Smokin Fins Grand Opening in Chandler March 6th

Ready to open on March 6th at 11am, Smokin Fins is bringing the Colorado-based restaurant which is part of an Idaho-based "Fins" restaurant group to Chandler at 900 N. 54th St. #1 Chandler, AZ, 85226.  Influenced by Asian, Mexican, and Pacific Northwest cuisine, Smokin Fins describes themselves this way:

"Smokin Fins is a regional restaurant concept featuring a unique menu that blends ocean fresh seafood, sushi and house smoked specialties such as baby back ribs, turkey and slow smoked pork"

Photo by: Smokin Fins

The extensive menu according to Smokin Fins makes them a "food and beverage destination with something for everyone!" Check it out here.  Some notables:

• Key Lime Calamari - Hand-cut calamari, lightly breaded, with Fins Signature key lime aioli
• Smoked Bison Meatballs - House made Bison meatballs blended with smoked gouda cheese and baked in a tomato ragout w/ fresh arugula and shaved parmesan
• Vegas - Lobster-crab salad, habanero cream cheese, and rice rolled in seaweed and tempura fried; topped with spicy tuna, wasabi soy sauce, eel sauce and spicy aioli
• Pulled Pork - Korabuta pork slow smoked for ten hours, topped with appleslaw, red onion, and Dr. Pepper bourbon BBQ sauce. Served with fries
• Argentinian Flank Steak - Sliced American Kobe flank steak marinated and grilled, served with house charred vegetables and mashed potatoes. Covered in red and yellow Peruvian street sauce
• Lemon Caper Halibut - Alaskan Halibut over Chef’s signature risotto with a lemon caper beurre blanc, fresh Roma tomato, basil, and parmesan cheese
• Smoked Salmon Chopped Salad - Arugula, Israeli couscous, tomato, roasted corn, pepitas, house smoked salmon, and parmesan cheese. Tossed together in bacon herb dressing.

Other menu items include burgers, soups, dessert, wine and beer, of which they have five local brews. Hours for Smokin Fins will be 11am to 10pm Monday - Saturday and 11am to 9pm Sunday.  

Food News From Around the State

The AZFoodDude knows it's been quiet here, so with a free moment today, here are some food headlines from around the state over the past week or so.  All stories are courtesy of AZCentral:

Tucson Restaurant, Janos, Closing After 29 Years

May's Vitamin T in Downtown Phoenix Shuts Down, Plans to Open Praying Monk in Scottsdale 

El Santo Cantina, Patio Bar, & Restaurant Has Opened Near Scottsdale Airport 

Three Different Restaurants Specializing in Barbecue Opening in Chandler

Chef Chu Closes Sens Asian Tapas & Sake Bar, Opening SoChu House and Lantern

Ranch House Grille in Arcadia, Closed Since November 2010, Has Now Reopened

Two New Babbo Italian Eatery Locations Opening in the East Valley

Food Trucks at the Scottsdale Arts Festival This Weekend (3/9 - 3/11)

Starting on Friday at 10am, the 42nd Scottsdale Arts Festival will kick off at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and include 181 artists, 22 bands and entertainers from Arizona, and perhaps most importantly, 12 food trucks from the Phoenix Street Food Coalition.  The participating food trucks are:

Epic Hot Dogs - Hey Joe! Filipino Street Food - Jamburritos Cajun Grill Express - Luncha Libre - Mojo Bowl - Pin-Up Pastries - Taste Rite - Spice It Up - Sweet Republic - Tom's BBQ - Whiskey Ranch BBQ & Wood-Fired Pizzas - The Maine Lobster Lady - Not scheduled for Friday - Buzznbeez Good Food - Not scheduled for Friday

The festival takes place on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm and on Sunday from 10am to 5pm.  The price of food is separate from the price of entry.  Tickets to the event are $7 for any single day and $10 for any two days.  Additional ticketing information and online purchasing can be found here.  Scroll to the bottom of this page for parking and trolley information.

Panda Express Debuts New Peppercorn Shrimp, Free Offer to Follow

Starting today, you'll be able to walk into Panda Express and order their new Peppercorn Shrimp, which is described as:

Made with plump, marinated shrimp, tender asparagus, chopped yellow onions and sweet red bell peppers tossed in a sizzling wok with a signature sauce made from bold, Thai green peppercorns and Asian spices.

Also, on Wednesday, February 22, the press release mentions that Panda Express fans on Facebook will be able to use a coupon to try the Peppercorn Shrimp for free:

To celebrate its grand entrance, Panda Express will offer a free entrée serving of the Peppercorn Shrimp dish to Facebook fans on Feb. 22, which is also the first day of Lent. Guests who "like" Panda Express on Facebook can download the free entrée coupon, which will be available on Feb. 15. 

That said, if you are not on Facebook or if you just want the coupon, it is also available on the Panda Express website.

Teriyaki Madness Looks to Arizona for Expansion

Started in 2003, Las Vegas-based Teriyaki Madness is looking to expand across the southwest and Arizona looks to be a key part of that expansion.  Currently, Teriyaki Madness has seven locations, but hopes to open three more this year, have a total of 25 by 2015, and to have over 200 total restaurants in the next 10 years.  At this point, it is not known if any of the three set to open this year will be in Arizona, but stay tuned for updates. 

According to their press release, "Teriyaki Madness is providing an alternative to traditional fast food with its fresh, Asian-inspired dishes, such as chicken teriyaki and spicy chicken, both served with made-from-scratch sauces and a secret blend of spices. The average ticket price for lunch ranges from $10-$12 while dinner is around $13."  Check out the Full Teriyaki Madness menu here.

Five New Restaurants Around the Phoenix Area

Pete's Thai Cuisine - Located at 12032 N. Cave Creek Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85020, Pete's has a diverse menu with over 80 items to order.  Open from 11:30am - 9pm, Sunday - Thursday and 11:30am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, a lunch buffet is offered from 11:30am - 3:30pm Sunday - Friday.  More at AZCentral.

Amalfi Pizzeria - Opening in December at Chandler Heights Rd. & Alma School Rd., according to the East Valley Tribune, "The authentic Italian menu will feature fresh, made-from scratch bread, pasta, pizza and more."

North - Sam Fox' second North restaurant in the valley opened on November 14 at 4925 N. 40th St. Phoenix, AZ 85018. According to AZCentral, "Unlike the five other Norths...the Arcadia North won't follow corporate's modern Italian template. Instead, (Chef) Curtiss has gone more traditional, and less fussy. 'It's my stripped-down interpretation of regional Italian cuisine,' says Curtiss, whose father is Italian. The fare is "really simple and fresh."

O.H.S.O. Eatery + nanoBrewery - Recently opened at 4900 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018, the eatery will have a classic American feel with a touch of South American. AZcentral has more information, including the fact that nobody knows what "O.H.S.O." stands for.

Caldero - Taking over the spot where Banana Leaf Asian Bistro was at 7111 E. Thomas Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85257, Caldero will have, "traditional recipes spanning from Mayan to North Mexican." AZCentral has a good list of menu items.  The stated hours on Caldero's Facebook page are 11am to 2am daily.

Scottsdale Getting Multiple New Restaurants Later This Year

AZCentral seems to be rolling in stories about new restaurants coming to Scottsdale. So, let's get started:

Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria - Specializing in Neapolitan pizza, Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria will be firing up pizzas in their oven at no less than the required temperature of 905 degrees. The menu isn't finished just yet, but there will be a few appetizers like zucchini cakes as well as beer and wine and of course a lot of pizzas. From the article,

...The Scientist (thinly sliced Italian-cured meats and green olives), The Simple (wild arugula, shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, olive oil and prosciutto crudo), and a white pie called The Gordon (dried capacolla, spinach, crimini mushrooms, goat cheese, garlic and sharp provolone). 

Lamp Wood Oven Pizzeria will be located at 8900 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85255 and is looking to open in late September or the first part of October.

Lotus Bar & Grill - Next up, the Lotus Bar & Grill will be serving up the unique fusion of Asian fare with a sports bar. It is made clear by the article that there will be two separate areas, the grill area where you can dine as in a normal restaurant and the bar area where you can eat but also take advantage of almost 30 HD TV's. The menu looks like a mix of all kinds of Asian dishes, everything from Chinese to Indian and Japanese to Korean. Open from 11am - 11pm, Sunday through Thursday and 11am - Midnight on Friday and Saturday, the Lotus Bar & Grill will be located at 9030 E. Via Linda Scottsdale, AZ 85258 and is reported to be opening within the next few days.

Barrio Queen Tequileria & Silvana Bistro - While the plans for her Gilbert restaurant fell through, Silvana Esparza will be opening a casual eatery and a high-end restaurant at the former spot of Metro Brasserie at 7114 E. Stetson Dr. Scottsdale, AZ 85251. According to AZCentral, Barrio Queen Tequileria will feature "tacos, pork al pastor, posole, pambazos (a street sandwich like a torta), mole, aguas frescas and margaritas." Meanwhile, Silvana Bistro

...will be a "Euro-Mexican" concept that is "on the elegant side of Mexican cuisine." Featured dishes will include lamb steamed in a bag made of maguey cactus, duck-confit tacos, and jalapeños stuffed with salmon escabeche.

It should be noted that Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza is behind the successful Barrio Café at 2814 N. 16th St. Phoenix, AZ 85006. According to the Barrio Culinary Concepts website, both restaurants will be opening later this year, Barrio Tequileria in late fall and Silvana in the winter.

The Mint Grand Opening Tomorrow (5/25)

Creating a lot of buzz lately, the newest spot in Old Town Scottsdale is set to open at 9pm on Wednesday, May 25th. The Mint, a restaurant and ultra-lounge, is appropriately named since it moved into the same spot that was formerly a Bank of Arizona.  Located at 7373 E. Camelback Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 85251, The Mint is the work of Dean Slover, the same man responsible for the Sandbar, RnR, and similar achievements in Las Vegas. Running the Asian tapas menu at the restaurant is executive chef Johnny Chu.

The Mint's 4000 square foot outdoor patio will be the largest in Old Town to date.  Along with this, patrons will find resort-style cabanas and three different bars to experience.

Check The Mint's Facebook and Twitter page for more information on the newest addition to Old Town Scottsdale.

Phoenix Street Food Trucks in Downtown Phoenix Today 5/20

After holding an event yesterday at the Whole Foods in north Scottsdale, Phoenix Street Food will be holding 2 events today (5/20) in downtown Phoenix.

The first event will be at the Phoenix Public Market, located at 14 E. Pierce St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 & up to Central & McKinley from 11am - 1:30pm. The vendors participating in this event are:

• Jamburritos - Cajun
• Paradise Melts - Sandwich melts
• Riteway Catering - Po'boy sandwiches
• Sweet Republic - Ice Cream, Sorbet, Yogurt
• Short Leash Hot Dogs - Specialty Hot Dogs
• Sunshine & Spice - Breakfast & Asian - (say "Congratulations" and get $1 off)
• Torched Goodness - Creme Brulee

Update (5-26-11): While the particular trucks may not always be the same, this tends to be a regular event at the Phoenix Public Market on Fridays afternoons.

The second event will be on Roosevelt Row for Third Friday at 408 E. Roosevelt St. Phoenix, AZ 85004 from 6pm - 10pm. The participating vendors include:

• Carte Blanc Gourmet Tacos - Mexican
• Hey Joe! - Filipino
• Tom's BBQ - BBQ

If you don't already, you can follow Phoenix Street Food on Facebook and Twitter.

McDonald's Changing Some Recipes & Bringing Back Asian Salad

Let's start with chicken, those of you that enjoy McDonald's grilled chicken are sure to be interested in the news that McDonald's says they want to get away from its "Italian" taste:

"...the grilled chicken was reformulated to give it 'a more neutral flavor profile — mirepoix, salt and pepper, maybe a little garlic and herb.'”

In addition to adding a new Buffalo and sweet chile sauce, McDonald's is changing the Ranch sauce commonly used for their Chicken McNuggets so that it has more of a "buttermilk flavor."

Also, the Asian salad, with its previous stint from 2006 - 2008, is back until September 5th:

"The (new) chicken also is being used, grilled or fried, to top the Asian salad, which is a blend of salad greens, edamame, snow peas, red bell peppers, mandarin oranges, sliced toasted almonds and a low-fat sesame-ginger dressing."

The company is also interested in modifying salt content in its food by finding other ways to enhance flavors, perhaps by using, "citrus or other acid."

What do you think? Are all of these cases of trying to fix something that's not broken? Or did McDonald's need to change these things? Full article here.

Recall: Some Simply Asia Foods, LLC Products Have Unlabeled Ingredient

Simply Asia Foods, LLC has recalled 4 products due to an unlabeled milk ingredient.  From the press release:

"Thai Kitchen^® Noodle Carts (Sweet Citrus Ginger, Thai Peanut, and Spicy Thai Basil) and Simply Asia^® Noodle Bowl (Roasted Peanut). These products contain an undeclared milk ingredient. People who have an allergy to milk run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product...The recall was initiated after the discovery of an ingredient being used containing low levels of sodium caseinate (a milk derivative) in coconut powder. The ingredient statements on the packages do not list milk as an ingredient."

At the time of the recall, there had been no reports of allergic reactions or illnesses.