Sampler plate – Big John’s Texas Barbeque

Sampler plate - Big John's Texas Barbeque
Beef brisket, pulled pork, spicy hot link sausage, and 2 pork baby back ribs served with cowboy beans and potato salad, cornbread muffin and white bread. $16
Big John’s Texas Barbecue, Page AZ

This was a good plate of bbq at a great price. The pork ribs and beef brisket were the better meats, but the link and pulled pork were a bit dry. I did like the beans and potato salad, and our server was really friendly and sweet!

The Grand Canyon Brewing Company beers - Big John's Texas Barbeque
The Grand Canyon Brewing Company beers.

Peanuts - Big John's Texas Barbeque
Peanuts. Complimentary

Lobster salad – Rene at Tlaquepaque

Lobster salad - Rene at Tlaquepaque
Succulent chopped Maine lobster tossed with aioli, tarragon and a hint of lime, served in Belgian endive leaves. $14
Rene at Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ

This tasted good, but I wish that there was more lobster. It tasted more like filler and the lobster was chopped so finely. I wish it was kept chunkier so I could tell it was actually lobster.

Wine flight - Rene at Tlaquepaque
4-item Build Your Own Flight. $16

Huevos rancheros – The Grille at Shadowrock

Huevos rancheros - The Grille at Shadowrock
Two over easy eggs, cheddar cheese, crisp corn tortillas, black beans, tomatillo salsa. $12
The Grille at Shadowrock, Sedona AZ

 

I really liked this breakfast item! It was presented a little bit differently as a stacked dish. It was fun to eat and the tomatillo salsa tasted great with the black beans and crispy tortillas. The eggs were also cooked nicely, still runny and perfect.

Gazpacho – Rene at Tlaquepaque

Gazpacho - Rene at Tlaquepaque
A chilled soup of fresh tomatoes and garden vegetables. $8
Rene at Tlaquepaque, Sedona AZ

This gazpacho tasted fine, but it was way chunkier than I expected. I usually think of a gazpacho as being smooth, but this was almost like a soupy salsa. Cubed veggies as garnish is fine, but there was just SO much of them. And they should have wiped the bowl rim.

Wine flight - Rene at Tlaquepaque
4-item Build Your Own Flight. $16

Smoked salmon platter – The Grille at Shadowrock

Smoked salmon platter - The Grille at Shadowrock
Bagel, cream cheese, chopped eggs, onion, sliced cucumber, capers. $14.50
The Grille at Shadowrock, Sedona AZ

This was obviously pre-prepared so it wasn’t all that fresh, and they didn’t provide enough mini bagels and cream cheese for the amount of everything else. I did like the plentiful amount of food for the price.

“The Board” – Tinderbox Kitchen

The Board - Tinderbox Kitchen
House made charcuterie, TBOX breads, select cheese, other goodies. $16
Tinderbox Kitchen, Flagstaff AZ

This charcuterie board was delicious! I loved all the meats and the smoked duck breast was probably my favorite. Noms!

Churchill Manhattan & Hummingbird cocktail - Tinderbox Kitchen
Churchill Manhattan: Bulleit rye whiskey, sweet and dry vermouth, blood orange bitters, lemon twist.
Hummingbird: champagne, elderflower liqueur, lemon, soda.