Friends and colleagues, maybe I am just a chubby kid at heart, but there is something special about simple and delicious food and Phoenix has that in abundance. After all the hustle and bustle of the CLDA Final Mile Forum and Expo, when you are relaxing with the family or running around town to soak in all that Phoenix has to offer, clear some time in your schedule to experience some of the city’s best cuisine the way the locals do—from the window of a truck or from a street vendor. Whatever you do, don’t leave Phoenix without trying these street vendor favorites. Food truck culture is real in Phoenix, and if you visit the city without sampling some of the street fare, then you’ll be missing a major part of the city’s identity.
Sonoran Dogs
You may think that you know what hot dogs are all about, but you haven’t experienced hot dogs until you’ve had a Sonoran dog. These Arizona classics start with a hot dog that has been wrapped in bacon, grilled, and stuffed in a bolillo-style roll. Bolillo rolls are soft and only partially split, in order to create a pocket for all of the toppings that are piled on the dog. Beans, cheese, mayo, salsa, mustard, and jalapeno peppers are the most frequent toppings, but some places let you mix it up with a topping bar.
Elotes
Elotes, also known as Mexican street corn, takes corn-on-the-cob to a whole new level. It is grilled to add a roasted, sweet flavor to the corn kernels and then slathered in flavorings. Traditionally, you will find elotes with some combination of salt, mayo or crema, lime, salt, chile, and cojita cheese. Cotija is a delicious Hispanic-style cheese named after the town of Cotija in the Mexican state of Michoacán. It is hard, crumbly and made mainly from cow’s milk. When the cheese is made, it is white, fresh and salty thus bearing immense resemblance to feta cheese. Elotes is the perfect food to eat on the go and a tasty snack any time of the day or night.
Fry Bread
Fry bread is flattened dough that has been deep-fried. It is a Navajo tradition that now has been adapted in countless ways. Try savory fry bread in the form of a shell for a Navajo taco, or try a sweet version, sprinkled with powdered sugar or coated with jam. My personal favorite is the savory versions that are loaded up with seasoned beans, avocado, cheese, and cabbage, but then I am almost always a fan of salty and savory over sweet. There are literally hundreds of variations of toppings for Fry Bread so there is something for everyone.
Another Suggestion for Saturday….
After a few long days and nights networking at the CLDA Final Mile Forum and Expo, you will need a day to relax and unwind. If you wake up late Saturday and are looking for something to do and a place for lunch, I would suggest a trip to downtown Phoenix to Heritage Square with several restaurants, or try The Arrogant Butcher. Either location is perfect for lunch and places to explore in the area.
After lunch and some exploring, you are only a short walk from Chase Field where you can catch the Diamondbacks playing the Braves on Saturday at 5:10 pm. It is Star Wars night at Chase Field, which should bring out some interesting people watching and they also have a firework show after the game. You can purchase tickets ahead of time, but tickets are almost always available from the box office on the day of the game or if you are looking for a deal try the west side of the stadium and you can usually negotiate for tickets at a discount.
You will undoubtedly find some local food trucks or street food available in the downtown area around the ballpark. Pick up your food and bring it into the game with you, they allow outside food. Now for desert, you just have to try the churro dog at the ballpark. A picture is worth a thousand words, so bon appetit.
