Christina Barrueta's Perfect Food Day

By Jennifer Woods Wed., Jun. 1 2011 at 8:00 AM

Categories: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner with ...

Christina Barrueta

Christina Barrueta's originally from Boston but thinks it's great that in Arizona we have so many farms, ranches, dairies and wineries. She "loves everything about food - eating, cooking, learning, and writing." She gets to write about her favorite local restaurants in Arizona Vines and Wines magazine. She's an avid twitterer (@rubee100) and a regular on chowhound - find her profile here.

Here is her perfect food day:

Breakfast: It would be hard to choose between the chocolate-y red velvet pancakes with mascarpone crème and Grand Marnier syrup, or the smoked salmon hash with fingerling potatoes, crispy capers, fried egg, and spicy aioli at The Herb Box Southbridge. Even better while sipping a mango mimosa (or two).

Christina Barrueta

The salmon hash at The Herb Box Southbridge

Lunch: I'd start with one of Troy's cocktails such as his Aviation at Café Bink and grab a seat on the pretty patio with its view of Black Mountain, while I order the salmon BLT with apple wood-smoked bacon, tomato, and butter lettuce on brioche. Of course, a visit here is not complete without an order of the amazing fries with a trio of dipping sauces.

Michell Jonas Photography

Cafe Bink's salmon BLT with apple wood-smoked bacon, tomato, and butter lettuce on brioche

Dinner: My favorite family-owned sushi spot - Hana Japanese - for pristine sashimi, misoyaki cooked on the tabletop grill, and a plate of mom's homemade pork gyoza dumplings. It's BYOB so I can bring along a bottle of AZ wine, maybe
Canelo Hill's sparkling chardonnay.

Rhonni Boss-Moffitt

Hana's pork gyoza dumplings

Between meal snacks: Sweet local treats like Gina's Homemade "More is More" chocolate biscotti with dried cherries dipped in chocolate, or peanut butter and banana Bite Me Brownies.