MEALS THAT MATTER
Southern Rail: Creative Comfort
McClendon Farms heirloom carrots, mushrooms and fresh pea tendrils $15
ORIGINAL MUFFALETTA BURGER Cured meats, provolone cheese, tomato and olive salad with Creole aioli on a sesame brioche bun $14
made pickles to cornmeal-crusted fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese. (The fried green tomatoes are a good choice on their own, and can be ordered as an appetizer.) The fried chicken is available only on the dinner menu, but lunch offers chicken and biscuit dumplings, a hearty stew of pulled chicken with McClendon Farms heirloom carrots, mushrooms and fresh pea tendrils. Something different in the burger family is Southern Rail’s Muffaletta Burger. Piled high in a sesame brioche bun are cured meats, provolone cheese and tomato slices smothered under olive salad and Creole aioli. Dessert temptations range from brioche bread pudding with bourbon sauce to the much lighter beignets, served under sifted mounds of powdered sugar. A knowledgeable wait staff is helpful with questions about the dishes as well as the beverage list that includes local wines and craft beers. —RaeAnne Marsh Southern Rail 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix (602) 200-0085 • southernrailaz.com
Tastes of Fame The Food Network’s Guy Fieri likes our Valley of the Sun. Nearly 30 of our restaurants have his signature on the premises. He’s been bringing “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” here for 10 years; here are three of his more recent stops.
Bootleggers Modern American Smokehouse
Republica Empanada
The long menu here is long on BBQ and
mid-century architecture in a row of
smoked — including the vegetable sides.
brick storefronts. While there is more
From appetizers to desserts, with creative
to the menu than empanadas, it is
tacos along with sandwiches, it’s comfort
overwhelmingly empanadas — for lunch
food in a comfortable setting.
and dessert - representing myriad tastes
7217 E. 1st St., Scottsdale
and of South America.
(480) 404-9984
204 E. 1st Ave., Mesa
bootleggerssmokehouse.com
(480) 969-1343
La Santisima Gourmet Taco Shop
This is a standout for more than its
The restaurant’s name promises tacos, and the menu doesn’t disappoint, but there’s even more variety and creativity among the handmade corn quesadillas. No Tex-Mex; flavors here draw from the distinctive regions of Mexico. 1919 N. 16th St., Phoenix (602) 254-6330 5932 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale
republicaempanada.com
& Conventions
Guide
FEB. 2018
The 2018 Meetings
Selling Yo
u
BRANDING
Branding in the Age of Techno logy
Avoid Costly Mistakes
Organization in al Change Misjudging
FEBRUARY
Reward inRisk vs.
2018
Business
• INBUSINESSPHX.COM
INBUSINESSPHX.COM
Guy Fieri has put his “Triple D” brand on 28 restaurants in the Greater Phoenix area, and only three in the rest of Arizona.
MAGAZINE
36
IN BUSINESS
FEB. 2018
(623) 939-3292 • lasantisimagourmet.com
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Photos courtesy of Southern Rail (top and far left), La Santisima Gourmet Taco Shop (bottom)
CHICKEN & “BISCUIT DUMPLINGS”
A friendly neighborhood destination resurrected just a few years ago from Phoenix landmark Beef Eaters as part of Phoenix’s revitalization project, The Newton shopping center is anchored by Southern Rail. “Friendly,” in fact, suffuses the restaurant, helping give the wide-open dining room a cozy atmosphere. Décor combines industrial concrete floors with the warmth of wood, from the finished rustic ceiling to the seating options below it. The preponderance of hard surfaces may raise the sound level to lively buzz, but the generous space around the tables provides a setting conducive to productive business conversation. Two patio scenes complement the dining room, wrapping as an “L” around two sides. One side, dominated by a fireplace, spills out from the indoor/outdoor bar; the other faces the Light Rail that gives context to the restaurant’s name. The other part of the name references the menu: Although these creations of noted local chef Justin Beckett draw from other familiar classics, the dishes are influenced by Southern cooking traditions. It’s hard to get more Southern than the New Orleans staple, the po’boy. Southern Rail fills its French bread rolls with choices that range from shaved pork loin, ham and house-