“Tell us about your dining experiences at Quiessence.”

The winebar is still my perfect place to enjoy the full Quiessence experience with more of a lowkey vibe. I am able to interact more with the servers and my favorite, get my wine quickly. Plus it’s a great place to enjoy great wines and amazing food with friends. My picks would be Chef Tony‘s House-made Charcuterie with Artisan Cheese + paired with a glass (or two) of Gruet Blanc de Noirs, whatever the soup is…it is ALWAYS my favorite, with Dos Cabezas “Pink” (good ol’ Arizona), gnocchi is always a fan favorite paired with our ahhhhmazing Calera Chardonnay –I’m not one for chardonnays, but this one is absolutely delish–. Now for me, Chef Tony is most known for his work on hand rolled pastas and my favorite protein: PORK! Apple-braised pork shouler, pork chop, ham hock, crispy pancetta wrapped around Dave’s Two Wash Ranch Chicken…you name it, if it has pork, I will eat it…and enjoy every single bite, with a glass of Aguileon or Callaghan Back Lot. I love local wine so I mainly stick with those. For dessert, I am a chocolate fiend. If it has chocolate, I will take it with Dos ‘Cades’. Since we’re talking about this in the Holiday Season, my belly will enjoy Housemade Eggnog (yes, with brandy). It should be known, I had no idea what to write. Lol.

• Lindsey (aka The Doctor, Luna, Linz, Lindsey Loo)
• Quiessence Server, from August 2011 to current
• Complete Daddy’s girl, Smarty Pants, Wildcat, Evil Laughter
• Current Favorite Wine: Caduceus ‘Ladrones’

I was fortunate enough in my life to have enjoyed food in different continent, Europe and USA. Passionate about food and wine, the list of restaurants where I had dinner includes Guy Savoy, Alain Ducasse in Paris, Joel Robuchon, Daniel Boulud, Charlie Palmer, Thomas Keller…in Las Vegas and many other venues in New-York, Chicago, San Francisco, Paris and Las Vegas. I am the kind of guy who can drive hours just to have dinner, alone if I have to. Well, Quiessence blew me away. I am bluffed, very impressed, a little bit intimidated. The setting is fantastic, located in a farm, the restaurant enjoys a cozy atmosphere, and keeps the farm’s feeling true. The feeling of well being, of home away from home. Went with the tasting menu, I had to, it is the best way to enjoy what Chef’ LaPrad has to offer. Not one item was disappointing. Remarkable menu, well balanced, and 6 courses portioned to perfection. Started with the Salumi plate, house cured meats with lavash bread and Queen Creek Olives, second course, a Canteloupe soup made in heaven, spicy coppa, refreshing and perfect with the 110 degrees outside, third course the Ravioli, firm in texture, perfectly combined with the chanterelles mushroom and the parmesan cheese, main course was a fantastic pork chop, totally local, very rustic, fingerling potatoes and tomato provencal. The dessert was to die for, chocolate financier and cherries. All this or less than $100 for 6 courses. A deal. I loved the influence of herbs, and other aromatics, mint, oregano, purslane, the seasoning made to perfection. An experience I wanted to share, a service that is right to the point, attentive but not intrusive, not stuffy at all, relax and professional. Not only I can easily put Quiessence in the top 3 of my culinary experience, I want to tell everyone that if Phoenix is in your traveling destination and you love food and wine well served and well prepared, Quiessence is a must. For locals, a great way to enjoy what Arizona has best to offer, Chef LaPrad knows personally whoever grows or raises whatever comes in the plate. Amazing. Quiessence, a destination, a Must go, you owe it to yourself.

• Gilles
• Quiessence Server, from August 2012 to current
• “Best Fajitas in France” Award Winner, Veggie-Lover
• View this review posted on Yelp.com on 08/10/2012

I was visiting my sister in Phoenix the first time I ate at Quiessence (she worked there). I came to the restaurant that night to eat to check it out while I was in town. I had never eaten in a fine dining restaurant before so my big sis told me to go with the Farmer’s feast with wine pairings. The food was amazing! I had an eggplant soup that I still crave all the time. The pasta that Chef Tony made that night was this all cheese gnocchi, literally my favorite pasta I have ever eaten. I always said that I don’t like seafood, but Quiessence changed that. I can’t believe how much I liked the scallops that night. I had just started dating Mark back then and I remember texting him pictures of all the food, telling him how impressed I was. Such a wonderful experience.

• Sarah (aka Brooke’s Sister)
• Morning Glory Server, for one day while in Phoenix 2011
• Retail Store Manager, Plants vs. Zombies Expert, SLC Punk
• Best White Wine Drank in 2012: Krupp Bros. ‘Black Bart’s Bride’

My favorite dining experience was sitting on the patio, perfect with a slight chill in the air and one of the heaters on. A tasting menu allowed me to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere of the farm. It was exciting as I did not know what I would receive, got to see some wonderful preparations. I have had some of the best dishes that way. I thoroughly enjoyed the Rainbow Valley Farmer’s Cheese Gnocchi. Come to think of it, I haven’t met a pasta that Chef Tony has made that I am not blown away by.

• Ian McEwan (aka Thunder)
• Quiessence Manager, from August 2012 to current
• Mr. Fix-It, Aussie, Blend Guy
• Fave Red Blend: Cain Five

My dinning experience at Quiessence was unsurpassable. My significant other had only been to a “white linen” restaurant one other time in his life and in his words, they didn’t stack up to this. Our night was pure magic from the time we walked onto The Farm. We arrived just before sunset and were seated at a table next to a window facing the front lawn–such a breathtaking view. Once inside you feel more like you are in a romantic resort/retreat rather than a restaurant in the heart of Phoenix. We enjoyed the tasting menu with wine pairings, a variety of courses of the Chef’s choosing and an Artisan glass of wine with each delicious offering. A standout: Chilled Cantloupe Soup with Spica Coppa. Perfection. Not only could you see the amount of passion that went into each perfectly positioned plate but you could taste it. Everything was so crisp and fresh; The temperatures and seasonings were perfect and each bite was savory. Once the sun had gone down the entire Farm seemed to twinkle with lights and candles. It was absolutely beautiful. We left that night feeling elated and rejuvenated, stopping to take pictures under the canopy at the Brick Oven Table and the arch over the cobble stone entryway. Everything about the evening was perfect. I don’t see any other dinning experience in the near future matching the ambiance, delectability, or location of Quiessence.

• Cheyanne
• Quiessence Server, from August 2012 to current
• Hospitalitarian, Farm-Lover, Master of Details
• Favorite Easy-Drinking Wine: Anne Amie ‘Cuvee A’ Pinot Noir

I fell in love with Quiessence on February 23rd, 2010. My daughter was born just two months before and so eating at Q was our first romantic night out in some time, not to mention that it was my first time dining at a fine dining restaurant (high stakes, I guess lol). We sat at my favorite table in the Front Solarium (117) on a slow night in the restaurant. It was so beautiful in the dining room…I remember loving the lighting, super dimly lit with little candles everywhere. Got started with a couple of glasses of Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir (I might have spelled that wrong :p), a super-easy drinking Cali pinot. My love and I ordered the “Farmer’s Feast” –I believe it is called the “Tasting Menu” now–and it started with the Chef Spread, which was a selection of house cured meats and charcuterie. The meat and cheese combinations were so good, and I loved that Grissini breadstick! It manages to be flaky and moist, good salt, I could have eaten a million of them. Our next three courses showcased a Sunchoke Apple Salad, Gnocchi, and fresh seafood, but our entree was the showstealer. Chef served us Muscovy Duck Breast with a sweet vin cotta reduction around the plate. AMAZING! The baby carrot puree was such a vibrant orange. To this day, I can’t help but compare every duck dish to this one. The server was nice enough not to make us feel too silly about having our picture taken in front of the fireplace (thanks Andy!) so I have a few pictures to remember a day that shaped my standards for dining and ultimately my career. For so many reasons, that was an amazing night and Quiessence was a huge part of it.

• Brooke
• Quiessence & MG Cafe, from January 2010 to August 2012
• High-Heel Sprinter, Sweater Lover, Rockstar
• The Wine I Drank on Thanksgiving: Marilyn Merlot