When I travel I like to avoid chain restaurants and eat where the locals do.  I use yelp a lot to find good places to eat, but my favorite resource is blogs.  Chances are  if you live where I am traveling I have probably scoured your blog to see where you like to eat.

It dawned on me that I could do more for those visiting the great metropolis of Phoenix.  I don’t eat out as much as I’d like, but certainly more than my husband would like (darn budget).  Every so often I am going to feature local eats that I frequent.   I’m filing these under “Arizona Eats”, so if you ever visit the Sonoran Desert I hope you’ll try a place or two!

While we were in Vegas we ordered pizza from Old School Pizzeria, it was some of the best pizza I have ever had!  The garlic knots were way better than garlic bread sticks, and the rosemary was an excellent touch!  The meal really wet my appetite for more pizza, so last night I decided to order from my favorite local pizza place, Jimmy & Joe’s.  (the photos were all taken with my phone…)

They are known for their “serious slice”, and they aren’t kidding- it’s huge!  I usually take part of  it home for a late night snack.  They have a great lunch deal for $5 you get a slice of pizza and a drink, you can’t beat the price or the pizza!  I’ve tried everything on their menu except the desserts, their wings are great and their salads are too.  My kids love coming here because they serve your slice with a pizza cutter.  My kids like to slice bites, or slivers, basically they like being left alone with a pizza cutter!

My favorite pies are the White Pizza and the Chicken Pesto, you can’t go wrong with either of them!  Our family of 5 can eat a 16″ and still have a slice or two left for Dad to take to work the next day.  The slices look small in the pictures I’ve posted because I asked them to double cut it- makes it easier for the kids to eat.

Yesterday I helped my sister-in-law Sarah celebrate her birthday with a trip to Phoenix (it was supposed to be Glendale, but apparently downtown Glendale shuts down for Monday).

First we stopped for lunch at The Paisley Violin…a little bohemian cafe at Grand and 10th.  I kept reading the menu thinking, “Oh, that’s what I’ll get” but each item was better than the last and I finally had to make a decision!  We shared a WONDERFUL cheese plate of Blue Cheese, Havarti and another hard cheese while we waited for our lunch.  I had the El Greco, a garlic lamb sandwich with cucumber-dill sauce, tomatoes and lettuce.  It was VERY good, and so filling that I ate the other half of it for dinner!

Next we had a little adventure at Qcumbers, one of my favorite junk/antique shops in Phoenix!  I have yet to leave there empty handed.  Yesterday I found a great lime green vintage pyrex pie plate (I’m planning to christen it with this pie later today); and some vintage greeting cards- with some CUTE illustrations!

After that is was off to Frances, I wanted to see the new baby set up that Georganne had come up with (must say, looks so good, so nicely spread out!).  Sarah and I each found Nostalgia Organics soaps that we couldn’t live without!  As soon as I clean the bathroom, my reward is a nice shower with my new Lavender soap (gotta give myself motivation!).

photo courtesy of Sarah E Photography

Sarah had never been to smeeks, so of course we had to get our candy fix.  I discovered a lovely little chocolate that the baby (it’s all about what the baby wants) really likes called “Pot-o-Gold”.  Oh Yum people!  It’s like a peanut butter cup, but the chocolate is full of crunchy nuts or nouget and the center is full of a marshmallow like substance…let’s just say when I finished it I was wishing I had bought a lot more than one!  We, ok I, snagged a lot more candy- we each got one of the new Lah-Dee-Dah candybars (thank you Georganne!)…I haven’t tried mine yet, but it promises to be good.

And THEN…because so many of you asked.  I picked up Goldie.

The goldfish pencil sharpener that I told you all about way back when!  My daughter has already adopted her.  They also sell the pencil sharpener in pink, I don’t know what it is, but they are SO darn cute to me!!

After all of our adventures my poor pregnant body could handle no more, we went home and I took up permanant residence on the living room couch!  Hope this inspires you the next time you find yourself roaming around Phoenix!