Local farmers, artisans, food, and PERFECT weather…Get to the Downtown Phoenix Market this Saturday and catch Chef LaPrad and the Quiessence  gang! We’ll be serving  fresh “Tastes of the Farm” while sharing great recipes for “Farmers Market Cooking.”

Hop on the light rail and head downtown!

Downtown Phoenix Market
This Saturday, March 7th
http://www.foodconnect.org/phoenixmarket/

 

Wednesday February 25th 2009
7:00pm Dinner
Seating is limited: RESERVE ONLINE NOW>

Quiessence Restaurant is  thrilled to host wine maker Jacob Hawkes and his selection of handcrafted estate wines from Alexander Valley. Join us as we present 5 courses including “Red” Risotto with Grilled Mushrooms, Tuscan Kale and Fresh Herbs and Cocoa Braised Arizona Elk with Sweet Potato “Mash.”

$79.00 per Person Includes Five Course Dinner, & Wine
Tax and 18% Service Charge Not Included.

Seating is limited: RESERVE ONLINE NOW>

About Hawkes Winery

Hawkes Wine has been growing grapes in the Alexander Valley for more than thirty-five years. Today, Hawkes farms over eighty-five acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay vineyards in the southern half of Alexander Valley, all planted on sparsely soiled hillsides, and all yielding small amounts of highly intense fruit. In bottling small lots of Hawkes Wine, we aim to translate our extraordinary standards for the quality of our grapes into extraordinary wine, estate grown and produced in Alexander Valley, Sonoma County

Learn more about Hawkes Wines online >

Beth and Bill host Chef Gregory LaPrad on KEZ 99.9

LIVE- Thursday, Februrary 12, 2009. Tune in to Phoenix’s own KEZ 99.9 this Thursday to hear Chef Greg LaPrad join local radio legends Beth & Bill for the Grapevine hour. Greg will be sharing Quiessence’s seasonal cuisine with Beth and Bill while discussing the Phoenix restaurant’s incredible outdoor breakfast, lunch and dinner dining.

Each week, the Beth and Bill show feature a Phoenix area restaurant along with a selected winery. The radio duo samples selected food & wine and discusses the restaurant, chef, winery and winemaker.

Voted as one of “Arizona’s Top 5 Romantic Restaurants” Quiessence invites you to celebrate an entire month of romance with a recession-priced, 3-course dinner and bottle of Dos Cabezas wine perfect for all romantics young and old.

Relive a moment of cinematic romance with our “Lady & The Tramp Dinner” for two featuring Chef de Cuisine Tony’s handmade “’A-Two Spaghetti Speciale, heavy on da meats-a-ball” and chocolate dessert for two.

Lady & The Tramp ~ 3-Course Dinner for Two
Available all month, Tues – Fri
69.00 per couple (includes wine)
(except 2/13-2/14)
Reserve your table at 602-276-0601

Quiessence and Morning Glory Cafe have now joined the ranks of Arizona’s locally-conscious business owners!

Passionate about supporting businesses in the Valley? Then check out LFAZ’s directory of business.

Why shop locally?

• For every two jobs national retailers bring to a community, three jobs are lost as a result of local businesses closing down.
• When you shop locally-owned businesses, your money is re-circulated over and over and creates up to 75% more tax revenue to our community and state.
• Independent businesses raise the standard of living in your community because they take their profits and buy products and services from other local businesses, thus creating more and more tax revenues needed for the community to thrive.
• Read all the reasons to shop locally >

 What is Local First Arizona?

[Excerpt from the website]
Local First Arizona (LFA) is a non-profit organization working to strengthen communities and local economies through supporting, maintaining, and celebrating locally owned businesses throughout the state of Arizona. We educate citizens, stakeholders, business leaders, and legislators about the significant environmental, economic, and cultural benefits of strong local economies. We build vibrant communities that make residents proud to call home.

[Join the Local First Newsletter]

 If Mother Nature had a shopping list, we bet you’d find these items on it. Each month we’ll share our picks for seasonal produce and ingredients to look for in your local market or on our “Fresh Daily Menu.”

Keep your eye out for these February highlights:

• Blood Orange
• Fennel
• Salad Greens
• Romanesco
• Green Garlic
• Beets

Perfect for everyday romance, our Lover’s Almond Cake is February’s featured do-it-yourself recipe during our month-long celebration of love!

This cake is a versatile dessert that can be served with strawberries, ice cream or the ever-romantic whipped cream. Enjoy!

The Ingredients:
10 ounces egg whites
10 ounces sifted powdered sugar
¼ pound finely ground almonds
¼ pound all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
7 ounces brown butter (see below)
¼ teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Melt the butter until nicely browned, cool slightly. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla to the egg whites.

Combine all dry ingredients together, then add to the egg whites. Slowly stir in the brown butter. Pour the batter into a buttered/floured cake pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes until set and golden brown. Serve warm with your choice of romantic toppings.

For years, David and Kathryn Heininger of Snowflake have churned out Arizona’s “Best Homegrown Goat Cheeses” at their Black Mesa Ranch.

But you may not know the best part of their story.

Black Mesa Ranch proudly raises its livestock without antibiotics, hormones or other medications/treatments and practices free-range techniques. In fact, they are the first producer in Arizona to earn “Certified Humane Raised and Handled” accreditation.

Last week, Quiessence proudly presented a special dinner series featuring Black Mesa Ranch pork and we will continue to showcase their prized cheeses on our regular menu.

If you’re looking to get your hands on the artisan cheeses, the ranch is currently out of stock due to high demand. But don’t fret! There’s plenty of craftsmanship behind their Goat’s Milk Fudge, Spiced Pecans, and Chocolate-Dipped Apricots.

Visit Black Mesa Ranch online:
http://www.blackmesaranchonline.com/