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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS | JANUARY 23, 2019
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rett-Jackson auction organizers to join its vendors, but declined when they told her it would cost $6,000.) “She’s discovered that in a lot of the places it’s the quantity that attracts a buyer versus the quality,” Dunton said. “So, people will get a block of French fries that are smothered with a yellow cancer-causing cheese versus a nice portion of a spinach goat cheese quiche.” She even has found that tastes can vary between cities in Arizona, noting that her clientele in Scottsdale seems more adventurous when it comes to trying new things. “She finds that people are hesitant around here about trying things they don’t recognize,” Dunton said. “Whereas up in Scottsdale, she has people are more adventurous and they want to try everything that she has, even if they don’t recognize what it is. At some of the events, even the croque monsieur – which is a basic ham and cheese sandwich – basically you will have to explain what it is because it looks different than the ham and cheese you would make at home.” Even at festivals in northern Arizona, she’s found “people come from all these little specks of towns and they are absolutely so adventurous in wanting to try new things,” Dunton said. Yet, regardless of where Visconti goes, “the truck sells out pretty fast,” Dunton said. Of course, besides her catering activities and her pickup-delivery services, Visconti also has to make all that stuff. And that means more driving to places far and wide across the Valley. “She goes to many different places because many of the things are specialty items,” Dunton said. “Like chocolate: she needs to be Belgian chocolate. She cooks and bakes with pine nuts. She goes to the restaurant supply warehouses. There’s also a Costco for businesses. She buys the fresh fruit wherever she can find it because she’s
Where to find her Jan. 25: Jan. 26: Jan. 27: Feb. 1: Feb. 2: Feb. 9: Feb. 16: Feb. 24 :
very picky about her fruit.” And of course, there‘s the baking and cooking. “She is the one that shops. She’s the one that cooks, that stocks the truck and then goes to the events,” Dunton added. She spends 12 hours a day for two days just to make enough for two food truck appearances on the weekend, storing dozens of handcrafted pastries in the commercial refrigerators in her home. While La Petite Provence sells items never found on food trucks – croque monsieur and tiramisu, crème brulee among them – there’s one dish she makes only for her catered affairs. “Her paella is so wonderful,” Dunton said. “The pan she has is as big as a table. She brought it here special from France.” Customers seem to agree with Dunton’s assessment of her friend’s skills. “The mushroom quiche was the best I have ever had and the rhubarb tart was to die for,” one said on her Facebook page. Said another, “Tonight my son and I had the opportunity to try La Petite Provence for the first time. It was so hard to narrow down what we were going to get... so we didn’t. We got two Napoleons, tiramisu, creme brulee, strawberry tart, and we got a very nice Nutella tart. the prices are excellent. The desserts are SO GOOD.” And another wrote, “This was the best food truck I’ve ever visited. The desserts were so fresh and beautiful. The crepes were heaven. I’m for sure following this truck around to try all the desserts.” Visconti hasn’t operated in Ahwatukee. She tried to sign up for the Sunday farmers market on Warner Road and 48th Street but was discouraged by all the paper work. La Petite Provence is a regular at AZ Feastival’s food truck rodeo 5:30-9 p.m. Fridays in the parking lot at Sam’s Club, 1225 N. Gilbert Road at Houston, Gilbert. To learn where else you can find it, or to order a special dish: 480-621-2486 or lapetiteprovence1@gmail.com
1225 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 526 E. Main St, Mesa 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Chandler Feastival, 25410 S. Arizona Ave. 1225 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert 526 E. Main St. Mesa 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Fountain Hills Concours D’Elegance (Ferrari event) 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills 1-6 p.m., Gilbert Sweet Festival, 50 E. Civic Center Drive, Gilbert Maricopa Film Festival, Maricopa City Hall, all day