The lost meals entries consist of meals that occurred at various times throughout 2012 which, for any number of reasons, escaped my documentation – some due to a cross country move and a new job, some due to the Los Angeles Kings run to the Stanley Cup, and some simply as a result of too much travel. Having enjoyed many of these meals with friends or family and with some of them amongst the year’s very best the reality is that with time my memory has deteriorated and as life moves forward I’ve realized there is little hope to ever “catch up” or document these experiences as well as I’d hope, yet in order to preserve them I present these pictures, notes, and thoughts on the experience.
Almond Croissant
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Cranberry White Chocolate Bread Pudding
Duck Tamale
Pork Mole Tamale
Margherita – Tomato, Parmesan, Mozzarella, Basil
Gran Marnier Souffle
Chocolate Souffle
Having now visited the Market thrice, the most recent time with my mother and aunt, and sampling a few items here and there I will whole heartedly encourage anyone to visit The Market for produce – equally good quality and less expensive than that at The Old Town Market, though certainly more limited – but given the fact that Vincent’s on Camelback is indeed a restaurant the real reason to go is the food, particularly the bargain $8 pizzas emerging from the 800 degree ‘Vincent Van-Go” oven bubbly and crisp and the $5 souffles – without a doubt the best I’ve found in the Valley. Equally impressive, a long list of Mexican-influenced food proved to be high quality and well-priced – the pork mole smoky and aromatic while the duck was gamey and tender with bits of cracklins’ tucked in for texture. Falling on the other end of the spectrum, I’d urge everyone to pass on the dreadful miniature almond croissant, limp and cool to the touch for $2.50, as well as the flavorless and doughy $4 bread pudding and instead order a crepe – or walk down a few feet and sample the flourless chocolate cake for free…or better yet, walk to the back of the market and buy some sweets from Tammie Coe.
Honestly though, if someone can name a place else where one can order a really good duck tamale appetizer, a piping hot Neapolitan Pizza main course, and a pair of fluffy soufflés at 9:00am while perusing fresh local produce and artisan goods please let me know. Add in the fact that amongst the local artisans are Tammie Coe pastries and frequently local wine makers sampling out their wares in the warm Arizona sun and I’d be hard pressed to name a more unique experience in the greater Phoenix area – at least from October until May when all the snowbirds leave and the heat index is over one-hundred degrees by the time the market would normally open.
