSE www.protein-house.com Escape the Ordinary Happy Hour // Monday - Friday 3-6pm Scottsdale Waterfront // 480.751.2200 OliveIvyRM OliveAndIvyRestaurant.com