Pizzeria Bocce!

Hot Spot Alert!!!

PIZZERIA BOCCE

I walk in to this restaurant, and immediately feel comfortable. No longer am I in a small town, but I am taken to Italia.... Another culture, one that begs you to come in and relax. One that lets you know that it's OK to take your time and enjoy the taste and smell of all things fresh and satisfying. Another ambiance, you'd find in Napoli itself, with an edge of design that reminisces some of Scottsdale's hottest gastropubs.  Strabello!

 Seeing the old brick and concrete around the outskirts of Old Town Cottonwood, Eric and Michelle Jurisin saw a vision to ignite Old Town, and ignite is just what they did!

They have been busy since they opened July 2013!

Located at: 1060 Main Street, This sublime restaurant boasts four different genres of seating.  One can enjoy an outdoor "fresco" seating at the fire pit or outdoor bar, for more of a social scene. Or try the inside bar at the counter, or the hip lounge area. A formal dining area is available, as well as a cooks counter, where you can watch Chef Michelle and her Napolitana style trained pizza cooks do thier thing.

And what they do, they do well... 

Trained in Sorrento, Italy, in the art of (authentic 300 year old recipe) Napolitana pizza, Chef Michelle has trained her pizza chefs how to make pizza the "old world" way.  She uses a mixture of farm fresh and local products in combination with products shipped from Italy, to create the perfect menu. I was so excited to meet this talented and creative Chef/ Owner/ Mother, who makes it all look easy with her bright smile!

Chef Michelle has a handful of inspired appetizer plates. During my visit, she had me try a slightly spicy and creamy Mediterranean Ceviche with cilantro and plump shrimp, served with house flatbread. Amazing!  I love her famous Bocce balls, a lighter combo of ground chicken and pork, in a sumptuous sauce of tomatoes from Italy, and her own secret ingredients. Delicious! 

Bocce's is also well known for thier exhilarating Fork and Knife Caesar Salad, and thier hand stretched Tomato Mozzerella but if your looking for something a bit more adventurous they have such salads as Beets with Arugula Salad with goat Cheese and housemade peach vinegarette, and thier Roasted Vegetable over greens with goat cheese and a basalmic reduction. 

Oh! But the pizza!  When you take your first bite of pizza here, you're in for a real treat! Your first bite is just unreal, if you've never tried Napolitana pizza before. A special flour from Italy creates a chewy yet crisp crust that holds your favorite ingredients. My personal favorite is the Shrimp and Hot Peppers; tender shrimp, hand stretched mozzarella, Calabrese peppers and tomato with a chimichuri sauce. Rich and spicy, you'll need a drink to go with this bad boy, and with thier super hip mixologists ready to serve, (I usually go for the Basil Lemondrop, an in-house twist on a classic!) you're going to get a great drink.

The most requested pizza, Michelle says, is the Cire's which is her husband Eric's name spelled backwards, is not for the meat shy, boasting a house made sausage and pepperoni, mushrooms, ricotta and hand stretched mozzarella! 

They also carry beautifully crafted artisanal panini, perfectly paired with a great italian beer!  I can't help going on about this place, it's refreshing to see food and service done so right! 

There is an enticing full bar and experienced mixologists to serve up your favorite refreshments, using top shelf liquor only fresh squeezed fruit juices for thier mixed drinks! Or try one of Daughter Nicole Jurisin's amazing concoctions,  like a Prosecco Sangria, or the most amazing  in house made Bloody Italian garnished with prosciutto, mozzarella, and a cherry tomato! Oh my! 

As well as a great selection of local, foreign, and craft beers, a beatiful variety of wines and even house wines on tap, kept at the perfect serving temperatures.

To finish a great supper, one must have dessert!  I tried the Wine Cake with Poached Pears, a delicious and tender cake with a gorgeous poached pear in a sweet wine redux. Beautiful. The perfect way to finish off a meal! I am looking forward to my next visit, and the Flourless Chocolate Cake with Berries! 

So if you haven't visited BOCCE'S yet, what are you waiting for?? This is one Northern Arizona Hotspot you really shouldn't miss out on! See you there!

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The Cottonwood Tropics

Delicious! is the word that comes to mind as I think about this little diamond in the desert! The first time I visited the Tropical Dreams Hawaiian Ice cream Shop, located on main street in Cottonwood, AZ, I noticed how tidy and modern this place was.  I was quickly distracted by the  big friendly  smiles of the couple standing behind the counter.  The gentleman, who introduced himself as Marshal, the  co-owner of the place, began pointing out the different flavors of ice cream, gelato and cremolatas he made that day.  He let me know that he uses a variety of fresh local and organic products to make his ice cream, and that is always fresh. Marshal asked if I wanted to sample any of his flavors.  "YES!!!!" I do!!!!  I first tried his recommended flavor; Toasted Coconut. Oh my gosh!!  I am a big coconut fan, but typically steer from coconut ice cream, because it always tastes like an artificial flavoring. Oh no! Not this one! This was more like he climbed up the coconut tree and hand toasted the coconut himself! Amazing! Rich, creamy, indulgent, but not overly sweet. I started  with the his best, what now?  His wife Stephanie then recommended I try the Ginger next. Wow! Light, palate pleasing, slightly spicy, slightly sweet. Perfect.  I would recommend this flavor for after a big meal, or as a light desert. Venturing on my own now, I tried the Key Lime Yogurt.  Reminiscent of Key Lime pie, yet somewhat lighter, fluffier and creamier. Then on to the Toffee Coffee, this one really excited me!  Think of the best Kona Coffee you've ever tasted, and add the flavor  of rich, sweet toffee. You getting this?! And these are just a few of many exciting ice creams! There is a Chocolate Hazelnut, and a Pineapple, and many more to try! So if you are ready to try some seriously fresh made, local owned, blogworthy ice cream, get into Tropical Dreams! 

"The question we get asked most is, "What is Hawaiian Ice Cream?" It's gourmet ice cream made with fresh ingredients that are inspired by the Hawaiian islands. More importantly, it's ice cream made with Aloha! Aloha is the Hawaiian greeting of love, grace, and compassion for others. Something that we put into every batch of ice cream and we hope that you feel the Aloha spirit every time you visit our shop."
-Marshal 

French Pastries in the Verde Valley!

Tucked away in Old Town Cottonwood, among the restaurants, wine shops and antiques, is a quaint European style cafe. Rather well known to the locals, the Old Town Cafe is warm and inviting. Featuring a variety of pastries, breakfast sandwiches, quiches, gourmet salads, paninis, coffees, lattes, and my favorite; their home-made croissants!  I normally can't resist the almond one, a fresh and chewy croissant with a crisp outside, with a delicious, gooey, sweet almond filling (reminds me of Christmas marzipan!) sprinkled with powdered sugar and toasted almond slices! If almond is not your thing, they also have a dark chocolate one that melts in your mouth! And for the less adventuresome, there is always the plain, but none the less delicious. Their quiches are also amazing for a delicious breakfast or brunch, featuring a different quiche each week! And for the salad person there is a Chinese Chicken Salad, a Roast Beef Salad, a Chef Salad, a Ravioli Salad, a Greek Salad, and my personal favorite; the Prosciutto Salad, 

made with organic spring mix, prosciutto, feta cheese, olives, tomatoes, &

roasted pecans. All super fresh and delicious! And if that isn't enough, there are even paninis for the sandwich lovers! And once you have finished your lunch, one can hardly pass up the beautiful fruit, cream, and chocolate laden pastries. But what truly sets this cute little cafe apart is the ambiance, (one can't help to feel welcome) and the pride that owner Rosie Diaz puts into this little gem. If you're a local, and you haven't had a chance to try this place, Go! what are you waiting for? Chances are you'll bump into a neighbor. If you are planning a trip to Cottonwood, dont miss out on a real "locals" experience, and some great Euro treats!

 

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You asked for authentic? Thank you Mexico!

    Eating in Sedona.... High priced tourist food, the "wait", overworked servers, ect... But I tell you the truth, there's gold in them hills...or maybe it's fire!
Let me  introduce you to a restaurant called, "Tortas de Fuego" on 89a. A quaint hole in the wall on a shared lot with a car repair shop. But don't let its humble appearances fool you. This is some real Mexican food !
     We moved here seven years ago, from the culture and food Mecca:  Southern California. The only bummer about leaving SoCal, was a lack of authentic Mexican (or any other ethnic)food. I had tried most of the Verde Valley's mexican restaurants in hopes of bringing me back to that mex euphoria of hundred year old recipes of assuredly authentic bliss. And I beleive I have found the place! As for it's namesake, thier tortas are amazing! Fresh telera bread,  grilled carne asada,(or your other favorites, ie: carnitas) Oaxaca cheese, a whole lotta avocado and veggies, with a huge portion of crispy fries. Now if that were all they were good for, there are so many other choices on thier 6 page menu, like "mojarra frita" whole fried fish, to chile verde enchiladas, street tacos, burritos, huaraches and chile rellenos. Also Mexican soups, like posole, menudo and albondigas. So do yourself the biggest favor ever and give them a try, unless you don't want authentic!
I'll see you there!http://www.tripadvisor.com/MobileViewPhoto-g31352-d3730364-i98996719-Tortas_de_Fuego-Sedona_Arizona.html