Return to Phoenix

We have officially completed something of a circle around the country. Having started out from Phoenix, AZ on July 19, we are now back where we started. Phoenix is still Phoenix. We are repacking our car to accommodate some things we left here in July, visiting with a few friends, eating at our favorite restaurants, and experiencing the strange feeling of, as m put it, "being tourists in a place you used to live." We plan to visit Taliesin West, the Hall of Flame, and the capital building. Our visit has coincided with the first Steelers game of the season, so naturally, we will be heading up to Cave Creek to watch the game at Harold's.

Last night we had the pleasure of dining with Steve, who plays the clarinet in the Phoenix Symphony. We went to Fate, recently remodeled and with a slightly revamped menu. There aren't a lot of restaurants that I would travel several thousand miles to eat in, but this is one of them. We were sad to see the Fate Plate is no longer on the appetizer menu, but I highly recommend the "market green" of the day, especially if it is gai lan. I ate the House Dynamite, which was hotter than I remembered, but still delicious. For once, I did not walk out of there with leftovers, so it must have been good. If you are afraid to try tofu, or don't like it because of its bland taste, I implore you to give it another chance at Fate. The tofu is fried, but comes out without the oily taste that I've experienced at a lot of other restaurants. Not that I'm in the market, but I think the ambiance of this restaurant would lend itself nicely to a first or second date...if you ran out of things to talk about, you could just watch Johnny work his magic over the flames as he cooks.

We were also lucky to connect with our friend Jared, a fellow Yinzer and Steelers fan. He has been gracious enough to let us stay with him and his roommate in the house they recently bought in South Phoenix. His house is awesome and has a really big yard, in which Jared is engaged in some interesting projects. Like many southwest yards, it first appears to be nothing but dirt, but instead of covering it over with grass that is not supposed to grow here, Jared is watering the dirt to make adobe bricks, with the intention of building a pizza oven.

Stay tuned for more Phoenician adventures.