Arizona Eats & Treats #4... Bear Wallow Cafe

I wish I could claim that I found the Bear Wallow Cafe in the small mountain community of Alpine, Arizona all by myself. But I didn't. They were mentioned in an article listing 50 things to do in the White Mountains in the May 2012 issue of Arizona Highways. The article raved about their pie. Since we like to try "mom and pop" places and since we like pie and since we were in Alpine... we stopped in.

The unpretentious Bear Wallow Cafe is a popular hang-out with the locals.

The Bear Wallow Cafe is very much a family-owned and operated establishment. Vada Davis and daughter Nataani Harper own and manage the Bear Wallow Cafe while her other daughter, Natalia, waits tables on weekends when she isn't busy with her own shop in Springerville. And all the grandchildren who are old enough work at the cafe. That's right- three generations doing it all, including teasing each other. 

As soon as we walked in, we were directed to sit anywhere and a busboy with an easy-going manner gave us water and asked where we were headed. It's the kind of place where tourists stand out. But also where tourists and locals alike feel like they are in their friend's kitchen eating a meal.

Natalia was our server and if she thought it odd that I took photos of my food and asked a million questions, she kept it to herself. She didn't mind talking about the cafe and was quite proud of the business her mom built over the decades. Although she joked about her sister being the "Pie Queen," it was apparent she was proud of her, too.

Taani makes pies... lots of pies... every single day. In fact, she makes at least 70 pies a week! They had seven different kinds the day we were there, all baked fresh that morning. Pies are tricky. The crust can become tough... or soggy... or too pale... or doesn't brown on the bottom. The dough can stick to the rolling pin. The fruit filling can be too runny... or too thick. It is why I buy my pies from Costco.

♥ Taani's Apple Pie ♥

Without a doubt, Taani's pie was the best I've ever had. The crust was golden and flaky with just the right amount of crunchiness and chewiness. The filling was rich and flavorful with the perfect combination of spices. We were both coaxing every crumb onto our forks so we didn't miss a morsel.

I think it is probably a good thing that the Bear Wallow Cafe is five hours away. But I will make it a point to stop in every time I pass by! You can't miss it at the junction of US Routes 180 and 19 in Alpine.

Arizona Eats & Treats #3... El Guero Canelo

Nothing says summertime like a hotdog. You can have it Chicago-style or Kansas City-style or Newark-style or Carolina-style. And in Tucson, Arizona you can have it Sonoran-style. We recently went to El Guero Canelo for the original Sonoran-style hotdog.

There are three El Guero Canelo locations in Tucson- this one is the original, also known as EGC#1.

5201 S. 12th Avenue  Tucson, Arizona

Daniel Contreras was born in Sonora, Mexico and immigrated to the United States in 1979 at the age of 18 searching for the American dream. Finally, in 1993 he began selling carne asada and Sonoran-style hotdogs from a carreta (cart) on 12th Avenue and Utah Street. His Sonoran-style hotdogs were so popular he opened his first restaurant in 1997. And the rest, as they say, is history!

So what, you ask, is a Sonoran-stye hotdog? Start with a fresh, homemade potato bun (specially made like a canoe to hold the toppings!). Add an all-beef hotdog wrapped in bacon. Then top it with pinto beans, grilled onion, fresh onion, chopped tomato, mustard, jalapeno sauce and mayo. That's right, I said mayo!

The Sonoran Dog comes with a mild chili pepper on the side and at only $2.49 each is a steal!

There is a huge salsa and condiment bar if there aren't enough goodies on it for your taste. We tried a couple of the salsas with our chips- muy bueno!! If someone had suggested a month ago that I would eat a bacon-wrapped hotdog with mayo on it, I would have laughed at them. Now, however, I would simply smile and say, "Only at El Guero Canelo!" It was a fiesta in my mouth- the only thing missing was the pinata!

Others have tried to copy the Sonoran-style hotdog- but it all started here. And it's absolutely worth the drive to Tucson!

Arizona Eats & Treats #2- Jimmy's Hot Dog Comapany

Mustard? Ketchup? Relish? Onions? What are the accoutrements that make your hot dog perfect? Everyone seems to have an "opinion" about the perfect dog... and, perhaps,  no one more so than Chicagoans.

A long time ago (1966), Jimmy Pionke began working at the original "Jimmy's", a Chicago-style Hot Dog and Italian Beef stand on the northwest side of Chicago that was famous throughout the city for "fast service, friendly staff and mouthwatering Italian beef, Italian sausage, gourmet quality Vienna all beef hot dogs, Polish sausage and fresh-cut deep-fried French fries." True hot dog aficionados know the difference between and love all those kinds of "hot dogs" and for Jimmy, it was the impetus for a life-long search for the perfect dog.

He visited ALL the great beef and sausage stands in the city and surrounding suburbs. Besides sampling A LOT of hot dogs, he also realized that these stands were not just fast food but were places where memories were made, where people met before or after events (or both!), where generations of families ate. The owners were hardworking, and had a sense of humor; the customers were from all walks of life and all ages.

In 2007, Jimmy and his wife, Pammy, moved to Bisbee, Arizona and opened their own hot dog stand, Jimmy's Hot Dog Company.

You can't miss Jimmy's Hot Dog Company- just look for the giant hot dog on top of the building!

The secret to a great dog, according to Jimmy, is using quality ingredients. The poppy seed buns are from Chicago, the veggies are all fresh, and the relish is homemade. It must make a difference since they've won dozens of awards, have numerous write-ups in magazines like Gourmet, and have a loyal, growing following of customers. 

Jimmy's is known for their Chicago-style hot dogs and chili-cheese dogs. We opted for the Chicago-style hot dog which comes with mustard, onion, relish, tomato wedges, dill pickle, sport peppers, celery salt on a poppy seed bun. According to Jimmy, it's the best way to eat a hot dog!

Jimmy's Chicago-style hot dog... aka a flavor explosion in your mouth! 

If you decide to check Jimmy's Hot Dog Company out, you can find it at 938 W. Highway 92 in Bisbee. Or ask any local resident.

Arizona Eats & Treats #1- Essence Bakery Cafe

I have written several posts about Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives recommended by Food Network host Guy Fieri that we have tried. They are always great places... we haven't found one yet that we didn't like. The only problem is that an overwhelming majority of them are east of the Mississippi River. I am quite sure there are a great many unique eateries, as yet "undiscovered," in the west and my goal is to find as many in Arizona as I can. While there are many wonderful eating establishments in Arizona, I am seeking out the stand-alone place (not a chain) with a unique quality or menu item. And who knows... maybe someday the Food Channel will pay me to drive around the country critiquing restaurants! LOL!

My friend suggested Essence Bakery Cafe for lunch the other day, a place neither of us had tried before. After circling the parking lot twice to find a spot to park, I figured it was probably a pretty good place. What I didn't expect was just how good it was!

Essence is a small place in a strip center in Tempe... very easy to drive right past it but worth the stop!

What sets Essence Bakery Cafe apart from the crowd is that they use local, seasonal, organic ingredients to create their out-of-this-world fare. Paris-trained chef/owner Eugenia Theodosopoulos uses European and Greek influences in her menu creating one-of-a-kind dishes as well as comfort food. I had a grilled cheese sandwich... unlike any other I've ever had! The description- "Grilled brioche bread with fresh mozzarella, Wilcox-grown tomatoes and organic basil"- sounded yummy and the first bite confirmed it. It is a simple sandwich done with style.

My sandwich was served with a green salad- the balsamic vinaigrette dressing added just the right amount of twang!

Essence IS a bakery and we would be remiss in not trying one of their pastries. They are well-known for their macarons (with one "O"- not the coconut-y cookies), a sandwich-like French pastry filled with chocolate ganache or flavored pastry cream. My friend had the chocolate macaron; I opted for the pink grapefruit one. Both were... fabulous!

While the macarons look pretty ordinary just sitting on the plate, the flavors and textures are extraordinary!

This little gem of an eatery won't stay a secret for long. If you go- carpool and be sure to save room for dessert!