While making the fourth stop on our Arizona AAA Five-Diamond Resort Tour at The Four Seasons Scottsdale Resort at Troon North, we were privileged to enjoy the cuisine of their fine dining restaurant, Talavera.

Talavera is named for a type of brightly colored hand painted Mexican pottery, and is inspired by the colorful look and feel of their dining room which incorporates the vibrant palate of the Sonoran Desert in full bloom.

A beautiful focal point of Talavera is a dramatic fire element framed by glass, positioned for both indoor and outdoor diners to enjoy, which is greatly complimented by the elevated desert and city light views.  In other words, the place is stunning and a highly romantic place to dine.

It was a little cool, and windy the night of our visit, so we chose to sit at an inside table with this view of Pinnacle Peak, accompanied with city light views available with just a slight turn of the head.

To start our dining experience, Carol chose a Hydro Bibb Lettuce Salad (spring vegetables, feta, avocado), while I greatly enjoyed the chilled Soup Quattro (asparagus, sweet pea, watermelon, and tomato).  What a delightful, and colorful presentation.  I might also add that these various chilled soups were also refreshing, and very delicious.

To continue our gastronomical journey, Carol chose for her main course; the 20 oz Prime Bone-In Ribeye (the house specialty with potato, cipollini, and hollandaise),  while I went with a Chilean Sea Bass (potato risotto, artichoke, and braised oxtail).

Carol w/ Chef Evan Goldstein

Carol adores a good ribeye steak, and from all the oohs and aahs coming from her side of the table, as well as a wonderful shared sample, I can tell you that this was certainly a steak to write home about!

My Chilean sea bass was an interesting combination of healthy sea food, with a dash of comfort (braised oxtail/risotto) thrown into the mix.  It was so good, in fact, that upon another return visit to Talavara I would likely hunt this dish down, and forgo sampling another.  A wonderful dish!

I am an easy mark for a dark chocolate soufflé, and when we first ordered our selections, our waitress warned that if we desired this most desirable of all deserts, we had better let her know up front.  I immediately succumbed to the seduction, and all throughout my meal found myself anticipating the hot, molten, dark chocolate taste of all tastes.

Oh! How I love dark chocolate soufflé, with a side of double espresso!

As we were attempting to finish our soufflé, out marched our waitress with yet another desert?  “What’s this?”, we reverently protested, knowing that another bite might completely do us in.  Well, as it turns out, the pastry chef had no intention of letting us leave without sampling her own sweet creations, and so we gleefully, albeit somewhat concerned for our growing waistlines, sampled her delicious fare. The desert to the left is a Nutella Panini!  What fun!

Well, what a wonderful evening!

We can both, without any reservation what so ever, proclaim that this is a most wonderful place for a romantic gastronomic interlude with the one and only person that makes your heart go pitter-patter.

The food was outstanding, the ambiance was dreamy, the staff very attentive, all of which combines to make Talavera one of the Valley’s most desirable romantic dining destinations.

Disclosure:  this romantic dining experience was provided by The Four Seasons, and Talavara Restaurant.