It’s not a grand secret that baby boomers love to travel together as couples.

One of our favorite destinations, when guests are visiting from out of town, is the town of Tubac, Arizona.

The small town is just above the Mexican border and is a well known artists’ colony.  For four days in February each year, the town’s population increases ten-fold as artisans display their art in the Annual Tubac Arts Festival which has been running strong for 53 years.

And, even when the town isn’t buzzing with 10,000 people, there are plenty of events to enjoy, and scores of artist studios to visit.

When visiting Tubac, our favorite place to stay is the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa.  This property is registered in the Historic Hotels of America and was built by Bing Crosby.

Here’s a short video from a previous boomers’ trip to the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa:

Note:  If you can’t see the video, click here.

Here are a few things that we’ve enjoyed in Tubac:

• Tumacacori National Historical Park.  Located just a couple miles outside of town, you will want to visit this historic Jesuit mission which began in 1691.
• We enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Shelby’s Bistro in Tubac.
• While strolling about the town, we really enjoyed the artwork in the Cobalt Gallery.  Although, there are art galleries and unique boutiques at every turn of the head.
• And guys, if you don’t feel like strolling through art galleries with your wife, there’s even a “daddy day care” where you can sit on a porch, rock in a rocking chair, and enjoy a fine cigar from the cool guys at Grumpy Gringo Cigars!
• For dinner, we enjoyed a fabulous meal at Elvira’s Restaurant.  Authentic Mexican cuisine in a setting where the ceiling is absolutely covered in colorful blown-glass.

Just now returned from our third visit to Tubac, Arizona, we look back on fond memories.

There was much laughter on the drive down as our friend Karen gleefully sang along to her beloved 60s music, and Bob kept us in stitches with his quick wit and humor.  We again enjoyed great dining, lots of shopping in the art galleries, and a little pampering from our friends at the Tubac Golf Resort & Spa.

Have you ever been to Tubac?  Tell us about your experience.  If not, you really should visit.  We promise that you’ll have a fun time!

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, and on Twitter.  Original article link: http://www.theroamingboomers.com/a-boomers-road-trip-to-tubac-arizona/

We love hiking in Arizona.

When we have the occasion to take some first time Arizona hikers out on the trail, our first choice is to head for the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area.

Located north of Scottsdale, in Cave Creek, Arizona, the  Spur Cross Ranch Conservation area is the newest addition to Maricopa County’s Regional Parks System.  The conservation area encompasses 2,154 acres of diverse, rugged upper Sonoran Desert.

This north Valley location contains fascinating archaeology sites and lush riparian areas along Cave Creek, which flows throughout the winter months. Remnants of early mining and ranching, from which the park gets its name, are still apparent in the park.

This area is a must see for all wildflower lovers in the spring. The abundant vegetation present in the conservation area provides a rich habitat for a diverse assemblage of wildlife.

Easy hiking trail just north of Scottsdale

This 2.3 mile loop is very well groomed and offers expansive views of the Sonoran desert.  With half of the loop hugging Cave Creek you will enjoy lush greenery, massive saguaros, large boulders strewn about by ancient volcanoes, and a jaunt through the remnants of an early Arizona ranch.

Trail Directions:

• From the parking lot, head .2 miles to the kiosk and restrooms.
• Head in a northeasterly direction .9 miles on the Spur Cross (Maricopa Trail).
• At the trail marker, turn left and proceed .8 miles on the Metate Trail.
• About half way through the Metate Trail, you will come across a marker for the Towhee Trail.  This is a short .2 mile trail that will take you down near the creek and loop you back to the Metate Trail.  We like it, and recommend it.
• After again reaching the Metate Trail, head left until you find signs directing you back towards the parking lot.

This is a popular and well traveled trail.  While you are very likely to encounter others along the trail, we recommend you find a quiet spot and let your ears take in the beauty of the area as well.

We created The Roaming Boomers® in 2010 with the hopes that we might create an informative website that would encourage baby boomers to pack their bags and explore this beautiful world of ours.

On January 3rd, 2011, we were greatly honored to have our labors recognized with a front page report in the business section of the Arizona Republic.

We also found ourselves making regular personal appearances on various television lifestyle programs sharing our travel experiences and tips.

This was a wonderful shot in the arm and brought a great many new “roaming boomers” to our website.

Let us share with you some of the remarkable places we took our readers in 2011…

Travel Guide – Sedona, Arizona

We started our 2011 travel season by taking our readers to Sedona, Arizona.  With Sedona only 90 miles down the road from our home, we’ve amassed quite a bit of wonderful travel information for you to explore.

Click here to view our features on Sedona, Arizona…

Travel Guide – Scottsdale, Arizona

Living in Scottsdale, Arizona, a travel destination in its own right, we spent a great deal of the month of January sharing our own backyard with our readers.

We have produced scores of travel information on resorts, restaurants, hiking, museums, and much more.  We are certainly experts on travel in Scottsdale and invite you to spend some time in our informative videos, browse our beautiful photography, and learn about the wonderful experiences awaiting you in Scottsdale.

Click here to view our features on Scottsdale, Arizona…

Travel Guide – Hawaii, the Big Island and the Island of Kauai

February found us in Hawaii.

Unquestionably, Hawaii tops the bucket list of many a baby boomer.  Knowing this, we have made it our mission to bring our readers to Hawaii each year.  We have produced videos, photographic slide shows, restaurant reviews, and scores of other helpful information to make your visit to Hawaii unforgettable.

Click here to view our features on Hawaii…

Spring Break – Miami Beach, Florida

In March, we decided to do Spring Break in Miami Beach, boomer style.

We brought our readers to the world-renowned Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa to enjoy the beach, learn some healthy habits, and take in some of the beautiful Latin culture.

Click here to view our features on Miami Beach…

A Baby Boomer Road Trip

April’s adventure was a road trip with friends from Michigan.

Here, we brought our readers along on a journey that made stops in Sedona, Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon, driving through the Painted Desert, a few nights in Sante Fe, New Mexico, and ended with a wonderful stay at Hidden Meadows Ranch in Arizona’s White Mountains.

Check out our features on Santa Fe, New Mexico…

Delta Vacations Sponsors our Trip to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic

In May, we were off to Punta Cana.

As our website has grown in influence, we’ve found that major travel organizations find it valuable to sponsor our travel to various locations to expose our readership to their travel services.  Therefore, we were able to take our readers to spend five glorious nights at Tortuga Bay Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.

We flew first class with Delta Vacations Luxury Lifestyle Collection.  Wow!

Check out our features from Tortuga Bay Punta Cana…

Travel Guide to the Canadian Rockies

June was a very busy month of travel.

First, we brought our readers along on a glorious two-week journey of the Canadian Pacific and the Canadian Rockies.  We visited all of the historic Fairmont hotels in Whistler, Jasper, Vancouver, Lake Louise, and Banff.  We also spent two-days upon the world-famous luxury train: the Rocky Mountaineer.  Furthermore, we rode monstrous vehicles on glaciers, saw grizzly bears, and indescribable mountain views driving down the Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies.

Check out our features on Canada…

Alaska’s Inside Passage Cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines

In late June, we were back in the Pacific Northwest for an Alaskan Cruise.

An Alaskan cruise is found in the top ten “wish list” of every baby boomer traveler.  After this experience, we clearly understand and can’t recommend it highly enough.

You must go on an Alaskan cruise!

Check out our features on Alaska…

Travel Guide – Seattle, Washington

This was the summer of the Northwest as July found us back in Seattle, Washington.

We love Seattle and brought our readers a week full of adventures to explore.

Check out our features on Seattle, Washington…

Traveling to Tucson and Tubac, Arizona

In August, we stayed close to home and brought our readers to the famous Canyon Ranch in Tucson and then to Tubac, Arizona to enjoy a few nights at the Tubac Golf Resort and Spa with four friends from the Scottsdale area.

Check out our features on Tucson, and  here’s our features from  Tubac…

Hangin’ at the AARP National Convention

In September, we slowed our pace to catch up on all the articles that we had to get posted to our website.

However, we did take time out to visit our friends at the AARP National Convention in Los Angeles.    Here’s a photograph I snapped of Lionel Ritchie from our stage-front seats.

Travel Guides – Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, California

In October, we journeyed with our readers to Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, California.

We shared our nation’s only AAA Five-Diamond Bed & Breakfast (The Simpson House Inn), and scoured the California Central Coast for some of their best wineries.  It’s hard work, I know, but somebody’s got to do it.  Right?

Here’s our features on Santa Barbara, and here’s our features on Paso Robles.

Wine Tasting in Napa Valley, California

While we seemed to be on a wine tasting roll, November found us taking our readers for a little wine tasting in Napa Valley.

As of this writing, we haven’t prepared all of our Napa Valley features, but be certain to check this link and follow our progress.

Travel Guide for Catalina Island

For December we journeyed to Catalina Island off the coast of California.

As of this writing, we have yet to post any of this content to our website, but trust me, you’ll want to come back.  We stayed in a Wrigley mansion, watched beautiful sea life from a submarine, toured the island in a Hummer, enjoyed fabulous cuisine, buzzed around the town of Avalon in a golf cart, and much more.

Travel Destinations for 2012

As you can see, we were very busy bringing exciting destinations and experiences to our readers in 2011.

However, we’re pinching ourselves as we consider what’s in store for 2012.

We’re headed back to Hawaii, going across the pond to London, taking our first Mediterranean cruise, as well as heading to the South Pacific to explore Bora Bora, and much, much more.

Stay tuned, and for heaven’s sake, get out here and join us!

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, and on Twitter.

Week #10, of our Top Ten Sunday Brunches of Scottsdale & Phoenix series, found us at the Camelback Inn Resort and Spa.

We made our first visit to this AAA Five-Diamond winner back in June of 2010 and quickly fell in love.

Sunday Brunch at the Camelback Inn Resort and Spa brought a gargantuan selection and was hands down the largest buffet we visited on our tour.

We started out with endless flowing champagne and mimosas. There was a breakfast station with every imaginable morning favorite, danishes, fresh fruit, and made-to-order omelets.

Week #10– Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

We found a seafood station with crab claws, shrimp cocktail, seared ahi tuna, and smoked salmon.  Nearby was an antipasti station with salads, roasted and grilled vegetables, artisan cheeses, cured meats, and fresh baked goods.

Endless Mimosas

Breakfast Items

Healthy Fare

Tacos and Quesadillas

Crab Cakes

Lamb

Pastries

Charcuterie

Filet Mignon

Prime Rib

Lemon Meringue

Carrot Cake

Note: click on the photographs for larger views and an available slide show.

On the outside patio we found a “south of the border” station hosted by a delightful Mexican woman making hot-off-the-grill tacos and quesadillas. YUM!

Further exploration found a pasta station, and an entrée station where we delighted in carved prime rib, grilled filet mignon, lamb skewers, seared scallops, crab cakes, shrimp scampi, roasted chicken, and seasonal fish.  WOW!  We all made return visits to this station.

And last, but certainly not least, we found the dessert station.  Here we found a chocolate fountain, flaming bananas foster, éclairs, cream puffs, cakes, pies, tarts, and cookies.  The warm apple pie á-la-mode was a big hit at the table.  YUM!

A great challenge of many buffet-type meals is that the food quite often gets cold and loses its freshness.  We saw none of that here.  The staff was very attentive to keep everything hot, fresh, and looking beautiful.

There were four of us dining at the Camelback Inn Resort and Spa.  When I surveyed the table, I saw eight thumbs up!

As of this writing, the Sunday Champagne Brunch was $59 for adults, and $20 for children ages 4-12.

Week #9, of our Top Ten Sunday Brunches of Scottsdale & Phoenix series, found us at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.

We first visited the AAA Five-Diamond Four Seasons Scottsdale as a part of our Arizona AAA Five-Diamond Resort Tour, and have happily found ourselves back to enjoy the luxurious features of this beautiful property many times (look here).

Formerly the home of the ancient Hohokam Indians, the Four Seasons Scottsdale is set upon the site of the former Crescent Moon Ranch, a finishing school for wealthy debutantes operated by a member of the Kellogg family.

We have dined a fair number of times with Executive Chef Mel Mecinas, and we were greatly looking forward to a more casual experience at his Sunday brunch.

Week #9 – Sunday Brunch at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

To make the experience even more enjoyable, the property is set near the foot of Pinnacle Peak and offers stunning views of the mountain and features massive granite boulders strewn across the landscape.

Cornflake-crusted French Toast

Quiche

Farmers' Market Fritatta

Southwest Scrambled Eggs

House-made Juices

Banana Oatmeal (caramelized banana)

Huevos Rancheros

Blue Corn Pancakes (honey/agave syrup)

Eggs Benedict

Note:  click photographs for large view and available slide show.

We began our Sunday brunch at the buffet table where we found Cornflake Crusted French Toast, Quiche, Farmers’ Market Fritatta, Southwest Scrambled Eggs, and House-made Juices, along with a plethora of other fine delectables.

As we happily worked our way through the first wave of our Sunday brunch, out came a stream of kitchen staff bringing Banana Oatmeal (steel-cut irish oats, caramelized banana, milk, arizona dried berries, brown sugar), Huevos Rancheros (two eggs any style, chorizo quesadilla, avocado, black beans, ranchero sauce), Eggs Benedict (canadian bacon, english muffin, hollandaise sauce, tomato, breakfast potatoes), and Blue Corn Pancakes (crockett’s desert honey-agave syrup, minted berries).

There were three of us happily passing plates around as a chorus of oohs, ahhs, hmmms, and oh wows floated in the air.

As you can see from my photographs above, everything was absolutely delicious.  However, after sampling, I returned to the massive stack of blue corn pancakes, dripping in honey and agave syrup, and made my last stand.

I had absolutely no chance of making my way all the way through these lip-smacking blue babies, but I was determined to make my last glorious impression right there.

The Blue Corn Pancakes were uniquely out of this world!

We highly recommend a beautiful Sunday drive up to North Scottsdale to enjoy Sunday Brunch at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.   You are certain to enjoy the finest local, and seasonally sourced products prepared by the masterful hands of Chef Mecinas and his team.

You should also note that Sunday brunch ends at 11:30 at this resort, so get there early!

With three of us present, we were all thumbs up, so we give this Sunday Brunch six thumbs up!

Note: don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll whisk you off to another exciting and mouthwatering Sunday Brunch experience.

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Disclosure: our wonderful Sunday Brunch was provided by the kind folks at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North.  Thanks! 

The AAA Five-Diamond Phoenician Resort is one of our favorite Scottsdale, Arizona resorts.

It was just a little over a year ago that we made our first visit to The Phoenician (here’s our video).  We were now back again to sample one of their newly renovated suites and share the experience with you.

The Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona

The Phoenician has just completed an $80M renovation project, with $4M of that earmarked for their luxurious suites.

We greatly enjoyed a 1,475 sq. ft Phoenix Suite with timeless amenities that were designed to pamper, indulge, and would make even the fussiest of movie stars feel like royalty.

…timeless amenities that were designed to pamper, indulge, and would make even the fussiest of movie stars feel like royalty.

Take a peek at the video of our most recent stay:

Note:  If you can’t see the video, click here.

If you are looking for a good spell of being waiting on hand and foot, with amenities that are certain to leave you spellbound, then head on over to The Phoenician’s website and see if you can find just the perfect luxurious hideaway for your next vacation.

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, and on Twitter.

Disclosure:  our wonderful experience was provided by the kind folks at The Phoenician.  Thanks!  It was fantastic!

We just experienced our very first hot air balloon ride, and it was definitely one of those life-time memory experiences!

We chose Hot Air Expeditions because of their perennial award-winning status, their colorful balloons with a mammoth saguaro cactus on the side, and a champagne gourmet desert picnic at the conclusion of the adventure.

Make sure you read this post all the way to the bottom, we have a very big surprise for you!

We left the Deer Valley Airport at 3:30 in a large passenger van that doubled as one of the chase crew’s vehicles.  After a 20-minute ride, we arrived to our launch point in a desert clearing where there was plenty of smooth sand to get our balloon filled with hot air.

In roughly 15-minutes, the crew had the balloon upright, nine of us climbed aboard,  and we were off to float in the the dead quiet of the Sonoran desert breezes.

Take a peek at the video from our hot air balloon adventure:

Note: click here if you can’t see the video.

Floating aloft in our first hot air balloon left us with several impressions:

1. It is quite a remarkable thing to be floating with the breeze.  Because of this, if everyone were to be quiet in the balloon, there would be a complete and utter stillness as you move with the wind.  It’s really quite peaceful.
2. Looking out at the beauty of creation, with the approaching sunset painting the Sonoran desert and the distant mountain peaks with its beautiful orange hues, will take your breath away.
3. There was a certain, fun sense of adventure as we floated above the earth somewhere around 1,000 feet.
4. It’s definitely an experience we will want to have again.

Win Two Free Tickets for a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Phoenix!

We had such a great experience with Hot Air Expeditions that we’d like to extend the opportunity for you!

We are giving away a hot air ballon ride for two with Hot Air Expeditions.

The contest is open to anyone, however, the company is based in Phoenix. Therefore, you should live where it would be possible for you to take advantage of this experience, or perhaps plan to come to the Scottsdale/Phoenix area in the near future.

Here’s how to enter your name in the drawing:

• Tell us in the comments section below what you love most about traveling!

That’s it! Once you make your comment below, we will automatically enter your name in the drawing for the two free hot air balloon ride tickets.

Be certain to do this right away as the comment period will end at 5:00 MST on December 9th, 2011, and the winning tickets will be drawn.

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, and on Twitter.

Disclosure: our hot air balloon experience, and the free tickets for the drawing were provided by the kind folks at Hot Air Expeditions. Thank you! 

Carol with Chef de Cuisine James Ducas

Week #8, of our Top Ten Sunday Brunches of Scottsdale & Phoenix series, found us at Lon’s at the Hermosa.

Lon’s restaurant, named after cowboy artist Alonzo “Lon” Megargee, resides inside the Hermosa Inn.

Megargee, a native of Philadelphia, came West at the turn of the century, earning his way as a cowboy, bronco buster, stud poker dealer, commercial artist, and home builder, among his many occupations.

He spent time chasing an idealized notion of the American Dream of rancher, Indians, and settlers that was fading fast even during his time.

Along the way, his raw-boned charm snared several wives and earned him a well-deserved reputation as a ladies’ man. But it was his adobe studio, set amidst the creosote, that perhaps was the closest to his heart.

Over the years, to supplement his income, Megargee turned his  ”Casa Hermosa” (beautiful house) into a guest ranch.  In 1941, saddled with debt and a pending divorce, Megargee sold the property, and in 1992, after a string of owners, the property was purchased by a local resident and became The Hermosa Inn.

Today, the property is a member of the prestigious Historic Hotels of America, and is frequently visited by those who would prefer to keep away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi.

Week #8 – Sunday Brunch at Lon’s at the Hermosa

It is in this colorful backdrop that we find ourselves today enjoying the wonderful cuisine of Executive Chef Jeremy Pacheco for our Sunday Brunch.

Fresh-baked Brioche "Monkey Bread"

Build Your Own Omelet

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Steak and Egg Sliders

Short Rib Hash and Eggs

Lon's Club Sandwich

Meats on the Grill

Freshly Barbequed Meats

Sunday Brunch Gang

Note:  Click photographs for large view and available slide show.

It’s the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and eight of us descended upon Lon’s at the Hermosa after church.  As it was a beautiful, sunny 70-degrees, we decided to enjoy our culinary experience on the stunningly beautiful patio.

The smell of a mesquite-burning fireplace combined with the aromas coming from meats barbecuing on the nearby grill, and the soothing live guitar stylings immediately quickened our mind’s attention to the task at hand.

As the food began its way to our two tables, there was a somewhat entertaining flurry of hands and plates as we began our cacophony of breakfast delights.

First, and perhaps most unforgettable, was the pipping-hot, Fresh-baked Brioche “Monkey Bread” (caramel, pecan, cinnamon).  As this sweet manna from heaven made its way around the table, everyone’s response was the same: head tilted back, eyes softly closing, and a guttural hmmmm deep from within our very souls.

Seriously, Lon’s “Monkey Bread” has made all previously enjoyed piping-hot cinnamon rolls subservient, and complete star-struck wanna-bes.  It was that good!

Lon’s “Monkey Bread” has made all previously enjoyed piping-hot cinnamon rolls subservient, and complete star-struck wanna-bes.  It was that good!

As you can see from our photographs above, there was no shortage of wondrous things to enjoy.  The Short Rib Hash and Eggs ( poached eggs, grilled tomato, grilled country-bread) was unbelievable, while the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (huckleberry compote, meyer lemon whipped cream) was certainly divinely inspired.

In fact, every single dish, as our sharing extravaganza continued, brought cheerfully raised eyebrows and a continued upward raising of our internal enjoyment meters.

As there were eight of us present, we give our Lon’s at the Hermosa Sunday Brunch experience 16 thumbs-up!  We highly recommend it, and strongly urge that you sample the “Monkey Bread”.

You should also know that you can avoid the Sunday Brunch crowds by enjoying the very same menu on Saturday mornings.

Note: don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll whisk you off to another exciting and mouthwatering Sunday Brunch experience.

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Disclosure: our wonderful Sunday Brunch was provided by the kind folks at Lon’s at the Hermosa.  Thanks!

]]> http://www.theroamingboomers.com/worlds-best-cinnamon-roll-found-at-lons-at-the-hermosa-brunch/feed/ 3 http://www.theroamingboomers.com/astounding-sunday-brunch-in-phoenixs-magnificent-arizona-biltmore/ http://www.theroamingboomers.com/astounding-sunday-brunch-in-phoenixs-magnificent-arizona-biltmore/#comments Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:43:12 +0000 David Porter http://www.theroamingboomers.com/?p=8830

Week #7, of our Top Ten Sunday Brunches of Scottsdale & Phoenix series, found us at Wright’s at the Arizona Biltmore.

First impressions at the AAA Four-Diamond Arizona Biltmore (Part of the Waldorf Astoria Collection) are likely to leave you gobsmacked.

Built in 1929, this structure is a living architectural masterpiece, showcasing the groundbreaking influence of America’s most heralded architect, Frank Lloyd Wright.

Once inside this magnificent structure, the dumbfounded gawking continued as we made our way to the AAA Four-Diamond Wright’s at the Biltmore to enjoy our Sunday Brunch in a stunningly beautiful setting.

As we began to peruse the menu, the first thing we noticed is that the pricing of the Sunday Brunch was quite a value given the historic setting and magnificent offerings.

Week #7 – Sunday Brunch, Wright’s at the Arizona Biltmore

The lavish brunch buffet is $25/person and features breakfast favorites, house-made pastries and breads, fruits, cheeses, sushi, gourmet cold-plates like smoked duck/smoked salmon, and a dessert selection that is certain to have you putting in some extra time in the gym.

Furthermore, for an additional $10/person, you can also choose as many items as you like from their small plate entrée selections.  These are chef-inspired seasonal items that are beautifully prepared and certain to produce big smiles.

We attended our Sunday Brunch after church, and brought another couple along to enjoy the experience.  After sipping on mimosa’s and bloody mary’s, we all headed off to explore the vast array of delicacies available to us on the buffet.

Smoked Salmon

Smoked Duck

House-made Vegetable Juice

Rosemary Polenta

Smoked Salmon Risotto

Sharp Cheese & Grapes

Sushi

Wright Way Benedict

Morning Style Flap Jack

House-made Doughnut w/ Bacon

Cinnamon Pumpkin and Caramel Pear Brulée

Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chip Pie

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show.

One of the things first noticeable is that there are no big containers with messy spoons laying about.  Every single dish is individually prepared and neatly arranged in perfectly aligned rows inviting not only salivation, but a feast for the eye as well.  Plus, the instant you removed one of the small plates, a watchful attendant was immediately present to replace the dish and repair the hole in the presentation.  Very impressive, indeed!

Careful not to gorge ourselves at the buffet table, we now turned our attention to the small plate entrées.  As we were media types, the chef was determined that the four of us share and sample all of his creations.

We enjoyed Wright Way Benedict (canadian bacon, cranberry compote, sage hollandaise, soft poached egg),  House-made Doughnut (maple glaze, crispy bacon), Morning-style Flap Jacks (dried tart cherry, orange butter, vanilla gastric, warm syrup), Organic Chicken (fall spiced, walnut panzanilla, dried figs, parsley, brown butter drizzle), Seasonal Seafood (smoked salmon risotto, capers, chives, pickled onion, poached egg), Breakfast Beef (breakfast taco, char roasted flat iron, pico de gallo, scrambled eggs, local goat cheese), Vegetarian (rosemary polenta, blue cheese, crisp red pepper, parsley).

The benedict was divine.  The bacon doughnut was a surprising twist for the palate. All of the dishes were absolutely delightful.  However,  it was the flap jacks, believe it or not, that was bringing out a chorus of oohs and aahs.  The tart cherries, the vanilla gastric, the warm syrup.  Holy mouthgasm Batman! I’ll be dreaming about those babies for weeks!

I don’t mean to belabor the point, but those flap jacks had me seriously contemplating a short, little happy-dance right there in the restaurant!

Well, let’s calm down a bit.  The staff cleared away the seven small plates, sampling spoons and dishes, and made us ready for dessert.  Standing ready with our piping-hot cups of coffee, we made our way back to the buffet table to bring back tasty treats.  There was every imaginable delight, but what really caught the attention of the table was Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Chip Pie, and Cinnamon Pumpkin Brulée.  Wow!

 You’ve probably surmised that we feel Sunday Brunch at Wright’s at the Arizona Biltmore is an extraordinary experience.  When I polled our table, I found eight thumbs up and big smiles all around.

 Note: don’t forget to check back next week when we’ll whisk you off to another exciting and mouthwatering Sunday Brunch experience.

If you enjoyed this article, please follow us at our website, our Facebook page, or on Twitter.

Disclosure: our wonderful Sunday Brunch was provided by the kind folks at Wright’s at the Arizona Biltmore.  Thanks!

Carol w/ Chef Mel Mecinas and Press Coffee Owner Steve Kraus

Magnificent dining is a large part of the luxury baby boomers’ travel experience.  In fact, any destination well traveled by the 79 million baby boomers is absolutely certain to offer a wide array of fine dining establishments.

Our home town of Scottsdale, Arizona is one such destination, and when we were doing our feature piece on the AAA Five-Diamond Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North (our video) we fell in love with the inspired dining creations of Chef Mel Mecinas.

Part of Chef Mel’s repertoire is a series of annual “pairing dinners” where he takes a much loved food item and builds a complete dining experience around it.

Last year we were invited to Chef Mel’s Valrhona Chocolate Dinner, and this year we were invited back to experience a completely new offering.

Talavera, Press Coffee “Perk” Pairing Dinner at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North

As lovers of chocolate, we didn’t think Chef Mecinas was going to be able to trump last year’s performance; we were wrong!

This  year, teaming together with Press Coffee’s Steve Kraus, Chef Mel Mecinas and his team created a dining experience that will long be remembered.

A dining experience that will long cause our brain’s neurotransmitters to trigger a happy dance.

Our four-course dinner started out with a “Twitch” Espresso Martini “Affogato” Style and Organic Wild Mushroom Cappuccino (peppered bacon wafer).  I’m generally not a big martini drinker, but this thing was out of this world.  Holy yummy coffee drink Batman!  More!  I want more!

"Twitch" Espresso Martini

Organic Wild Mushroom Cappuccino

Ethiopian "Yirgacheffe" Iced Toddy

Seared Chilled Duck Breast

Coffee-smoked Eye of Rib Eye

Macchiato Cake

From our article: "Steve lit a burner underneath this unusual contraption. As the water came to a boil, it was siphoned up into an upper chamber were Ethiopian coffee grounds awaited. As we continued watching, Steve and Mel knowingly looked on as the hot liquid, combined with the Ethiopian grounds, swelled up into a foam and then settled back down through the siphon into the lower chamber. Steve pulled out the lower chamber, which now resembled a familiar coffee pot, and we were then poured a silky smooth cup of coffee. Wow! It was quite a show!" Link: www.theroamingboomers.com/?p=8800

Note:  click on photographs for large view and available slide show.

For our second course, we experienced Seared Chilled Duck Breast (arizona pink lady apples, coffee gastrique) and an Ethiopian “Yirgacheffe” Iced Toddy.  Our taste buds were clearly traveling in uncharted territory.  Remarkable!

Our third course brought Coffee-smoked Eye of Rib Eye (coffee bourbon jus, with brussell sprouts, caramelized  sunizona squash and sweet onions, baja bay scallops, chili espresso wild boar bacon and salsify) paired with a 2006 Twomey Merlot from Napa Valley.  The piéce de résistance!

For our last course, out came Macchiato Cake (creamy caramel, white coffee milkshake, macadamia nut), and House-made Indonesian Sumatra “Triple Pick” Coffee Liqueur. The cake was not only beautiful to behold, but the perfect ending to our experience.

Also, the house-made liqueur was clearly a nectar sent from heaven above.  It spent 14 days fermenting in the kitchen and I can’t begin to describe how coffee and liqueur can combine to such a wonderful delicacy.  As they were only about 2 ounces, or so, Carol gave me hers and our waiter smuggled me a third.  Unbelievably good!

Thinking that our wonderful dining experience was complete, I began to pack up my trusty Nikon.  However, out came Chef Mel and Steve Kraus with a 10-year-old’s smirk on their faces carrying something that looked like it belonged in a chemist’s lab.  As it turns out, our experience ended with table-side siphon-brewed Ethiopian “Amaro Gayo” Coffee.

Steve lit a burner underneath this unusual contraption.  As the water came to a boil, it was siphoned up into an upper chamber were Ethiopian coffee grounds awaited.  As we continued watching, Steve and Mel knowingly looked on as the hot liquid, combined with the Ethiopian grounds, swelled up into a foam and then settled back down through the siphon into the lower chamber. Steve pulled out the lower chamber, which now resembled a familiar coffee pot, and we were then poured a silky smooth cup of coffee.  Wow!  It was quite a show!

What an experience!  We’re now wondering how Chef Mel Mecinas and his team are going to top this!

Huge thanks to Four Seasons Scottsdale and Press Coffee for an experience that we’ll be talking about for weeks to come!

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Disclosure:  our dining experience was provided by the kind folks at Four Seasons Scottsdale.  Thanks!