community, too: “We have lots of winemakers here every night who don’t necessarily want to drink only Arizona wines. Drinking something from France, from Spain, from South America, experiencing different flavors, gives them inspiration.” Local spirits such as bacanora, distilled from agave grown in Sonora and only recently imported legally into the United States, are also given the big picture treatment. In the Smoke and Mirrors cocktail, for example, the bacanora is embraced by orange and chocolate Sabra liqueur along with ginger beer. And international classics get a local spin. An infusion of local bison grass into the vodka gives the Sonoita Grasslands Martini a distinctive kick.
incentive to visit this region. Former customers from the Phoenix area head for Sedona when the mercury rises, and LaPrad wants them to consider the Mountain Empire. “It’s beautiful here, too, and we’re at about 5,000 feet so it’s cooler in the summertime.” He still has his work cut out for him, getting the word out to a larger market while securing the home front, but LaPrad is optimistic. “We have a lot to learn about how to best serve this community,” he says, “but so far most people have been willing to trust us and try different things. We hope this continues.” Those of us who live within easy driving distance of Overland Trout fervently hope so too. ✜
Pointing to the sweeping grassland vistas from the picture windows and from the back patio, bartender Steven Blume calls the martini he created “this view in a glass.” The vistas, the rustic equipale chairs, tile floor, photographs of local scenes—they all enhance the sense of place created by the food and drink. And that’s the ultimate goal. “I want people to come from Tucson, Chicago, Boston, or anywhere else, and say they had an experience that was unique to the region, something they wouldn’t find anywhere else,” LaPrad says. The restaurateur is looking forward to partnering with the wineries to convey the message that Overland Trout is just the latest
Above: One step past Meat and Potatoes: Overland Trout’s Pan Roasted Duck Breast comes with a stack of roasted potatoes. Behind, elote con chile (roasted corn with chile) and a jar of pickled vegetable completes the meal.
60 M arch - April 2014
Overland Trout. 3266 Highway 82, Sonoita. 520.455.9316. OverlandTrout.com.
Edie Jarolim is a freelance writer and editor. Her articles have appeared in Eating Well, National Geographic Traveler, Sunset and Travel + Leisure, among other major publications, and she is the author of three travel guides and one dog book.