Jackie Mercandetti

Pete's Thai can roll out quite a spread and pulls no punches with the spice.

​The Valley is home to more than a few Thai restaurants. Grabbing a mediocre plate of pad thai is easy enough, but finding quality Thai is another matter entirely. Below are some of our favorites. They run the gamut from an upscale Scottsdale joint to a Mom and Pop eatery closing in on its third decade. Despite their differences, all of them succeed at capturing the essence of Thai food: An inferno of vibrant and delicious flavors.More >>

The Glue Society

​Ever since Italy and France began making iced and flavored confections made from milk or cream in the 17th century, ice cream has become one of the most successfully cool, dairy-based treats on the planet. Not sorbet, ices, or gelato (we promise those lists will come later), here are 11 of our favorite places to score a scoop or two of the frozen dessert in greater Phoenix . . . and beyond.

​11.) Mary Coyle Ol' Fashion Ice Cream Parlor
Owner Mike Stoffey made several changes to this Phoenix lunch and dessert institution of over 60 years after buying it before it nearly went out of business in the spring of 2011. But there was one thing he left alone: the ice cream. With more than 33 flavors hand-made on site, parlor patrons can enjoy specialty flavors like black licorice, gigantic sundaes like The Suicide, and seasonal creations -- all in a retro-style scene.

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Chocolate and Valentine's Day go together like eggs and bacon, or cookie and milk, or cookies and bacon, or bacon and bacon .....mmmmm bacon.

Oh wait, we were talking about chocolate.

Anyhow, chocolate and Valentine's Day go hand in hand. A Valentine's Day without chocolate would just be another holiday that doesn't come with a day off like Flag Day or Fortune Cookie Day. It would pretty much suck.

Don't let your V-Day suck. Check out these local Phoenix spots for your Valentine's Day chocolate fix.

14. Vegan Chocolate Truffles, Nami -- Our favorite vegan coffee shop has put together a special box of six classic chocolate truffles topped with organic edible flowers just for Valentine's Day. Strawberry cream, rocky road, and pistachio cream. Call 602-258-6264 to place your order.

Damon Brasch

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13. Mexican Hot Chocolate Paleta, Paletas Betty -- This chocolate popsicle with just a hint of cinnamon has the ability to spicy things up and cool things down all at the same time! A must try for any chocolate lover.

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The patio -- a main draw at Main Ingredient.

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Flickr- Accidental Hedonist

Sonoran dogs, bacon-wrapped and piled high with goodness.

​A good Sonoran hot dog is the sum of all its parts, from the bacon down to the bun. And honestly, we could care less whether or not Arizona was the first to bacon-wrap a hot dog. So long as we get to benefit from the match made in heaven, you won't hear us complaining.

So what's so good about a Sonoran dog? Mesquite-smoked bacon elevates a humble hot dog from ho hum to mouth watering. The smoky southwest flavor is nestled in a fresh bolillo roll that creates a soft little boat for the dog. Then you load that sucker up with all sorts of toppings to taste, as each hot dog cart has its own special flair. Or stick with the original when the hotdoguero asks, "Con todo?" Pinto beans, tomatoes, onions, and mayo. Why mess with perfection?

Here are our Top 5 Favorite places to snag a Sonoran dog in the Valley, from fancy to bare bones food truck-style. When it's wrapped in bacon, ambiance is secondary to Sonoran dog bliss.

Vitamin T's version of a Sonoran dog. Trust us, it tastes better than it looks.

​5. Vitamin T
So it's not your traditional hot dog en estilo Sonora, but we're willing to give Vitamin T a pass. It's still a bacon-wrapped dog served in a soft bolillo bun, but the toppings are a little non-traditional. Cabbage, black bean spread, grilled onions, jalapeno salsa, mayo and mustard make this a fully loaded, and totally tasty Sonoran dog. But at $6 a pop, you better savor that flavor.

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​We've all been there: drunk and hungry, only to find most of the local food joints are closed. As a remedy to this dire situation, we've done our best to find some downtown Phoenix spots where you can still grab a bite after most of the other restaurants have closed their kitchens. Let us know if we missed any gems.More >>

Image via Shutterstock.com

​To be honest, I've never liked Valentine's Day. It's really just another consumer-driven madhouse in which I end up in a last minute scramble to find roses or a box of chocolates (usually at the grocery store check out aisle). What really gets me is the fact that I never get gifts, but I'm always expected to give them.

Even in grade school, when we cut out little red hearts with our miniature scissors and scrawled our crush's name on them, I'd end up with like three Valentines in my sandwich bag (I'm still convinced they were from my mother) while the other kids' bags seemed to be overflowing with notes, stickers and candy. I'm bitter about that. But this year I'm resolved to do better, to turn over a new leaf as they say, and to buy my wife a gift at least a couple days in advance.

In preparation, I consulted with local sexpert Shanna Katz for some ideas on how best to say not just "I love you" but "I want you in that bed now" and added a few of my own. So, for all procrastinating men with significant others (and women too, if you feel like turning the tables this year) here's a list of edible Valentine's Day gift options. And don't be shy about sending us your own ideas.

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Mole BBQ "Ribs" from our #2 Pick

​Phoenix isn't exactly known for vegetarian cuisine, but that doesn't mean that the city doesn't have some fresh gems. The Valley has several unique, passionate vegetarian and vegan restaurants. Plus, a few carnivore-friendly restaurants are real contenders, too. And don't worry, you won't find any salads or veggie burgers on this list.

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Jackie Mercandetti

Phoenix Palace

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China is a nation with a multitude of culinary traditions stretching back thousands of years. In comparison, Phoenix has been around since last Tuesday and we should all be thankful that some of what's good over there can be found over. here. A word of advice: If you want to embark on a true eating adventure, borrow a food savvy and linguistically inclined Chinese friend. Doing so will open up a world of possibilities via "secret" Chinese menus.

10. Tott's Asian Diner

It has been postulated that there exists an inverse relationship between the quality of food at an Asian restaurant and the quality of the service. The staff at Tott's apparently never got that memo because their food is good and their service is phenomenal. Making a weekday take-out order? Let them know when you expect to get there and they'll time their cooking so the food comes out just as you come in to pick it up.

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​The connection between hot dogs and dogs, the lovable tongue-wagging pets, is thought to have come from newspaper cartoons by T.A. Dorgan around the 1900's, which portrayed talking frankfurters, also known as "dachshund sausages," because of their shape. No matter the origin of the name, hot dogs have fast become an American street snack staple. And when it comes to hot dogs in the greater Phoenix area, here's 10 of our favorites. (RIP: Maui Dog.)

​10.) Boston Dog from Dave's Dog House
His days of slinging dogs as a kid in Boston may be over, but David Cheren, ex-attorney and owner of this tiny joint in the heart of the Arizona State University campus, is still servin' 'em up "New England Style" (with the buns toasted in butter and garlic) in Tempe. Sporting a tasty, top-secret, 100-percent beef frank shipped via the East Coast, this simple and satisfying creation sports onion, mustard, and relish (no flippin' ketchup) on a pleasantly crunchy toasted bun.

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