After a visit to the Valley, The Travel Channel featured Quiessence Restaurant on the list of “Top 5 in Phoenix.” The producer planned to spend one hour at The Farm, but immediately rescheduled her afternoon to enjoy an entire day with us.

A big thank you to Travel Channel filmmaker Allison who called Quiessence “Amazing seasonal organic cuisine.” Watch the video here.

Quiessence Restaurant and Morning Glory Cafe continue to lead the Arizona restaurant industry in green techniques and philosophies. While others label it veggievore, locavore, or some other name, we simply call it business as usual. “Eat Green” with Quiessence in 2010 and support our commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Thank you!

Everyday Eco-Friendly at Quiessence Restaurant

• By using local food vendors, Quiessence Restaurant reduces the distance food has to travel and lowers the overall gas and shipping environmental impacts.

• Chef LaPrad was awarded the Edible Communities Local Hero Award for his outstanding commitment to the local foods movement in Phoenix.

• Mother Nature Network highlighted Chef LaPrad on the national eco-list of top “40 Chefs Under 40″ who use local and seasonal products on their menus. LaPrad was the only Arizona chef to be featured on the national list.

• On-site farmer Maya Daily practices sustainable biodynamic farming techniques that grow some the healthiest produce available.

• Cleaning products used in the restaurant are environmentally safe and biodegradable.

• Disposable products used at Morning Glory Cafe are 100% biodegradable within 3 months of discard.
• Restaurant brochures and materials are printed locally on post-consumer recycled, FSC-certified paper.

Thank you for visiting Quiessence Restaurant at The Farm at South Mountain. Reservations can be made online or by calling 602-276-0601.

ABC 15’s Sonoran Living viewers enjoyed a wintery treat from The Farm at South Mountain. Watch as Quiessence Chef de Cuisine Tony Andiario shares his family recipe for Minestra Soup with Poached Egg. Handmade pasta make a quick cameo, but nearly steal the show!

Minestra Soup with Poached Egg
Makes 1 Gallon

Ingredients
3 qts Meat Broth
4 oz. Pancetta (Diced)
1 Large Onion (Diced)
1 Large Carrot (Diced)
1 Large Celery (Diced)
1 Large Fennel (Diced)
6 Clove Garlic (sliced thin)
2 c. Cooked Lima Beans
2 c. White Wine
4 c. Tuscan Kale (cleaned and chopped)
1 Egg (Per Bowl of Soup you’re serving)
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chopped Parsley
Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Pepper

Procedure
In a large pot render the pancetta in 2 tsp of olive oil until pancetta is a light golden brown. Remove and reserve pancetta.

Sweat out the onion, carrot, celery, fennel, and garlic.

Season with salt & pepper. Deglaze with white wine, add the meat broth and simmer 10-15 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Add beans, pancetta, and greens.

Continue to simmer until greens are tender.

Season with salt & pepper to taste.

Remove a serving of soup to a smaller pot, poach an egg directly in the soup.

Serve with parsley and parmesan cheese.