Festive and tasty meals help make the holidays merrier
BY ALISON STANTON
After shopping for gifts, wrapping them and decorating the home both indoors and out, many Gilbert residents are ready to avoid the kitchen.
Fortunately, chefs in Gilbert and Chandler restaurants are offering holiday meals. Check out what some of the local establishments have to offer this month: Zappone’s Italian Bistro
Diners who are looking for holiday meals with an Italian flair can give Zappone’s Italian Bistro a call. They are featuring half trays of lasagna for $55, homemade cheese ravioli for $14 a pound, cranberry walnut bread for $4, Italian bread for $4 and cannoli kits for $20 a dozen. Zappone’s is also offering six sfogliatelle, an Italian pastry, for $24 and whole cheesecakes for $36; flavors include amaretto, limoncello and peppermint chocolate. Orders are for pickup on Thursday, Dec. 24, by 3 p.m., and may be placed online.
Zappone’s Italian Bistro is located at 1652 N. Higley Rd., Suite 103, in Gilbert. For more information, call (480) 218-2338 or visit www.zapponesbistro.com.
Cuisine and Wine Bistro
For Gilbert residents who are looking for a taste of Europe, Cuisine and Wine Bistro will spice up the holidays with dishes featuring duck, scallops, foie gras and lobster. French chef and restaurant owner Fabrice Buschtetz uses the freshest and best of seasonal offerings to update his menu every few weeks. Throughout the month of December, diners can try the Frenchinfluenced holiday dishes either in-house or to go. Cuisine and Wine Bistro will also feature escargots on the menu this month, which is another staple of holiday meals in France. As part of the holiday celebrations, Cuisine and Wine Bistro will be open for New Year’s Eve and will feature live music.
Cuisine and Wine Bistro is located at 1422 W. Warner Rd., Suite A100 in Gilbert. For more information, call (480) 497-1422 or visit http://cuisineandwinebistro.com.
Chompie’s
For Christmas and Hanukkah, Chompie’s will feature traditional, made-from-scratch dishes to satisfy everyone’s appetite. Chompie’s in Chandler will offer take-out family meals, sides and desserts as well as dine-in plates on Christmas and New Year’s Day. For example, Chompie’s is offering a Hanukkah meal for eight for $149 that includes matzo ball soup, choice of sliced beef brisket or roasted chicken, a choice of two sides including latkes, roasted potatoes, homestyle green beans and a broccolicarrot medley and Lovey Borenstein’s holiday dessert of apple and cherry strudel. Diners who want to supplement
their family meals may purchase a variety of foods by the pint, pound or piece. These include raisin challah bread for $6, mashed sweet potatoes for $4.99 a pound, chocolate bobka for $8.99 and matzo ball soup for $7.99 a quart. Chompie’s also is offering a dine-in or take-out Christmas dinner; a take-away meal is available for pre-order, along with sides and desserts. The meals serve 12 to 15 people for $189.95 and include a whole oven roasted turkey, fixings, sides and pie. Diners can also order an extra large whole oven roasted turkey for $89.95—carved for $114.95—fresh baked apple or pumpkin pies for $10.95 each, homemade stuffing for $6.99 a pound and candied yams for $5.99 a pound. Chompie’s will be open on Christmas Eve from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Christmas Day from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. To order or make reservations, call (480) 398-3008 or visit www.chompies.com. Chompie’s is located at 3481 W. Frye Rd. in the Chandler Village Center.
Crowne Plaza San Marcos
Those who wish to eat out on Christmas Day will enjoy a delicious meal at Crowne Plaza San Marcos in Chandler. The meal, which is $49 for adults and $15 for children ages 12 and under plus tax and gratuity, includes a huge assortment of choices including an antipasto display with cured meats, domestic and imported cheeses and dried fruit; smoked salmon with mini bagels, egg, onion, caper and herb dressing; pan-seared herb and smoked salt crusted salmon with roasted tomato cream; Yukon potato gratin with roasted garlic, caramelized onions and aged parmesan; chef-attended stations, including an omelet station with assorted fillings and toppings; a crepe station with fresh berries, crème anglaise, chocolate and whipped cream and a variety of kid-friendly options like chicken strips and mac and cheese. Seatings are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 25. For reservations, call (480) 857-4401.
Crowne Plaza San Marcos is located at One San Marcos Place in Chandler.
Chompie’s will feature a variety of dine-in and take-out options for Hanukkah and Christmas. Submitted photo
BY KIRK HANAWAY
Working at Topgolf Gilbert I get to see people of all skill levels come through our doors. Golf is a sport learned through practice. Most people receive lessons and expect to see that crazy slice they could not perfect turn into a perfect arch the next time they play. When it doesn’t happen, the beginner golfer may simply give up. Topgolf in Gilbert enables pros and beginners to practice their game on a consistent basis utilizing, what the professionals call, “target-oriented practice.”
Let’s say you go to the range to improve your chip shot. In golf, a chip shot is played close to the green—typically only a few yards from the putting surface. In a perfect world, the desired effect is popping the ball into the air then having it hit the ground and roll forward and into the hole. Of course, this doesn’t always happen. Target-oriented practice can help you make those hole-in-one shots a reality. You would want to begin by placing tees in the ground in a circle about 20 feet from the hole. Grab 20 golf balls and practice chipping them inside the large circle you created. If only eight balls made it in your circle then the next time try to land nine or more. Keep practicing this setup until you get all 20 balls in the circle. Once you do this, make the circle smaller so it’s more challenging. The point is that you are constantly improving your skills, and you are able to measure results immediately. Topgolf uses this same idea inside the venue for long drives. Each ball at Topgolf has a special microchip inside of it. When you hit the ball you are aiming for different targets on the green. As soon as the ball lands inside the circle, the monitor
in your bay automatically calculates your score. At Topgolf, the targets are already in place.
Measuring your improvement and challenging yourself will make practice more fun and productive. Once an instructor, like myself, teaches you a new skill it is important to practice after your lessons. At Topgolf we offer our own instruction called Topgolf U Lesson. The lessons can be private or in a group setting. We also utilize top-of-the-line Hudl Video technology that allows us to record your swing and then replay it in slow motion so we can break down how to improve it. The fundamentals of improving your golf game are the same whether you are sitting in our climate-controlled bays with your friends or out on the golf course. So if it’s your first time picking up that golf club or if you are a seasoned pro, it’s important to keep up the practice.
Kirk Hanaway is lead golf pro instructor at Topgolf Gilbert. Visit Topgolf at 1689 S. SanTan Village Pkwy., or www.topgolf.com/us/gilbert for more information. GILBERT LOCATION: 2550 E Guadalupe Rd, Suite 109 Gilbert, AZ
DR. SWITZER IS NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS AT THESE TWO
Popular Tempe eatery finds new home in Gilbert
BY ARMAN SIDHU
Months after closing its Tempe location, Skip & Jan’s owners Natalie and Todd Poyner are welcoming back patrons to its new location in Gilbert.
2007. She continued the sports’ bar prevalence as a long-standing mom-and-pop shop in the Tempe restaurant community.
Previously occupied by First Round Draft, the building underwent several renovations with the Poyners adding personal touches to the 8,500-square-foot room.
Upon entering, visitors will find characteristics typical of a modern sports bar with large TVs displaying the day’s prominent sporting events, and food orders commonly associated with sports bar cuisine. In addition, patrons can fine tune their billiards skills at one of the 16 pool tables.
Skip & Jan’s maintained its following among residents in South Tempe, but found itself in need of a new home. Natalie opted for Gilbert because of Gilbert’s culinary reputation. As for her customers, Natalie noted, “We have our regulars, many of whom live within walking distance.”
Although she has owned the eatery for eight years, Natalie still can be found bartending, training her staff and getting to know new customers.
Skip & Jan’s gathers many impressive billiards enthusiasts through its affiliation with some of the top pool leagues in Arizona. It also gathers players of all skill levels who join in on the fun and take advantage of some of the best fares for pool table rentals. In addition to pool, Skip & Jan’s offers karaoke, shuffleboard and foosball to enrich the experience of customer’s visits.
Natalie Poyner’s journey to becoming a restaurateur started with the ground up, when she first started working at Skip & Jan’s two decades ago. After 20 years, Natalie was given the opportunity to purchase Skip & Jan’s in
When asked what separates Skip & Jan’s from its competitors, Natalie quickly responds with “our friendly and outgoing staff.” When it comes to the food, the menu features a varied offering of burgers and melts, alongside bestselling wings and classic, delectable appetizers like fried zucchini and cheese crisps. For the health-consciousness, a number of salads and wraps are available. As for the owner’s recommendation, the chicken pesto latbread emerges as the favorite. Skip & Jan’s is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with several happy hour specials running from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily. During football season, Skip & Jan’s will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sundays.
Gilbert Days
Gilbert Days, an annual series of events ranging from a rodeo to a half-marathon, culminated in a celebratory parade, bringing thousands to line Gilbert Road. More than 100 parade entries entertained the crowd with floats, costumes, dance, music and more. GSN photos by Kimberly Carrillo
Attention Gilbert Residents
Gilbert is rolling out new residential trash, recycling and bulk pickup schedules on Monday, January 4, 2016.
• Place BOTH trash and recycling containers 4 feet apart at the designated pickup location by 5:00 AM on your new collection day.
• Place all acceptable bulk items at the current designated pickup location by Monday at 5:00 AM of your new collection week.
The Gilbert Days Parade is presented by Dignity Health.
Tatum Lance and her horse are decked out for the event. Miss Arizona waves to the crowd.
Aaron Forseth waits for the next float. A colorful clown spreads joy to the crowd.
Sarah, MaddieRose and Jonathan Soliz are excited to see the parade.
Gilbert High School’s marching band serenade the streets of downtown Gilbert.
Grimaldi’s adds five new pizzas as part of chef’s selections
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is spicing up its menu—just in time for the holidays. It has introduced five new pizzas as part of a special “chef’s selections.”
Known for its award-winning, coal-fired, brick-oven pizzas and calzones, Grimaldi’s has added Quattro Formaggi, topped with mozzarella, asiago, parmesan, pecorino, romano and gorgonzola cheese as well as the Brooklyn Bridge, a combination of oven-roasted peppers, creamy ricotta cheese and hand-pinched Italian sausage to the menu.
These chefs selections are available year-round. Here is a complete list of new items.
• Margherita: A traditional pizza with extra famous sauce and fresh basil.
• Brooklyn Bridge: Oven roasted peppers, creamy ricotta cheese and hand-pinched Italian sausage atop our traditional pizza.
• Quattro Formaggi: Mozzarella, asiago, parmesan, pecorino, romano and gorgonzola cheese.
• The Don: The traditional pizza topped with Italian sausage, meatballs and pepperoni.
• The Garden: The traditional pizza topped with fresh roma tomatoes, sliced onions, mushrooms and black olives.
Grimaldi’s uses a “secret recipe” pizza sauce, handmade mozzarella cheese and dough. It serves traditional pizza—as it began in Naples, Italy—in an upscale yet casual, family-oriented pizzeria. The intense heat of the oven evenly bakes the pies to create Grimaldi’s famous crispy and smoky thin crust that Zagat has repeatedly voted best pizza. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria has eight locations in Arizona, including Gilbert, Peoria, Tucson, three in the Scottsdale area and two in Chandler.
In Gilbert, Grimaldi’s is at 2168 E. Williams Field Rd., Suite 502, (480) 814-7722.
Carrington College supports dog festival
A dozen veterinary assisting students and faculty from Carrington College’s Mesa campus volunteered their time providing grooming services to hundreds of dogs—not to mention offering care tips and recommendations to their owners—during the 16th annual Friends for Life Animal Rescue “BARKtoberfest,” which took place in early October at the Gilbert Civic Center. The award-winning community event, which Carrington has supported since 2012, is focused on raising funds to care for homeless dogs and cats in the community. According to Friends for Life, the event raised more than $15,000 to help the homeless dog and cat population in the Southeast Valley and beyond. This project is one of many the local campus participates in each year as part of its Carrington Cares community outreach program. Submitted photo
Those toys aren’t just noisy—they’re
BY DR. JENNIFER HENSLEY, FAMILY AND YOUTH RESOURCE SPECIALIST AT THE ARIZONA COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND THE HARD OF HEARING
As holiday season gears up more people are shopping for toys.
The next month will be spent walking up and down toy aisles trying to find just the right gift for the little one on your list. When shopping for the perfect gift, you may look at age appropriateness, price and other warning labels. But how often do you consider the noise level of the toys?
You won’t often find the decibel reading on a toy’s warning label, but the noise level could be detrimental to a child’s hearing.
Listen up—it’s important
Did you know that noise is the No. 1 cause of hearing loss? By first grade, less than 1 percent of children have hearing loss but by the time they are teenagers, 20 percent of children will have some level of hearing loss. Some toys with sound or noise components could be the cause for this loss. How can you tell how much is too much when it comes to noise levels?
According to the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association, 85 decibels
(dB) is the maximum volume a child should be exposed to for no more than eight hours. Decibels are a unit of measurement to gauge volume, and decibel volume is measured in several industries including construction and engineering to ensure hearing safety. Sounds more than 100 dB can damage hearing in less than 15 minutes of exposure.
“The distance at which the decibels are measured can be misleading, because chances are, children aren’t using these toys at arm’s length,” said Michele Michaels, hard of hearing specialist at the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing.
How do you know which toys are safe and which should be left off your shopping list?
Topping the noisy toy list:
• Bruin R/C Racer—103 dB near the ear, 74 dB at arm’s length
• Disney: Sofia the First, Time to Shine SingAlong Boombox—102 dB near the ear, 76 dB at arm’s length
• Leap Frog: My Talking LapPup—100 dB near the ear, 74 dB at arm’s length
• Blue Sky: The Peanuts Movie, Happy
dangerous
Dance Snoopy—96 dB near the ear, 78 dB at arm’s length
• Barbie: Rock ‘N’ Royals Rock Star Guitar—94 dB near the ear, 75 dB at arm’s length
• Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Chewbacca Electronic Mask—92 dB near the ear, 79 dB at arm’s length
• When shopping for your precious little ones, remember these precautionary measures:
• Does the toy have volume control? If there is no way to turn down the volume, the child will be exposed to whatever decibel level naturally comes with the toy.
• Is there an on/off switch for the volume? An on/off switch is a great capability for the child to still be able to enjoy the toy, without the risk of damage to their hearing.
• Does the toy seem loud to you? If the noise level seems loud to you, it will probably be just as loud or louder to the little one playing with it. As toy shopping season rounds the corner, take a few extra precautions to make sure your child is getting a toy they love, but is also safe. Once the toys are
in their hands, you can also monitor their usage when they are playing with the toys as well as watching TV and listening to loud music. Keep solid time and volume limits to ensure the kids aren’t exposed to too much noise. Noise-reducing head phones are also a great gift to accompany any sound bearing device.
Enjoy the holidays with your family by making sure their hearing is protected. For more information, please visit www. acdhh.org.
Contractors donate heating and cooling system to veteran
Contractors, including George Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating, donated parts and labor to Building Homes for Heroes at a Welcome Home ceremony Gilbert for Purple Heart recipient Army Pfc. Mason Steill.
Johnson Controls donated a York heating and cooling system and George Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating provided installation services for the veteran’s new home.
“The support of companies like Johnson Controls and its high-quality York heating equipment contractors like George Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating enable our organization to reach more injured veterans in need and help them begin to rebuild their lives,” said Chad Gottlieb, director of construction development, Building Homes for Heroes.
Building Homes for Heroes is a national organization that recognizes the sacrifices of men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces by supporting the needs of severely wounded or disabled soldiers and their families. The organization strives to
build or renovate quality homes and gift the homes to severely injured veterans nationwide, mortgage free.
“It looks like a hotel in here,” Steill said after seeing his home. “I’m just surprised at what great work they’ve done. It looks beautiful.”
George Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating president Jim Probst said it’s an honor to participate.
“Collaborating with programs like Building Homes for Heroes gives us an opportunity to give something back to real heroes who have served our country. We’re honored to contribute our services to the home of Army Pfc. Mason Steill and his family.”
Building Homes for Heroes Inc. is a national organization committed to supporting brave men and women, with a goal to build homes for families in dire need. For more information on these projects, please call (516) 684-9220 or visit the organization’s website at www. buildinghomesforheroes.org.
Air conditioning install team from local contractor, George Brazil Air Conditioning & Heating, poses with Purple Heart Recipient Army Pfc. Mason Steill, in front of his new home and newly installed York air conditioning system donated by Johnson Controls & US Air Conditioning Distributors. Pictured, from left, are Kasey Smith, HVAC contract coordinator; Laura Wingren, marketing manager; Army
Thirsty Lion slated to open in SanTan Village
Thirsty Lion Gastropub & Grill, the restaurant concept that opened its first Arizona restaurant at Tempe Marketplace in 2011, is opening its third location at SanTan Village.
Slated for a March opening, the restaurant will be located at 2218 E. Williams Field Rd., Suite 235.
“We feel that Thirsty Lion is moving into this exciting neighborhood at just the right time,” said Thirsty Lion CEO John Plew. “We’ve experienced enormous success with our first two Arizona locations and we think SanTan Village offers similar opportunities for success.”
Since opening in fall of 2011, Thirsty Lion’s Arizona restaurants have quickly become one of the company’s most successful spots, which includes six existing locations across Oregon, Arizona and Colorado. In addition to Gilbert,
openings in Denver and Dallas also have been announced for 2016 and 2017.
Thirsty Lion is committed to providing an eclectic variety of cuisines, with an emphasis on local ingredients and bold flavors. A seasonal fresh sheet will focus on the changing season’s offerings, featuring unique ingredients including fresh seafood, quality meats and local vegetables and fruits. At each location, the bar features a large selection of craft beers on tap, many of which are local to the city, offering a beer on hand for every plate and every palate. The gastropub also features unique craft cocktails that utilize combinations of fresh fruit purees, juices and premium liquors, as well as 25 different wines by the glass.
For more information, visit www. thirstyliongastropub.com.
Real estate council gives scholarship to Gilbert student
Gilbert resident Jim Goethals was awarded one of two $2,500 scholarships from the Southwest Chapter of REIAC (Real Estate Investment Advisory Council), an exclusive organization of top real estate executives involved in developing, acquiring and/or financing real estate.
Goethals, a U.S. army veteran, is enrolled in ASU’s Masters of Real Estate Department (MRED) program at the W.P. Carey School of Business.
Goethals has worked in land use and
regional planning since 1997. Goethals earned a Bachelor of Science degrees in urban planning and development from the University of Southern California.
This is the third year REIAC has awarded two MRED students with $2,500 scholarships through an alliance the organization established with the school in 2013. Requirements of the scholarship program include being a full-time student, an Arizona resident and, preferably, having the desire to work locally upon graduation.
Architectural rendering of the Thirsty Lion. Submitted photo
Pfc. Mason Steill; and HVAC Service Technicians Rose McMillan, Mike Burton and Marco Guzman. Submitted photo
Thanks to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit Law, A.R.S. 43-1088, you may be able to designate a donation to Chandler/Gilbert Arc and receive a tax credit. [The charitable tax credit is in addition to the education tax credits… you can take advantage of both tax credits in the same year.]
Chandler/Gilbert Arc has been serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the East Valley since 1975, and provides community living, employ-ment and day treatment and training opportunities daily.
For tax year 2015, contributions up to $400 may earn dollar-for-dollar tax credit on your Arizona Income Tax return. Taxpayers filing as single or unmarried head of household have a maximum credit amount of $200; married taxpayers filling jointly have a $400 maximum credit.
Check to see if your employer will match your donation! http://doublethedonation.com/cgarc
If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please make your check payable to:
Chandler/Gilbert Arc Charitable Tax Fund
3250 N. San Marcos Place Chandler, AZ 85225-7789
For your convenience, you can make your donation on our website: www.cgarc.org
We also accept Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Please contact Barbara or Toni at (480) 892-9422
Chandler/Gilbert Arc is an IRS Section 501(c) (3) non-profit organization and is a qualifying charitable organization registered with the Arizona Department of Revenue. Contact the Arizona DOR at (602) 255-3381, or visit www. revenue.state.az.us
Town seeking Parks and Rec board member
The Gilbert Parks and Recreation Foundation is seeking applications from interested community leaders to serve on its board of directors.
The Gilbert Parks and Recreation Foundation is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization promoting the social, cultural and leisure needs of town residents.
The foundation and its board of directors
work together to enhance the programs, activities and events offered by the Gilbert Parks and Recreation Department. Applicants should have an interest and a basic knowledge of parks and recreation. The first review of applications will take place on Dec. 10. Applications may be found and submitted online at: www. gilbertparksandrecreationfoundation.org/ board-of-directors.
Animals, Christmas come together for the 12k’s
Celebrate Christmas and maybe even pick up a furry friend by visiting Freestone Park from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, for the annual 12k’s of Christmas and Santa’s Pet Village.
Runners and walkers are invited to participate in a 1.2k or 6k walk/run, or a 12k run, with Christmas Carolers at every “k.” Strollers and leashed pets welcome. Santa has gifts under the tree for the best Christmas-themed running outfits, best decorated entries, most
Christmas spirit and cutest pets. All 12k and 6k runners receive “Christmas Stockings” (running socks with the event’s logo) and a collectible medal for finishers. Pre-register online at www.12krun.com or sign up the day of the event.
This event also serves as one of the East Valley’s largest pet adoption events of the season. Maricopa Country Animal Care & Control and a dozen other animal rescue groups will participate. There is also a Christmas bazaar
ZK Grill the perfect intro to Persian food
BY KATHY KERBY
Serving Persian food for the last year, ZK Grill strives to offer guests “delicious menu items that also satisfy the health-conscious individual.”
Neither I nor my husband had eaten Persian food before, so we did a little research and found that typical meals are combinations of rice with meat (lamb, chicken and fish) and vegetables such as onions, potatoes and tomatoes combined with herbs, nuts and spices, including saffron and cinnamon.
We decided to give ZK Grill a try. Lucky for us, each entrée had a photo with it so we could tell exactly what we were ordering.
Brothers Adib and Kalim work at the restaurant— with Adib behind the counter and Kalim as the chef— and they shared their interesting stories about how they arrived in the United States.
The pomegranate chicken was a thick stew with chunks of chicken in a pomegranate and walnut sauce simmered with flavorful spices.
with all sorts of gift ideas and free entertainment from the Campo Verde Jazz Band, Arizona Canine Freestylers, the Cloggers for Pound Animals in Need and more.
A portion of the proceeds from the run/walk go to support Maricopa County Animal Care & Control and Friends of Animals Care and Control, as well as all participating rescues. For more, see www.12krun.com or call (480) 609-3978.
Blue 32 several shades above average sports bar
BY ALANA DEGOOYER
We basically had the restaurant to ourselves. There was only one other couple in the large dining room with mahogany tables, chairs and booths so we did not wait long for our food.
Our shrimp appetizer ($10.99) was a colorful plate of tiger shrimp served with a grilled tomato with salad and rice. It was very spicy with a peppery blend that paired nicely with the basmati rice. For our entrees we selected the pomegranate chicken ($9.99), which is the featured special on Friday nights, and the ground beef and filet combo ($13.99). The special on Saturday and Sunday nights is Deezee, a combination of lamp, garbanzo beans, potatoes, tomatoes and onion.
The beef and filet combo included two skewers of beef. One skewer had balls of ground beef mixed with onion puree and zaytoon seasonings and the second skewer featured marinated chunks of beef tenderloin cooked over an open flame. Each dinner entree was served with rice or salad, or half and half. The fresh salads included mixed greens, tomato and cucumber and came with a choice of dressings. The basmati rice, topped with bright yellow saffron rice, was cooked perfectly and very tasty. For dessert, ZK Grill offers saffron ice cream, baklava and zoolbia/ bamieh ($2.99), the latter of which we had to sample because it had such an interesting name. It is a traditional Iranian treat similar to a doughnut made with yogurt, then fried and dipped in syrup. It was extremely sweet.
As someone who taught home economics in Gilbert in 1973, I am so excited to see how much the restaurant scene has changed. Gilbert is becoming a Mecca for foodies, and we are all lucky to have such a variety of eating establishments to choose from and enjoy.
Forty-five minutes. This was the wait time at our new, favorite restaurant in South Gilbert: Blue 32 Sports Grill. When it comes to waiting for a table, this foodie doesn’t—or let’s be honest, can’t—wait more than 15 minutes. But were we willing to wait? Yes!
In February, I first had the pleasure of experiencing Blue 32’s triple restaurant threat—excellent service and atmosphere, great prices and mouth-watering food. It was a whirlwind weekend of house hunting. My aunt from Surprise and one of my best friends from Kingman were with me. I’m pretty darn picky when it comes to eating out, and someone local suggested Blue 32. I am so happy that we took his suggestion, and he was right: We were not disappointed.
I know what you’re thinking. Another dinner out at a sports-themed restaurant? Before you mentally, or literally, cross this hidden gem off of your must-try list, let me explain why it should head straight to the top.
The service. First of all, you can dine outside, if preferred. We chose to dine al fresco, and when it’s February in Gilbert, that’s exactly where you want to be. Whether it’s lunch or dinner, busy or slow, the staff at Blue 32 really know how to keep their customers happy. They will answer questions, keep your glasses filled, and will correct any problem you may have—and all the while with a bright smile and desire to please. If you prefer to dine inside and bask in the glory of all things sports, there is plenty of seating. With more large-screen televisions than you can count, no one will miss out on their favorite game at Blue 32.
The prices. As you’re pursuing the menu, you’ll notice that the prices are incredibly decent. All three of us had a nice lunch for less than $35. Going out for dinner will be similar in cost, and don’t forget that happy hour—from 3 p.m. to 7
p.m. Monday through Friday—has great deals for food and drinks. Diners can fill themselves with food and drink for less than $10.
OK. Let’s move on to the real deal. The food. I have two words: Monte Cristo. Blue 32 prepares it brilliantly. Softcrust bread, good quality ham, turkey, Swiss cheese and American cheese battered and deep fried. Then it’s dusted with powdered sugar and served with raspberry preserves. The Monte Cristo is a variation of the French croque-monsieur. And we Americans have only improved upon this classic French delicacy. The Monte Cristo was the first menu item I tasted in February and it definitely won’t be my last.
In addition to savory sandwiches, Blue 32 features fresh ground burgers, steaks and seafood, which are cut in house daily, salads and sandwiches with house made dressings and sauces, and a variety of local craft beers.
Blue 32 is locally owned. There’s something to be said for a business that is locally owned and operated. The service is generally better. The prices and portion sizes are top notch. And overall, the food is high quality, and you just feel good about supporting a local restaurant. As the website promises, “although most of our guests would refer to us as a sports bar, and we are certainly a destination sports bar for prime sporting events (championships, tournaments, playoff scenarios), we pride ourselves on our fresh menu and delicious food.” For any diner, Blue 32 Sports Grill reads like a new chapter in East Valley dining. But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed. Of its four locations, two are in Gilbert: 1524 E. Williams Field Rd., (480) 9630032; and 6348 S. Higley Rd., (480) 2487002. For more information, visit www. blue32sportsgrill.com.
This year’s 12k’s of Chiristmas is Saturday, Dec. 12. Submitted photo
ZK Grill serves Persian food, including combinations of rice with lamb, chicken and fish, appetizers, salads, side orders and desserts. Submitted photo